Country United States County Plumas Time zone Pacific (PST) (UTC-8) Elevation 1,480 m Population 1,957 (2013) Local time Friday 10:39 AM | State California Incorporated May 16, 1946 ZIP codes 96122, 96129 Area 14 km² Area code 530 | |
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Weather 4°C, Wind S at 23 km/h, 76% Humidity | ||
Portola is the only incorporated city in Plumas County, California, United States. The population was 2,104 at the 2010 census, down from 2,227 at the 2000 census. Portola is located on the Middle Fork of the Feather River, and was named after Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portolá, despite his never having actually explored the surrounding area. The place name is generally mispronounced, with stress on the middle syllable, thus ignoring the accent mark in its namesake's surname.
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Map of Portola, CA 96122, USA
Portola is a crew change site on the Western Pacific Railroad (now Union Pacific Railroad) Feather River Route over the Sierra Nevada mountains. The city is also home to the Western Pacific Railroad Museum (formerly Portola Railroad Museum), one of the largest railroad museums in the Western US. The museum is famous for its Run A Locomotive program, where the public can participate in a "fantasy experience" program allowing them to run a railroad locomotive on the museum grounds.
Portola was in the national media spotlight in 1996–1997 when a conflict occurred between the local community and the Department of Fish and Game over how to deal with an invasive species of Northern Pike in Lake Davis. The lake was chemically treated in 1997 to eradicate the fish, but they reappeared in 1999. In early September 2007, the California Department of Fish and Game eradicated the pike using CFT Legumine, a new liquid formulation of rotenone [1].
Geography and climate
Portola is located at 39°48′37″N 120°28′11″W.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.4 square miles (14 km2), all of it land.
Portola lies on the Middle Fork of the Feather River in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The headwaters of the Middle Fork of the Feather River originate just east of Portola in Sierra Valley, near Beckwourth.
Lake Davis is located approximately 6 miles north of Portola, and is a popular fishing and camping location. About 15 miles to the west and southwest of Portola, Plumas-Eureka State Park and Lakes Basin Recreation Area feature granite peaks, glacial lakes, streams, and temperate coniferous forests, which make them popular destinations for outdoor enthusiasts.
Being on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada, Portola has a continental Mediterranean climate (Köppen Dsb) with dry summer characterised by extreme diurnal temperature swings, and cold (though not severe) and snowy winters. Frosts occur on 218 nights per year – more even than at Flagstaff, Arizona – but extreme cold is rare and temperatures below 0 °F (−17.8 °C) are observed on average during only 2.6 nights per winter, whilst highs top freezing on all but nine days during an average year. During the summer, daytime temperatures can be hot, but 100 °F (37.8 °C) is reached on average only once every two years. Snowfall is less heavy than on the western slopes, but reached as high as 112 inches (284.5 cm) in January 1916.
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Portola had a population of 2,104. The population density was 389.1 people per square mile (150.2/km²). The racial makeup of Portola was 1,762 (83.7%) White, 13 (0.6%) African American, 54 (2.6%) Native American, 12 (0.6%) Asian, 1 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 198 (9.4%) from other races, and 64 (3.0%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 342 persons (16.3%).
The Census reported that 2,080 people (98.9% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 24 (1.1%) were institutionalized.
There were 887 households, out of which 278 (31.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 378 (42.6%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 114 (12.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 53 (6.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 68 (7.7%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 4 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 286 households (32.2%) were made up of individuals and 113 (12.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34. There were 545 families (61.4% of all households); the average family size was 2.92.
The population was spread out with 502 people (23.9%) under the age of 18, 198 people (9.4%) aged 18 to 24, 462 people (22.0%) aged 25 to 44, 638 people (30.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 304 people (14.4%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.8 years. For every 100 females there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.
There were 1,134 housing units at an average density of 209.7 per square mile (81.0/km²), of which 482 (54.3%) were owner-occupied, and 405 (45.7%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 6.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 21.0%. 1,156 people (54.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 924 people (43.9%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,227 people, 899 households, and 595 families residing in the city. The population density was 994.6 people per square mile (383.9/km²). There were 1,008 housing units at an average density of 450.2 per square mile (173.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.21% White, 0.45% African American, 2.65% Native American, 1.08% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 5.84% from other races, and 3.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.81% of the population.
There were 899 households out of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 29.5% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,103, and the median income for a family was $35,156. Males had a median income of $32,159 versus $21,157 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,734. About 14.5% of families and 20.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.7% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.
Government
The city is governed by a council with five members. Council members serve staggered four-year terms. The council chooses the mayor and mayor pro tem.
In the California State Legislature, Portola is in the 1st Senate District, represented by Republican Ted Gaines, and the 1st Assembly District, represented by Republican Brian Dahle.
In the United States House of Representatives, Portola is in California's 1st congressional district, represented by Republican Doug LaMalfa.