Del Norte County, California

The area that is now known as Del Norte was (and still is) inhabited by the Yurok and Tolowa Nations of indigenous peoples. The first European American to explore this land was pioneer Jedediah Smith in the early-19th century. He was the first European American to reach the area overland on foot in a time before the European Americans knew anything about such a distant territory. For him it was literally "Land's End" — where the American continent ended at the Pacific Ocean. In 1855 Congress authorized the building of a lighthouse at "the battery point" (a high tide island on the coast of Crescent City) which is still functioning as a historical landmark.

Del Norte County was established in 1857, from part of the territory of Klamath County following the great California Gold Rush. Klamath County itself ceased to exist in 1874.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|1230|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1006|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|223|sqmi}} (18%) is water.{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 24, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}

The mountainous terrain associated with the Coastal Range and the Klamath Mountains dominates

Del Norte County's geography. Elevation ranges from sea level to over 6,400 feet. Although much of the

county is made up of steep terrain, there are small patches of flat terrain along the coast and in isolated

mountain valleys. There are 37 miles of coastline in the county, forming a coastal zone that covers

approximately 51,000 acres (80 square miles). A broad coastal plain can be found in the northwest

portion of the county with the western edge of the Klamath Mountains as its easterly boundary. Rising

abruptly from the coastal plain, the Klamath Mountains extend north into Oregon and are situated

between the Cascade Range to the east and the Coast Range to the north.{{cite web|title=Del Norte Fire Safe Plan|url=http://www.forevergreenforestry.com/documents/DNFireAppendix9-05wmapslo_000.pdf|access-date=October 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425115951/http://www.forevergreenforestry.com/documents/DNFireAppendix9-05wmapslo_000.pdf|archive-date=April 25, 2012|url-status=dead}}

{{Further|Peak Eight}}

• Curry County, Oregon - northwest
• Josephine County, Oregon - northeast
• Siskiyou County - east
• Humboldt County - south

• Pelican State Beach

• Smith River National Recreation Area

• Klamath - one of the longest in California.
• Smith - a crown jewel of the National Wild and Scenic River program.

• Castle Rock National Wildlife Refuge

File:Marshall pond.jpg

• Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park
• Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
• Redwood National Park
• Tolowa Dunes State Park
• Ruby Van Deventer County Park
• Florence Keller County Park

{{see also|Klamath Mountains (ecoregion)|Northern California coastal forests}}

There is a diversity of flora and fauna within Del Norte County. Vegetative plant associations feature several forest types including mixed oak forest. The California endemic Blue oak, Quercus douglasii is at the northernmost part of its range in Del Norte County.C. Michael Hogan. 2008. [http://globaltwitcher.auderis.se/artspec_information.asp?thingid=85046 Blue Oak: Quercus douglasii, GlobalTwitcher.com, ed. N. Stromberg] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228073950/http://globaltwitcher.auderis.se/artspec_information.asp?thingid=85046 |date=February 28, 2012 }} The Black Oak and Douglas-fir are also found in Del Norte County.

{{US Census population

| 1860 = 1993

| 1870 = 2022

| 1880 = 2584

| 1890 = 2592

| 1900 = 2408

| 1910 = 2417

| 1920 = 2759

| 1930 = 4739

| 1940 = 4745

| 1950 = 8078

| 1960 = 17771

| 1970 = 14580

| 1980 = 18217

| 1990 = 23460

| 2000 = 27507

| 2010 = 28610

| 2020 = 27743

|estyear=2023

|estimate=26589

|estref={{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 26, 2024}}

| align-fn = center

| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 24, 2015}}
1790–1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=September 24, 2015}} 1900–1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ca190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=September 24, 2015}}
1990–2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=September 24, 2015}} 2010–2015{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/06015.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013074344/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/06015.html|archive-date=October 13, 2015|url-status=dead}}

}}

The 2010 United States census reported that Del Norte County had a population of 28,610. The racial makeup of Del Norte County was 21,098 (73.7%) White, 993 (3.5%) African American, 2,244 (7.8%) Native American, 965 (3.4%) Asian, 32 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 1,980 (6.9%) from other races, and 1,298 (4.5%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5,093 persons (17.8%).{{USCensus2010CA}}

As of the census{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website }} of 2000, there were 27,507 people, 9,170 households, and 6,290 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|27|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people}}. There were 10,434 housing units at an average density of {{convert|10|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 78.9% White, 4.3% Black or African American, 6.4% Native American, 2.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.9% from other races, and 4.1% from two or more races. 13.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.2% were of German, 11.3% English, 9.1% Irish and 7.4% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 91.6% spoke English and 6.2% Spanish as their first language.

There were 9,170 households, out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.08.

The age distribution was 25.1% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 123.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 130.3 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,642, and the median income for a family was $36,056. Males had a median income of $40,072 versus $22,212 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,573. About 16.4% of families and 20.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.7% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.

Del Norte County is home to a satellite campus of College of the Redwoods, a two-year college based in Humboldt County.

Del Norte County has one of just five combined county office of education-unified school district learning educational agencies (LEA) in the state of California, with one elected Board of Trustees that serves both agencies, and one superintendent overseeing both the County Office of Education, and the Unified School District.

The Del Norte County Unified School District, which covers the entire county,{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st06_ca/schooldistrict_maps/c06015_del_norte/DC20SD_C06015.pdf|title=2020 census - school district reference map: Del Norte County, CA|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=July 25, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st06_ca/schooldistrict_maps/c06015_del_norte/DC20SD_C06015_SD2MS.txt Text list] provides public education from pre-Kindergarten through the twelfth grade. The only high school in Del Norte County is Del Norte High School, whose school mascot is the Warrior. There are also five K-5 elementary schools (Bess Maxwell, Joe Hamilton, Margaret Keating, Mary Peacock, Pine Grove), three K-8 elementary schools (Mountain, Redwood, Smith River), and one middle school (Crescent Elk).

The County Office of Education provides special education services to the county, as well as alternative learning options that includes Community Day and juvenile detention. Alternative educational facilities are Del Norte Community Day, Elk Creek detention center, and Sunset Continuation High School.

Del Norte County has several private parochial schools and charter schools.

Del Norte is traditionally a strongly Republican county in Presidential and congressional elections. The last Democrat to win a majority in the county was Jimmy Carter in 1976; even so, Bill Clinton received a plurality in 1992. In 2016, with Orange County flipping, Del Norte County became the only county on California's coast to vote for Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton. As of 2024, it is now the only county on California's coast that votes Republican for President.

{{PresHead|place=Del Norte County, California|source={{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=Uselectionatlas.org|access-date=November 7, 2017}}}}

{{PresRow|2024|Republican|5,999|4,266|300|California}}

{{PresRow|2020|Republican|6,461|4,677|315|California}}

{{PresRow|2016|Republican|5,134|3,485|939|California}}

{{PresRow|2012|Republican|4,614|3,791|365|California}}

{{PresRow|2008|Republican|4,967|4,323|241|California}}

{{PresRow|2004|Republican|5,356|3,892|173|California}}

{{PresRow|2000|Republican|4,526|3,117|651|California}}

{{PresRow|1996|Republican|3,670|3,652|1,567|California}}

{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|3,083|3,639|2,631|California}}

{{PresRow|1988|Republican|3,714|3,587|167|California}}

{{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,996|2,696|149|California}}

{{PresRow|1980|Republican|4,016|2,338|633|California}}

{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|2,481|2,789|208|California}}

{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,927|2,156|565|California}}

{{PresRow|1968|Republican|2,387|2,236|545|California}}

{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,075|3,652|0|California}}

{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|3,024|3,225|45|California}}

{{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,918|2,552|17|California}}

{{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,938|1,640|53|California}}

{{PresRow|1948|Republican|1,541|1,172|127|California}}

{{PresRow|1944|Republican|1,011|818|1|California}}

{{PresRow|1940|Republican|1,233|1,034|35|California}}

{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|853|1,292|29|California}}

{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|637|1,319|103|California}}

{{PresRow|1928|Republican|771|599|10|California}}

{{PresRow|1924|Republican|530|122|355|California}}

{{PresRow|1920|Republican|596|279|77|California}}

{{PresRow|1916|Republican|499|471|169|California}}

{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|0|323|520|California}}

{{PresRow|1908|Republican|450|202|107|California}}

{{PresRow|1904|Republican|429|187|97|California}}

{{PresRow|1900|Republican|334|291|20|California}}

{{PresRow|1896|Republican|345|334|18|California}}

{{PresFoot|1892|Democratic|235|339|69|California}}

In line with its voting habits, Del Norte's registered voting population is heavily Republican. As of October 2024, approximately 83% of eligible voters are registered to vote in Del Norte County, with approximately 29% registered as Democrats and approximately 41% registered as Republicans.{{Cite web |title=Wayback Machine |url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/ror/15day-gen-2024/county.pdf |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241113000010/https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/ror/15day-gen-2024/county.pdf |archive-date=2024-11-13 |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov}}

Del Norte County is in {{Representative|cacd|2|fmt=district}}.{{Cite GovTrack|CA|2|access-date=March 1, 2013}}

In the State Assembly, Del Norte County is in {{Representative|caad|2|fmt=adistrict}}.{{Cite web

|url=http://assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers

|title=Members Assembly

|access-date=April 1, 2013

|publisher=State of California}} In the State Senate, the county is in {{Representative|casd|2|fmt=sdistrict}}.{{Cite web

|url=http://senate.ca.gov/senators

|title=Senators

|access-date=April 6, 2013

|publisher=State of California}}

{{clear}}

The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense.

• 25px U.S. Route 101
• 25px U.S. Route 199
• 25px State Route 169
• 25px State Route 197

Local public transit is provided by Redwood Coast Transit, which provides access to Amtrak passenger train (via Amtrak Thruway) service.

Advanced Air conducts passenger flights to and from Jack McNamara Field Airport, operating one daily round trip flight to Oakland International Airport and Los Angeles-Hawthorne Airport.{{Cite web|url=https://www.flycrescentcity.com/airlines-flights|title=Airline and Flight Info|website=flycrescentcity}} Flights are largely subsidized by an Alternate Essential Air Service grant approved by the United States Department of Transportation and issued to the Border Coast Regional Airport Authority in 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.regulations.gov/document/DOT-OST-1997-2649-0102|title=Regulations.gov|website=www.regulations.gov}}

The Crescent City Harbor serves as a commercial fishing port for salmon, shrimp, tuna, cod, and dungeness crab commercial fishing boats. Nearly 50% of all dungeness crab served in California restaurants is off-loaded in this harbor.{{Citation needed|date=October 2014}} The harbor is also home to multiple fishing and non-fishing related businesses and harbor governmental offices. The harbor also has several pleasure boat docks.

Crescent City is the county seat of and only incorporated city in Del Norte County. Its population count includes the inmates of Pelican Bay State Prison located ten miles north of the city.

• Crescent City

{{div col}}

• Bertsch–Oceanview
• Fort Dick
• Gasquet
• Hiouchi
• Klamath
• Smith River
• Crescent City North – former CDP

{{div col end}}

• Adams Station
• Darlingtonia
• Klamath Glen
• Pacific Shores
• Requa
• Scaath
• Yontocket

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Del Norte County.

† county seat

File:US 199 Redwood Highway.jpg in California, the Redwood Highway, at Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park in Del Norte County, near Crescent City, California.]]

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150906020755/http://wikispot.org/?action=gotowikipage&v=mendocino:Hiking Hiking trails in Del Norte County]
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Del Norte County, California
• [https://visitdelnortecounty.com/ Things to Do, Outdoor Recreation & Visitor Information]

{{Reflist|group=note}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons}}

• {{Official website}}
• [https://visitdelnortecounty.com/ Del Norte County & Crescent City Tourism and Travel website]
• [https://visitdelnortecounty.com/chamber-of-commerce/ Chamber of Commerce website]
• [http://www.delnortehistory.org/ Del Norte Historical Society]

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Del Norte County, California

|North = Curry County, Oregon

|Northeast = Josephine County, Oregon

|East = Siskiyou County

|Southeast =

|South = Humboldt County

|Southwest =

|West = Pacific Ocean

|Northwest =

}}

{{Cities of Del Norte County, California}}

{{North Coast (California)}}

{{California}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|41.74|-123.96|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-CA_source:UScensus1990}}

Category:California counties

Category:1857 establishments in California

Category:Populated places established in 1857