Topaz, California

The Topaz post office opened in 1885, closed in 1922, and re-opened in 1926. The name was transferred from the original site of the village, which developed on the ranch of T.B. Rickey. Mrs. Rickey named it based on the color of the local quaking aspen trees. The post office is now located and has been operated by the Robert William Mckay Family Ranch since the 1920s.

Topaz is the northernmost community in Mono County.[http://www.monocounty.ca.gov/cdd%20site/Planning/Documents/AntelopeValleyFireProtectionDistrict_02.2009.pdf Report of the Mono County Planning Department regarding the Antelope Valley Fire Protection District] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090621143411/http://www.monocounty.ca.gov/cdd%20site/Planning/Documents/AntelopeValleyFireProtectionDistrict_02.2009.pdf |date=2009-06-21 }} It is bordered to the south by the community of Coleville and to the northeast by the Nevada state line. The community of Topaz Lake, Nevada, touches the northernmost part of the Topaz border. According to the Mono County government, Antelope Valley, including Topaz, is expected to see significant population growth.

U.S. Route 395 passes through Topaz, leading south {{convert|38|mi}} to Bridgeport, the Mono county seat, and north {{Convert|42|mi}} to Carson City, Nevada. According to the United States Census Bureau, the Topaz CDP covers an area of {{convert|13.5|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|12.2|sqmi}} are land and {{convert|1.3|sqmi|1}}, or 9.63%, are water. Topaz is drained by the West Walker River, which flows north into Nevada. Topaz Lake occupies the northwest corner of the Topaz CDP and extends north into Nevada.

This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above {{convert|71.6|F}}. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Topaz has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=681862&cityname=Topaz%2C+California%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Topaz, California]

The 2020 United States census reported that Topaz had a population of 150. The population density was {{convert|12.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Topaz was 89 (59.3%) White, 1 (0.7%) African American, 5 (3.3%) Native American, 0 (0.0%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 20 (13.3%) from other races, and 35 (23.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 46 persons (30.7%).{{cite web |title=Topaz 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=1600000US0679030 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=June 4, 2025}}

The whole population lived in households. There were 73 households, out of which 18 (24.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 30 (41.1%) were married-couple households, 3 (4.1%) were cohabiting couple households, 19 (26.0%) had a female householder with no partner present, and 21 (28.8%) had a male householder with no partner present. 26 households (35.6%) were one person, and 12 (16.4%) were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.05. There were 42 families (57.5% of all households).{{cite web |title=Topaz CDP, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDHC2020.P16?g=1600000US0679030 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=June 4, 2025}}

The age distribution was 24 people (16.0%) under the age of 18, 7 people (4.7%) aged 18 to 24, 37 people (24.7%) aged 25 to 44, 39 people (26.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 43 people (28.7%) who were 65{{nbsp}}years of age or older. The median age was 49.7{{nbsp}}years. There were 89 males and 61 females.

There were 94 housing units at an average density of {{convert|7.7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}, of which 73 (77.7%) were occupied. Of these, 60 (82.2%) were owner-occupied, and 13 (17.8%) were occupied by renters.

Topaz is served by the Antelope Valley Fire Protection District, which was formed in 1947 and covers {{convert|33|sqmi|km2}} of the Antelope Valley. The District maintains a fire station in Topaz.

Topaz is served by the Antelope Valley Water District, which was formed in 1961.[http://www.monocounty.ca.gov/cdd%20site/Planning/Documents/AntelopeValleyWaterDistrict_02.2009.pdf Report of the Mono County Planning Department regarding the Antelope Valley Water District] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090621143444/http://www.monocounty.ca.gov/cdd%20site/Planning/Documents/AntelopeValleyWaterDistrict_02.2009.pdf |date=2009-06-21 }}

• Slinkard Fire
• Walker, Mono County, California

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{{Mono County, California}}

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Category:Census-designated places in Mono County, California

Category:Census-designated places in California

Category:1885 establishments in California