Tuolumne City, California

History

The area is known for a history of logging operations. Remnants of logging railroads are still present in the area. In the 1970s, there was a plan to open a park which was centered on narrow gauge live steam equipment. It was to feature restored locomotives from the logging operation here.

The plan was led by Herbert Reichhold who envisioned transforming the town of Tuolumne into a "Railroad Theme Park". To this end he began purchasing many properties in the town. However he lost his vision on the death of his wife and the plans never moved forward.

Unlike the rest of Tuolumne County, Tuolumne was not in the Bell System/SBC service area. Tuolumne Telephone Company provided service to this area. Wired telephone numbers in the Tuolumne Central Office follow the pattern (209) 928-xxxx. Tuolumne Telephone is now part of Citizens Telecommunications Company of California, a subsidiary of Frontier Communications.

There are three schools: Summerville Elementary with grades K-8, Motherlode Christian School with grades K-12, and Summerville Union High School with grades 9-12. Summerville High School also hosts Tuolumne County's Connections Arts School for grades 7-12.

A logging company town, Tuolumne experienced an economic downturn when the West Side Lumber Mill closed. For many years the community has struggled to create a new economic base.

The Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians, a federally recognized tribe, is headquartered in Tuolumne. In recent years, the tribe has contributed new growth in this hamlet with revenues from nearby Black Oak Casino, which is owned and operated by the Tuolumne Band. A new medical clinic and a new library are a few recent improvements. Another addition has been the renovation of the Tuolumne City Memorial Museum on Carter Street.

Once known as the two towns of "Summersville" in the south and "Carters" in the north, Tuolumne has incorporated them both into one town and now has a loyal citizen base who work diligently to revive its community life. A new municipal advisory council has been established to help with this revival.

Tuolumne is also the birthplace of the Vaudevillian performer and hipster comedian Lord Buckley, born Richard Myrle Buckley, April 5, 1906, died November 12, 1960.

Geography

Tuolumne is located at 37°57′42″N 120°14′13″W (37.961785, -120.236851).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²), of which, 2.3 square miles (6.0 km²) of it is land and 0.03 square miles (0.078 km²) of it (1.27%) is water.

2010

The 2010 United States Census reported that Tuolumne had a population of 1,779. The population density was 753.2 people per square mile (290.8/km²). The racial makeup of Tuolumne was 1,547 (87.0%) White, 13 (0.7%) African American, 83 (4.7%) Native American, 12 (0.7%) Asian, 1 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 50 (2.8%) from other races, and 73 (4.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 206 persons (11.6%).

The Census reported that 1,768 people (99.4% of the population) lived in households, 11 (0.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 758 households, out of which 223 (29.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 297 (39.2%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 95 (12.5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 52 (6.9%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 70 (9.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 6 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 239 households (31.5%) were made up of individuals and 107 (14.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33. There were 444 families (58.6% of all households); the average family size was 2.93.

The population was spread out with 397 people (22.3%) under the age of 18, 161 people (9.1%) aged 18 to 24, 411 people (23.1%) aged 25 to 44, 510 people (28.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 300 people (16.9%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.4 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.

There were 840 housing units at an average density of 355.6 per square mile (137.3/km²), of which 396 (52.2%) were owner-occupied, and 362 (47.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.7%. 987 people (55.5% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 781 people (43.9%) lived in rental housing units.

2000

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,865 people, 736 households, and 474 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 801.4 people per square mile (309.0/km²). There were 797 housing units at an average density of 342.5 per square mile (132.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 89.01% White, 0.38% African American, 4.29% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.54% Pacific Islander, 1.82% from other races, and 3.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.97% of the population.

There were 736 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples living together, 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $32,361, and the median income for a family was $41,007. Males had a median income of $35,524 versus $22,593 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $16,567. About 13.0% of families and 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.

Government

In the California State Legislature, Tuolumne is in the 8th Senate District, represented by Republican Tom Berryhill, and in the 5th Assembly District, represented by Republican Frank Bigelow.

In the United States House of Representatives, Tuolumne is in California's 4th congressional district, represented by Republican Tom McClintock.

Notable natives

In popular culture

In 1951, scenes of the western High Noon, starring Gary Cooper, were filmed in Tuolumne. Cooper's Will Kane went to St. Joseph's Church to solicit help from the townspeople.