Princeton, California

Before Euro-American settlers came to the region, Colus Indians inhabited the region. The first Euro-American settler in the area around Princeton was John S. Williams, who was sent by Thomas Larkin, the American Consul to Mexico, whose children were given an 44,364 acre land grant from Governor Manuel Micheltorena in 1844. Williams built an adobe in 1847 near the abandoned Patwin village of Chah’ de’-he near Princeton and established a successful cattle ranch.{{cite web |last1=Westwood |first1=Lisa D. |title=Cultural Resource Investigation for the Colusa Subreach Planning Volume I of II |url=https://www.sacramentoriver.org/forum/lib/library/docs/CSP_Cultural%20Resource%20Investigation_vol1_(Westwood_2005).pdf |website=Sacramentoriver.org |publisher=Archaeological Research Program California State University, Chico |access-date=3 June 2022}}

The first establishment in what became the town proper was a roadhouse called the Sixteen-Mile House, built in 1851. In the 1870s grain farming became successful in the region. Princeton had a grain warehouse and served as a point where farmers could bring their grain to be shipped by boat to larger markets down river. By 1897 Princeton was a small town of 250 people with a number of businesses including a bank, hotel, and grocery store.{{cite book |last1=McComish |first1=Charles Davis |title=History of Colusa and Glenn Counties, California With Biographical Sketches of the Leading Men and Women of the Counties who Have Been Identified with Their Growth and Development from the Early Days to the Present |date=1918 |publisher=Historic Record Company |location=Los Angeles, California |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xjVEAQAAMAAJ |access-date=3 June 2022}}

For nearly 130 years Princeton had an operating ferry that connected residents to the community of Afton across the Sacramento River. However, it was closed down by Glenn County officials in 1986 due to safety and financial considerations.{{cite web |last1=Hurst |first1=John |title=No Connection : Shutdown of Ferry Tears the Social Fabric of Two Hamlets |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-09-25-mn-10068-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=3 June 2022}} Ferry service temporarily resumed in 1988, with a 50-cent toll to defray maintenance costs,{{cite news |last=Sheley |first=Gene |date=31 Mar 1988 |title=Princeton Ferry to float again Friday |url= https://www.newspapers.com/image/927859386/?match=1&terms=%22princeton+ferry%22|work=Chico Enterprise-Record |location= Chico, CA |access-date=23 Jun 2024}} but was ultimately shut down permanently at some point in the late 1990s.{{cite news |last=MacEachern |first=Michelle |date=10 Jan 2003 |title=Hope Afloat |url= https://www.newspapers.com/image/835712483/?match=1&terms=%22princeton+ferry%22|work=Chico Enterprise-Record |location= Chico, CA |access-date=23 Jun 2024}} The remains of the ferry and dock can be found at 39°24'43.3"N 122°00'35.1"W.

Today, Princeton is probably best known as the home of Farmers Brewing Company, which distributes craft beers regionally. {{cite web |url=https://www.farmersbrewing.com/story |title=Story, Farmers Brewing Co. |last= |first= |date=2024 |website=farmersbrewing.com |publisher= |access-date=23 Jun 2024 |quote=}}

{{US Census population

|2010=303

|2020=309

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census by Decade|website=United States Census Bureau|access-date=}}
2010{{Cite web|title= 2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-6.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}

}}

Princeton first appeared as a census designated place in the 2010 U.S. Census.

The 2020 United States census reported that Princeton had a population of 309. The population density was {{convert|211.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Princeton was 208 (67.3%) White, 0 (0.0%) African American, 10 (3.2%) Native American, 1 (0.3%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 63 (20.4%) from other races, and 27 (8.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 93 persons (30.1%).{{cite web |title=Princeton CDP, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?g=1600000US0658758 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=May 31, 2025}}

The whole population lived in households. There were 122 households, out of which 41 (33.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 64 (52.5%) were married-couple households, 6 (4.9%) were cohabiting couple households, 26 (21.3%) had a female householder with no partner present, and 26 (21.3%) had a male householder with no partner present. 33 households (27.0%) were one person, and 21 (17.2%) were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.53. There were 83 families (68.0% of all households).{{cite web |title=Princeton CDP, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDHC2020.P16?g=1600000US0658758 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=May 31, 2025}}

The age distribution was 58 people (18.8%) under the age of 18, 31 people (10.0%) aged 18 to 24, 64 people (20.7%) aged 25 to 44, 98 people (31.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 58 people (18.8%) who were 65{{nbsp}}years of age or older. The median age was 45.5{{nbsp}}years. For every 100 females, there were 116.1 males.

There were 148 housing units at an average density of {{convert|101.4|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}, of which 122 (82.4%) were occupied. Of these, 77 (63.1%) were owner-occupied, and 45 (36.9%) were occupied by renters.

In the state legislature, Princeton is in {{Representative|casd|4|fmt=sdistrict}},{{Cite web

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

|title=Senators

|accessdate=March 21, 2013

|publisher=State of California}} and {{Representative|caad|3|fmt=adistrict}}.{{Cite web

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

|title=Members Assembly

|accessdate=March 21, 2013

|publisher=State of California}} Federally, Princeton is in {{Representative|cacd|3|fmt=district}}.{{Cite GovTrack|CA|3|accessdate=March 1, 2013}}

Princeton has a high school and elementary school, both of which have an enrollment of just over 100 students each.

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.countyofcolusa.org/index.aspx?NID=222 Colusa County page]

{{Colusa County, California}}

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Category:Census-designated places in Colusa County, California

Category:Census-designated places in California