Mariposa County, California

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Mariposa County (Template:IPAc-en)<ref>Template:Cite Dictionary.com</ref> is a county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the population was 17,131.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The county seat is Mariposa.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> It is located in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, north of Fresno, east of Merced, and southeast of Stockton. The eastern part of the county is the principal area of Yosemite National Park.

Mariposa County is one of only three counties in California that does not include any incorporated cities (with Alpine and Trinity counties being the other two). The county does include, however, 17 communities that are recognized as census-designated places for statistical purposes. It also has the distinction of not having any permanent traffic signals anywhere in the county.

History

Mariposa County was one of the original 27 counties of California, created at the time of statehood in 1850. While it began as the state's largest county, territory that was once part of Mariposa was ceded over time to form all or part of twelve other counties, including all of Merced, Madera, Fresno, Tulare, Kings, and Kern; and parts of San Benito, Mono, Inyo, San Bernardino, and Los Angeles. Thus, Mariposa County is known as the "Mother of Counties".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Mariposa County's original seat was a now-nonexistent hamlet known as Agua Fria (Spanish for "cold water"), about 3 miles directly west of Mariposa proper on Agua Fria Road, which runs from Highway 140 to the south, to the community of Mt. Bullion to the northwest. Charles Fremont moved the county seat to Mariposa in 1854, resulting in the construction of the Mariposa County Courthouse, whose grounds occupies an entire block. The historic structure is fronted by Bullion Street; Jones Street is to the rear, with 9th and 10th Streets on either side. The courthouse's likeness is on the Mariposa County Seal.

The county took its name from Mariposa Creek, which was so named by Spanish explorers in 1806, when they discovered a great cluster of butterflies ("mariposas" in Spanish and Portuguese) in the foothills of the Sierra. Each year, the first weekend in May, residents mark the annual arrival of migrating monarch butterflies with a "Butterfly Days" festival and parade.

Gold Rush

Specimen gold from the Mockingbird mine

Mariposa County is located at the southern end of California's Mother Lode region. During the California Gold Rush, great quantities of the prized mineral were found and extracted, first in local stream-beds and later in hard rock mines. One of the most notable beneficiaries of this wealth was the famed explorer and 1856 Republican presidential candidate, John Charles Frémont, for whom the local hospital and Charles Street (more commonly known as "Highway 140") are named. Jessie Street, in the town of Mariposa, is named for Fremont's wife, Jessie Benton Frémont, who came to Mariposa with her husband on many extended visits although they never took up permanent residence within the county.

Many aspects of the area's mining history are depicted in exhibits at two local museums: the Mariposa History Museum, located in the town of Mariposa; and the California Mining and Mineral Museum, located at the Mariposa Fairgrounds (2 miles southeast of Mariposa on Highway 49).

Two small gold mines in Mariposa County, the Mockingbird mine and the Colorado Quartz mine, intermittently produce world-class (and very expensive) specimens of crystalline gold for mineral collectors. "Specimens from these occurrences commonly have bright luster and rich color, with well-developed crystals in unusual and attractive arrangements."<ref>The Colorado Quartz Gold Mine, Rocks and Minerals, Sept-Oct 2009.</ref> The best-known example is "The Dragon", now on display at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (1.0%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref> The county extends:

Water

A significant portion of the Merced River's course is within the county including its white water runs through Yosemite and the Merced River Canyon. Its run through the Merced River Canyon contains the sole habitat for the limestone salamander, a rare species endemic to Mariposa County.

There are a number of lakes within the county including: Lake McClure, Lake McSwain, Merced Lake, and Tenaya Lake.

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

Template:US Census population

2020 census

Mariposa County, California – Racial and ethnic composition
Template:Nobold
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980 Pop 1990 Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref> Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref> Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref> % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 10,099 12,771 14,539 15,192 12,838 90.92% 89.30% 84.87% 83.24% 74.94%
Black or African American alone (NH) 70 120 111 129 105 0.63% 0.84% 0.65% 0.71% 0.61%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 357 593 530 459 410 3.21% 4.15% 3.09% 2.51% 2.39%
Asian alone (NH) 55 113 120 201 287 0.50% 0.79% 0.70% 1.10% 1.68%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census</ref> x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census</ref> 17 26 15 0.10% 0.14% 0.10% 0.14% 0.09%
Other race alone (NH) 23 8 21 22 114 0.21% 0.06% 0.12% 0.12% 0.67%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x <ref>not an option in the 1980 Census</ref> x <ref>not an option in the 1990 Census</ref> 463 546 1,222 x x 2.70% 2.99% 7.13%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 504 697 1,329 1,676 2,140 4.54% 4.87% 7.76% 9.18% 12.49%
Total 11,108 14,302 17,130 18,251 17,131 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2014

The largest self-reported ancestry groups in Mariposa County were English (14.5%), German (13.7%), Irish (13.1%), Italian (4.1%), "American" (3.8%), Scottish (3.2%) and Portuguese (3.0%).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2011

Population, race, and income
Total population<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/> 18,290
  White<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/> 16,357 89.4%
  Black or African American<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/> 180 1.0%
  American Indian or Alaska Native<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/> 335 1.8%
  Asian<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/> 200 1.1%
  Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/> 50 0.3%
  Some other race<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/> 458 2.5%
  Two or more races<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/> 710 3.9%
 Hispanic or Latino (of any race)<ref name="US-CB-B03003">U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B03003. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 26, 2013.</ref> 1,727 9.4%
Per capita income<ref name="US-CB-B19301">U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19301. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.</ref> $27,209
Median household income<ref name="US-CB-B19013">U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19013. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.</ref> $49,174
Median family income<ref name="US-CB-B19113">U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19113. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.</ref> $58,237

Places by population, race, and income

Places by population and race
Place Type<ref name="US-CB">U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.</ref> Population<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/> White<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/> Other<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/>
<ref name="other" group=note>Other = Some other race + Two or more races</ref> 		Asian<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/> Black or African
American<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/> 		Native American<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/>
<ref name="na" group=note>Native American = Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander + American Indian or Alaska Native</ref> 		Hispanic or Latino
(of any race)<ref name="US-CB-B03003"/>
Bear Valley CDP 255 100.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Bootjack CDP 951 85.0% 13.6% 1.5% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Buck Meadows CDP 12 0.0% 0.0% 100.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Catheys Valley CDP 811 83.5% 16.5% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 11.6%
Coulterville CDP 190 100.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 7.4%
El Portal CDP 509 72.5% 7.1% 6.1% 7.3% 7.1% 19.4%
Fish Camp CDP 53 41.5% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 58.5% 0.0%
Greeley Hill CDP 805 97.8% 0.6% 0.0% 0.1% 1.5% 6.3%
Hornitos CDP 67 100.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Lake Don Pedro CDP 1,088 88.4% 7.1% 3.4% 1.1% 0.0% 14.8%
Mariposa CDP 2,479 74.4% 18.3% 0.0% 0.4% 7.0% 27.4%
Midpines CDP 661 91.8% 5.6% 1.7% 0.9% 0.0% 7.1%
Wawona CDP 80 56.2% 0.0% 43.8% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Yosemite Valley CDP 779 90.9% 2.1% 1.0% 6.0% 0.0% 6.0%
Places by population and income
Place Type<ref name="US-CB"/> Population<ref name="US-CB-B01003">U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B01003. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.</ref> Per capita income<ref name="US-CB-B19301"/> Median household income<ref name="US-CB-B19013"/> Median family income<ref name="US-CB-B19113"/>
Bear Valley CDP 255 $17,787 $15,417 $12,050
Bootjack CDP 951 $26,801 $45,875 $46,333
Buck Meadows CDP 12 <ref name="ND">Data unavailable</ref> <ref name="ND" /> <ref name="ND" />
Catheys Valley CDP 811 $18,940 $26,759 $26,759
Coulterville CDP 190 $9,579 $12,351 $43,000
El Portal CDP 509 $27,412 $70,870 $45,862
Fish Camp CDP 53 $15,630 <ref name="ND" /> <ref name="ND" />
Greeley Hill CDP 805 $19,854 $29,333 $28,625
Hornitos CDP 67 <ref name="ND" /> <ref name="ND" /> <ref name="ND" />
Lake Don Pedro CDP 1,088 $44,112 $83,372 $86,771
Mariposa CDP 2,479 $19,614 $43,418 $39,830
Midpines CDP 661 $39,161 $36,803 $36,947
Wawona CDP 80 $19,068 $22,353 $85,156
Yosemite Valley CDP 779 $28,524 $62,321 $147,717

2010 Census

The 2010 United States census reported that Mariposa County had a population of 18,251. The racial makeup of Mariposa County was 16,103 (88.2%) White, 138 (0.8%) African American, 527 (2.9%) Native American, 204 (1.1%) Asian, 26 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 508 (2.8%) from other races, and 745 (4.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,676 persons (9.2%).<ref>Template:USCensus2010CA</ref>

2000

As of the census<ref name="GR8">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, there were 17,130 people, 6,613 households, and 4,490 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 8,826 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 88.9% White, 0.7% Black or African American, 3.5% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.7% from other races, and 3.4% from two or more races. 7.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.8% were of German, 13.4% English, 12.7% Irish and 6.7% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 96.0% spoke English and 3.5% Spanish as their first language.

There were 6,613 households, out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.6% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 29.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 104.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.4 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,626, and the median income for a family was $42,655. Males had a median income of $31,194 versus $25,440 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,190. About 10.5% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Historic Spanish Colonial Revival style Mariposa County High School, built in 1914.

The Government of Mariposa County is defined and authorized under the California Constitution and law as a general law county. The County government is composed of the Board of Supervisors, which has legislative and executive power. It is composed of five members elected from the five separate districts of the county, on a non-partisan basis, to serve four-year staggered terms.

State and federal representation

In the California State Legislature, Mariposa is in Template:Representative, and in Template:Representative.

In the United States House of Representatives, Mariposa County is in Template:Representative.<ref>Template:Cite GovTrack</ref>

Politics

In its early history Mariposa was one of the most reliable Democratic counties in California. Along with Colusa County, it was one of only two counties in the Pacific States to support Alton B. Parker in 1904.<ref>Menendez, Albert J.; The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, 1868-2004, pp. 153-155 Template:ISBN</ref> Over time, however, the county has steadily moved away from its Democratic roots, seen demonstrably in 1948 when Thomas E. Dewey won Mariposa without carrying California, as part of a trend turning the Great Basin into a rock-solid Republican stronghold.<ref>Mendendez; The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, p. 74</ref> Currently Mariposa is a strongly Republican county in Presidential and congressional elections. The last Democrat to win a majority in the county was Lyndon Johnson in 1964 but the last Democrat to win Mariposa was Bill Clinton in 1992 who won a plurality by 41 votes.

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On November 4, 2008, Mariposa County voted 62.1% for Proposition 8 which amended the California Constitution to ban same-sex marriages.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Voter registration

Crime

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

Healthcare

Mariposa County has one hospital, John C. Fremont Hospital.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

According to a 2013 study, Mariposa County had the highest rate of child abuse and neglect,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and as recently as 2014, had the second highest of rate of unvaccinated children<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> in the state of California.

Media

Mariposa County primarily receives the major Fresno TV and radio stations.

The county also has media outlets that serve the local community. These include:

Transportation

Major highways

Public transportation

Airports

Mariposa-Yosemite Airport is a general aviation airport. The nearest airports with scheduled flights are Fresno and Merced.

Communities

The historic Wawona Hotel, built in 1876

Census-designated places

Template:Div col

Template:Div col end Template:Font color Formerly known as the Crane Creek CDP; renamed in 2022

Unincorporated communities

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Mariposa County.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2020 census)
1 Lake Don Pedro CDP 1,765
2 † Mariposa CDP 1,526
3 Greeley Hill CDP 927
4 Catheys Valley CDP 829
5 Bootjack CDP 661
6 Midpines CDP 379
7 El Portal CDP 372
8 Yosemite Valley CDP 337
9 Bear Valley CDP 156
10 Mount Bullion CDP 154
11 Coulterville CDP 115
12 Wawona CDP 111
13 Fish Camp CDP 49
14 Yosemite West CDP 47
15 Hornitos CDP 38
16 Foresta CDP 29
17 Buck Meadows CDP 21

See also

Notes

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References

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Further reading

  • A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Merced, Stanislaus, Calaveras, Tuolumne and Mariposa, California. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1892.

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