Susanville, California

It was originally known as Rooptown, named for Isaac Roop, a pioneer of the Honey Lake District. Roop later renamed the town Susanville in honor of his daughter in 1857.Capace, Nancy (1999). Encyclopedia of California. North American Book Dist LLC. Pages 447-48. {{ISBN|9780403093182}}.

The Susanville US post office was established in 1860. Early in its history, Susanville was a hub for overland freight transit, as it marked the meeting point of Nobles Emigrant Trail from Nevada and the Humboldt Wagon Road leading west to Chico.{{cite book |last=Mark |first=Andy |title=Stories of the Humboldt Wagon Road |publisher=The History Press |location=Charleston, SC |year=2020 |page=17 |isbn=9781439669785 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PmfVDwAAQBAJ}} Susanville was incorporated in 1900.

Formerly the center of farming, mining and the lumber industry, Susanville suffered from the loss of jobs as these industries changed or declined in the 20th century. Since the late 20th century, the only area of growth in the economy has been associated with the construction and operation of two state prisons in the city and one federal prison in the area. In 2007, half of the adult population of Susanville worked in the prisons: the California Correctional Center, a minimum-medium security facility, which opened in 1963; the High Desert State Prison, California (not to be confused with High Desert State Prison, Nevada), which opened in 1995; and the Federal Correctional Institution, Herlong, which opened in 2007.

Susanville is located at the head of Honey Lake Valley, {{Convert|40|mi|km|abbr=}} east of Lassen Peak, The elevation is approximately {{convert|4186|ft|m}} above sea level. It is considered a gateway city to Reno on U.S. Route 395.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.03 square miles (20.8 km{{sup|2}}), of which 7.95 square miles (20.58 km{{sup|2}}) or 98.93% is land and 0.09 square miles (0.22 km{{sup|2}}) or 1.07% is water.

Susanville is underlain by igneous rock, which provides the parent material for its well-drained brown stony to gravelly sandy loams or loams. On the western outskirts under forest cover, the soils are often reddish brown. The most common soil series in Susanville's urban area is Springmeyer gravelly fine sandy loam.{{Cite web|url=http://casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/gmap/|title = SoilWeb: An Online Soil Survey Browser | California Soil Resource Lab}}

Susanville has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csb) with cool winters and hot, mostly dry summers, except for occasional afternoon thunderstorms. Records have been kept at several stations since 1895, including Susanville Airport and Susanville 2 SW, southwest of the town center. There are two other area stations with shorter records.

Temperatures reach {{convert|90|F|C}} or higher on an average of 30.8 days annually, and drop to {{convert|32|F|C}} or lower on an average of 148.7 days annually. Freezing temperatures have been recorded in every month of the year, and summer nighttime temperatures are usually cool, but extreme cold is rare. The highest recorded temperature in Susanville was {{convert|106|F|C}} on July 25, 1928, and July 19–20, 1931, and the lowest recorded temperature was {{convert|-23|F|C}} on February 1, 1956.

Annual precipitation averages {{convert|13.02|in|mm}}, with an average of 38.7 days with measurable precipitation. The wettest calendar year has been 1907 with {{convert|33.51|in|mm|1}} and the driest 1976 with {{convert|5.33|in|mm|1}}, though the wettest "rain year" was from July 1937 to June 1938 with {{convert|33.01|in|mm|1}} as against {{convert|32.42|in|mm|1}} between July 1906 and June 1907 and {{convert|4.36|in|mm|1}} in the driest rain year from July 1975 to June 1976. The most precipitation in one month was {{convert|12.30|in|mm|1}} in March 1907, and the most in 24 hours {{convert|5.04|in|mm|1}} on January 31, 1897. The most snowfall in one year was {{convert|114|in|cm|1}} in 1937, with the most in one month being {{convert|65.5|in|cm}} in January 1895.

{{Weather box

|location = Susanville, California, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1895–present

|single line = Yes

|Jan record high F = 68

|Feb record high F = 69

|Mar record high F = 81

|Apr record high F = 90

|May record high F = 96

|Jun record high F = 102

|Jul record high F = 106

|Aug record high F = 105

|Sep record high F = 101

|Oct record high F = 90

|Nov record high F = 83

|Dec record high F = 65

|Jan avg record high F = 54.4

|Feb avg record high F = 59.6

|Mar avg record high F = 69.4

|Apr avg record high F = 76.9

|May avg record high F = 85.1

|Jun avg record high F = 92.2

|Jul avg record high F = 96.8

|Aug avg record high F = 95.2

|Sep avg record high F = 90.4

|Oct avg record high F = 79.9

|Nov avg record high F = 67.7

|Dec avg record high F = 55.6

|year avg record high F = 97.8

|Jan high F = 42.7

|Feb high F = 47.6

|Mar high F = 54.2

|Apr high F = 60.5

|May high F = 69.3

|Jun high F = 78.9

|Jul high F = 88.0

|Aug high F = 86.6

|Sep high F = 80.0

|Oct high F = 67.0

|Nov high F = 51.9

|Dec high F = 42.6

|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 32.5

|Feb mean F = 36.6

|Mar mean F = 41.9

|Apr mean F = 47.1

|May mean F = 54.8

|Jun mean F = 62.9

|Jul mean F = 70.6

|Aug mean F = 69.3

|Sep mean F = 62.7

|Oct mean F = 51.5

|Nov mean F = 40.0

|Dec mean F = 32.4

|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 22.3

|Feb low F = 25.6

|Mar low F = 29.6

|Apr low F = 33.8

|May low F = 40.2

|Jun low F = 47.0

|Jul low F = 53.1

|Aug low F = 52.0

|Sep low F = 45.3

|Oct low F = 35.9

|Nov low F = 28.1

|Dec low F = 22.3

|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = 9.0

|Feb avg record low F = 11.5

|Mar avg record low F = 16.8

|Apr avg record low F = 22.4

|May avg record low F = 28.7

|Jun avg record low F = 34.3

|Jul avg record low F = 43.5

|Aug avg record low F = 42.4

|Sep avg record low F = 32.5

|Oct avg record low F = 23.6

|Nov avg record low F = 14.5

|Dec avg record low F = 8.1

|year avg record low F = 4.4

|Jan record low F = -22

|Feb record low F = -23

|Mar record low F = -4

|Apr record low F = 10

|May record low F = 20

|Jun record low F = 25

|Jul record low F = 30

|Aug record low F = 31

|Sep record low F = 18

|Oct record low F = 12

|Nov record low F = -1

|Dec record low F = -22

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 2.44

|Feb precipitation inch = 2.31

|Mar precipitation inch = 1.67

|Apr precipitation inch = 0.49

|May precipitation inch = 0.82

|Jun precipitation inch = 0.37

|Jul precipitation inch = 0.21

|Aug precipitation inch = 0.11

|Sep precipitation inch = 0.24

|Oct precipitation inch = 0.97

|Nov precipitation inch = 1.49

|Dec precipitation inch = 1.90

|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 5.8

|Feb precipitation days = 4.9

|Mar precipitation days = 4.6

|Apr precipitation days = 3.9

|May precipitation days = 3.4

|Jun precipitation days = 2.0

|Jul precipitation days = 0.9

|Aug precipitation days = 0.5

|Sep precipitation days = 1.0

|Oct precipitation days = 2.1

|Nov precipitation days = 3.9

|Dec precipitation days = 5.7

|Jan snow inch = 4.1

|Feb snow inch = 3.6

|Mar snow inch = 0.7

|Apr snow inch = 0.4

|May snow inch = 0.0

|Jun snow inch = 0.0

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 0.0

|Oct snow inch = 0.0

|Nov snow inch = 0.6

|Dec snow inch = 2.1

|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 1.5

|Feb snow days = 1.5

|Mar snow days = 0.4

|Apr snow days = 0.2

|May snow days = 0.0

|Jun snow days = 0.0

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.0

|Oct snow days = 0.0

|Nov snow days = 0.5

|Dec snow days = 1.2

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00048702&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Susanville 2SW, CA

|access-date = April 28, 2023

}}

|source 2 = National Weather Service

{{cite web

|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=rev

|publisher = National Weather Service

|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Reno

|access-date = April 28, 2023

}}

}}

{{US Census population

|1890= 882

|1910= 688

|1920= 918

|1930= 1358

|1940= 1575

|1950= 5338

|1960= 5598

|1970= 6608

|1980= 6520

|1990= 7279

|2000= 13541

|2010= 17947

|2020= 16728

| estyear = 2023

| estimate = 12689

| estref = {{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2023/cities/totals/SUB-IP-EST2023-POP-06.xlsx |date=May 16, 2024|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=May 16, 2024}}

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}

}}

At the 2010 census Susanville had a population of 17,947. The population density was {{convert|2,238.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Susanville was 11,269 (62.8%) White, 2,249 (12.5%) African American, 212 (1.2%) Native American, 198 (1.1%) Asian, 111 (0.6%) Pacific Islander, 2,928 (16.3%) from other races, and 580 (3.2%) from two or more races. There were 4,259 people (23.7%) of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0677364|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715033439/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0677364|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Susanville city|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}}

The census reported that 9,439 people (52.6% of the population) lived in households, 108 (0.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 8,400 (46.8%) were institutionalized.

There were 3,833 households, 1,357 (35.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,645 (42.9%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 499 (13.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 233 (6.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 327 (8.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 16 (0.4%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,161 households (30.3%) were one person and 405 (10.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.46. There were 2,377 families (62.0% of households); the average family size was 3.05.

The age distribution was 2,559 people (14.3%) under the age of 18, 2,547 people (14.2%) aged 18 to 24, 7,633 people (42.5%) aged 25 to 44, 4,024 people (22.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,184 people (6.6%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 33.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 273.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 327.3 males.

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}[https://www.census.gov/main/www/cen2000.html Census 2000 Gateway] of 2000, there were 13,541 people in 3,516 households, including 2,250 families, in the city. The population density was {{convert|2,294.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 3,882 housing units at an average density of {{convert|657.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 76.0% White, 12.5% African American, 3.2% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.9% Pacific Islander, 3.5% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.6% of the population.

Of the 3,516 households 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were non-families. 29.9% of households were one person and 10.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.10.

The age distribution was 20.0% under the age of 18, 13.6% from 18 to 24, 41.5% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% 65 or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 198.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 231.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,675, and the median family income was $45,216. Males had a median income of $29,973 versus $27,044 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,238. About 11.0% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.5% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.

The current city council members are:{{cite web |url=http://www.cityofsusanville.net/city-council/ |title=Susanville City Council |website=cityofsusanville.net |access-date=July 19, 2020}}

This is a list of Susanville mayors by year.

• 1975 Jim Chapman{{cite web |url=http://www.californiacountynews.org/news/2016/10/longtime-lassen-county-supervisor-jim-chapman-retire |title=Long Time Lassen County Supervisor Jim Chatnan

|website=californiacountynews.org |date=October 25, 2016 |access-date=July 21, 2020}}

• 2016 Kathie Garnier
• 2018 Kevin Stafford {{cite web |url=https://www.lassennews.com/city-welcomes-new-mayor-councilmember/ |title=City welcomes new mayor, councilmember |website=lassennews.com |first=Jake |last=Hibbitts |date=June 27, 2018 |access-date=July 21, 2020}}
• 2020 Mendy Schuster
• 2022 Quincy McCourt
• 2024 Mendy Schuster

In the California State Legislature, Susanville is in {{Representative|casd|1|fmt=sdistrict}},{{cite web |url=http://senate.ca.gov/senators |title=Senators |access-date=March 10, 2013

|publisher=State of California}} and {{Representative|caad|1|fmt=adistrict}}.{{cite web |url=http://assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers |title=Members Assembly |access-date=March 2, 2013 |publisher=State of California}}

In the United States House of Representatives, Susanville is in {{Representative|cacd|1|fmt=district}}.{{Cite GovTrack|CA|1|access-date=March 2, 2013}}

File:Susanville Railroad Depot.jpg,{{cite journal|url={{NRHP url|id=01000332}}|format=PDF|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory – Nomination Form: Susanville Railroad Depot|author=California Office of Historic Preservation|date=April 5, 2001|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=April 27, 2015}} in 2013]]

Susanville lies at the junction of California State Routes 36 and 139. Highway 139 heads north to the Oregon border as a direct route to Klamath Falls. Highway 36 runs west to Red Bluff, then east to where it terminates with U.S. Route 395 just outside Susanville's city limits. U.S. 395 connects Alturas to the north and Reno to the south.

Susanville Municipal Airport, {{convert|5|mi|km|0}} southeast of Susanville, serves as a public, general aviation airport. Lassen Rural Bus, operated by the Lassen County Transportation Commission, provides bus service within the city. Sage Stage, operated by Modoc County, connects Alturas, Susanville, and Reno, Nevada, with connections to Redding, California and Klamath Falls, Oregon as well as connections to/from Reno International Airport.

The Quincy Railroad stopped serving Susanville on the former Southern Pacific Railroad line in 2004. A Union Pacific Railroad caboose is on an intact section of track next to the rail depot.

One California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation facility, High Desert State Prison,"[http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Facilities_Locator/HDSP.html High Desert State Prison]." California Department of Corrections. Retrieved on September 25, 2011. "475-750 Rice Canyon Rd. Susanville, CA""[http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Facilities_Locator/CCC.html California Correctional Center]." California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Retrieved on September 25, 2011. "711-045 Center Rd. Susanville, CA 96127-0790" is in Susanville."[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US0677364&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on Susanville city, California] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20121020111724/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US0677364&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on |date=October 20, 2012 }}." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on September 25, 2011.{{Cite news |last=Mathews |first=Joe |date=March 31, 2022 |title=Susanville, California, is being punished for town's business of punishment |url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/opinion/columnists/2022/03/31/california-closing-wrong-prison/7233483001/ |access-date=April 8, 2022 |newspaper=Ventura County Star |language=en}}

According to Susanville's 2014 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[http://www.cityofsusanville.net/wp-content/uploads/documents/finance/CityofSusanvilleCAFR2014Final.pdf City of Susanville CAFR] the top employers in the city are:

• Dugan Aguilar (1947–2018), Maidu/Achomawi/Northern Paiute photographer
• Hardin Barry, baseball player and lawyer, returned to practice law after a one-season career in professional baseball[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/barryha01.shtml Hardin Barry], Statistics and History, Baseball-Reference.com, USA TODAY, 2013, accessed September 13, 2013
• Frank Cady, actor (Petticoat Junction, Green Acres, and The Beverly Hillbillies).{{cite news|last=Slotnik|first=Daniel E.|title=Frank Cady, Kept Store on 'Green Acres,' Dies at 96|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/12/arts/television/frank-cady-actor-on-green-acres-dies-at-96.html?ref=deathsobituaries|access-date=January 3, 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=June 11, 2012}}
• Aaron Duran, writer, media producer grew up in Susanville.[http://34.orycon.org/guests-of-honor/aaron-duran-media-guest-of-honor Aaron Duran – Media Guest of Honor], 34.orycon.org, Oregon Science Fiction Conventions.
• Jack Ellena, former Los Angeles Rams player, born and raised in Susanville and ran a summer camp near town{{cite web|title=Jack Ellena|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/E/ElleJa20.htm|website=Pro-Football-Reference|access-date=December 22, 2010}}
• Mike Leach, former Mississippi State head football coach was born in Susanville.[http://www.nndb.com/people/573/000166075/ Mike Leach profile], NNDB.com; accessed March 22, 2015.
• Mitch Lively, former player for the San Francisco Giants, was born in Susanville
• Kevin Mangold, professional jockey, stunt double, actor, author
• Freddy Nagel, bandleader{{Cite web|url=https://susanvillestuff.com/Webxtras/121908webxtra.html|title=SusanvilleStuff.com WebXtra|website=susanvillestuff.com|access-date=December 20, 2018}}
• Ryan O'Callaghan, NFL player (Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots).[http://archive.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=32014 Profile], archive.patriots.com; accessed March 22, 2015.
• Frank Shamrock, mixed martial artistWoods, Michael, [https://www.espn.com/extra/mma/news/story?id=3638757 Brothers Ken, Frank Shamrock itching to fight], ESPN.go.com, October 12, 2008; accessed September 13, 2013.
• Ken Shamrock, mixed martial artist and professional wrestler
• Mike Skinner, NASCAR driver[http://www.mikeskinner.com/history.html Mike Skinner website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709115707/http://www.mikeskinner.com/history.html |date=July 9, 2015 }}; accessed September 13, 2013.
• Benjamin "Coach" Wade, reality television contestant{{cite news|last=Magagnini|first=Stephen|title=Susanville Symphony Hits a High Note in Small Lassen County City|newspaper=Sacramento Bee|page=1B|date=October 31, 2009}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Susanville, California}}

{{Portal|California}}

• {{Official website}}
• [http://www.susanvillestuff.com/ SusanvilleStuff.com]
• [http://www.lassencountychamber.org/ Lassen County Chamber of Commerce]
• [http://content.cdlib.org/search?keyword=susanville&keyword-add=eastman%27s+originals&facet=type-tab&relation=calisphere.universityofcalifornia.edu&style=cui&sortDocsBy=&brand=calisphere&x=0&y=0 Images of Susanville] from the [https://web.archive.org/web/20131019165030/http://lib.ucdavis.edu/dept/specol/collections/photographs/index.php?collection=Eastman Eastman's Originals Collection], [http://www.lib.ucdavis.edu/dept/specol/ Special Collections Dept.], University of California, Davis.

{{Lassen County, California}}

{{California county seats}}

{{Sierra Nevada}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1900 establishments in California

Category:Cities in Lassen County, California

Category:County seats in California

Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California

Category:Populated places established in 1900