View source for Alpine County, California

{{short description|County in California, United States}}
{{Distinguish|Alpine, California}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Alpine County
| settlement_type    = [[List of counties in California|County]]
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
  | total_width        = 280
  | border             = infobox
  | perrow             = 1/2/2/1
  | caption_align      = center
  | image1             = Deadwood_Peak,_California.jpg 
  | caption1           = [[Deadwood Peak (California)|Deadwood Peak]] in [[Eldorado National Forest]] 
  | image2             = Man scattering ashes, Grover Hot Springs State Park.jpg 
  | caption2           = [[Grover Hot Springs State Park|Grover Hot Springs]]
  | image3             = Bear Valley overlook.jpg
  | caption3           = [[Bear Valley, Alpine County, California|Bear Valley]]
  | image4             = Mokelumne_Peak_Dec_2021.jpg
  | caption4           = [[Mokelumne Peak]]
  | image5             = The Hope Valley Cabin.jpg
  | caption5           = [[Hope Valley (California)|Hope Valley]]
  }}
| image_flag         = Flag of Alpine County, California.svg
| flag_size          = 
| image_seal         = Seal of Alpine County, California.png
| seal_size          = 
| named_for          = Its location in the [[Sierra Nevada (U.S.)|Sierra Nevada]] resembling the ([[Swiss Alps|Swiss]]) [[Alps]]
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{nowrap|{{flagu|United States}}}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|California}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of regions of California|Region]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Sierra Nevada (U.S.)|Sierra Nevada]]
| seat_type          = [[County seat]]
| seat               = [[Markleeville, California|Markleeville]]
| parts_type         = Largest community
| parts              = [[Alpine Village, California|Alpine Village]]
| unit_pref          = US
| area_total_sq_mi   = 743
| area_land_sq_mi    = 738
| area_water_sq_mi   = 4.8
<!-- Elevation ------------->| elevation_max_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Sonora Peak |url=http://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=2585 |access-date=March 30, 2015 |publisher=Peakbagger.com}}</ref>
| elevation_max_ft   = 11,464
| elevation_min_footnotes = 
| elevation_min_ft   =
<!-- Population ----------->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 1204
| pop_est_as_of      = 2024
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 1099 {{loss}}
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
|demographics_type2        = GDP
| demographics2_footnotes  = <ref>{{Cite web|title= Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Alpine County, CA|url= https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/GDPALL06003|work=[[Federal Reserve Economic Data]] |publisher=[[Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis]]}}</ref>
|demographics2_title1     = Total
|demographics2_info1      = $0.117 billion (2022)
| established_title  = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date   = March 16, 1864<ref name="generalplan">{{Cite web |date=February 2009 |title=Alpine County General Plan |url=http://www.alpinecountyca.gov/files/General_Plan-MASTER_Reduced_Size_0.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721032251/http://www.alpinecountyca.gov/files/General_Plan-MASTER_Reduced_Size_0.pdf |archive-date=July 21, 2011 |access-date=March 10, 2011 |page=7}}</ref>
<!-- Government ----------->| government_type    = [[Council–manager government|Council–CAO]]
| leader_title       = Chair
| leader_name        = Charles Dobson
| leader_title1      = Vice Chair
| leader_name1       = David Griffith 
| governing_body     = {{Collapsible list
  | title = Board of Supervisors<ref>{{Cite web |title=Board of Supervisors &#124; Alpine County, CA - Official Website |url=http://www.alpinecountyca.gov/150/Board-of-Supervisors}}</ref> 
  | 1 = Charles Dobson
  | 2 = Evan Mecak 
  | 3 = Irvin Jim
  | 4 = Terry Woodrow
  | 5 = David Griffith
  }}
| leader_title4      = County Administrative Officer
| leader_name4       = Nichole Williamson
| timezone           = [[Pacific Standard Time]]
| utc_offset         = −8
| timezone_DST       = [[Pacific Daylight Time]]
| utc_offset_DST     = −7
| postal_code_type   = <!--[[ZIP Code]]-->
| postal_code        = 
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area codes]]
| area_code          = [[Area code 209|209]], [[Area code 530|530]]
| image_map          = {{Maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-width=250|frame-align=center|type=shape|fill=#ffffff|fill-opacity=0|stroke-width=3}}
| map_caption        = Interactive map of Alpine County
| image_map1         = Map of California highlighting Alpine County.svg
| mapsize1           = 200px
| map_caption1       = Location in the state of California
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS]] code
| blank_info         = 06-003
| blank1_name_sec1   = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info_sec1   = {{GNIS 4|1675840}}
| blank_name_sec2    = Congressional district
| blank_info_sec2    = [[California's 3rd congressional district|3rd]]
| website            = {{URL|www.alpinecountyca.gov}}
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Alpine County''' is a [[Counties of California|county]] in the eastern part of the U.S. state of [[California]] located within the [[Sierra Nevada]] on the state border with [[Nevada]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 1,204,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alpine County, California |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US06003 |access-date=January 30, 2022 |website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> making it California's [[List of California counties|least populous county]]. The [[county seat]] is [[Markleeville, California|Markleeville]] and the largest community is [[Alpine Village, California|Alpine Village]].<ref name="GR6">{{Cite web |title=NACo County Explorer |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |website=[[National Association of Counties]]}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Woods-Lake-Sierra-Nevada-Alpine-Janine-Sprout.jpg|thumb|left|Woods Lake, situated in Alpine County]]
The [[Washoe people]], a [[Indigenous peoples of the Great Basin|Great Basin tribe]], inhabited the [[Sierra Nevada]] on the [[California]]–[[Nevada]] boundary, with the Hung A Lel Ti band populating the [[Diamond Valley, California|Diamond Valley]] including what would become Alpine County.

[[Kit Carson]] and [[John C. Frémont]] were among the first explorers to bring nationwide attention to the Sierra Nevada region in their [[John C. Frémont#Second expedition (1843–1844)|winter 1844 expedition]], though the first known westerners to actually explore the area were [[Jedediah Smith]] and [[Joseph R. Walker]]. Though gold spurred the infrastructural development of Alpine County, the [[Comstock Lode]] found near [[Virginia City, Nevada]] and the subsequent silver boom was what triggered Alpine County's growth, even attracting [[Gold mining in Nevada|gold miners from neighboring Nevada]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=History of Alpine County |url=https://alpinecounty.com/alpine-county-history |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128190537/https://alpinecounty.com/alpine-county-history |archive-date=November 28, 2020 |access-date=January 19, 2021 |website=Alpine County Chamber of Commerce & Visitor's Center |language=en-US}}</ref> This prompted the formation on March 16, 1864, from parts of [[Amador County, California|Amador County]], [[Calaveras County, California|Calaveras County]], [[El Dorado County, California|El Dorado County]], [[Mono County, California|Mono County]] and [[Tuolumne County, California|Tuolumne County]].<ref name="generalplan" /> It was named Alpine County due to its resemblance to the [[Swiss Alps]].<ref name="BrightGudde1998">{{Cite book |last=William Bright |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CET4QodMZysC |title=1500 California place names: their origin and meaning |last2=Erwin Gustav Gudde |date=November 30, 1998 |publisher=[[University of California Press]] |isbn=978-0-520-21271-8 |page=14 |access-date=January 20, 2012}}</ref> At its formation, it had a population numbering around 11,000. By 1868, however, the local silver mines had proven unfruitful of replicating the Nevada silver boom and the population fell to about 685 in the [[1870 United States census|1870 Census]], a decline that would steadily continue through the 1950s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331183721/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/ |archive-date=March 31, 2016 |access-date=September 24, 2015 |website=[[University of Virginia Library]] |via=[[Wayback Machine]] |ref=University of Virginia}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> [[Silver Mountain, California|Silver Mountain]] (established as Köngsberg)<ref name="CGN">{{California's Geographic Names|1202}}</ref> was designated the county seat following the discovery of silver nearby by Norwegian miners.<ref name="GT">{{Ghost Towns of California|104}}</ref> [[Markleeville, California|Markleeville]], established by Jacob Markley in 1861 as a 160-acre claim encompassing a bridge and toll station, became the new county seat in 1875.<ref name="generalplan" /> The collapse of the silver industry and closing of mines was finalized with the [[Panic of 1873|demonetization of silver]] in 1873, and Silver Mountain was abandoned by 1886, with most businesses moving to Markleeville.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="GT" />

Following the devastating collapse of the silver industry, the population began quickly declining until the 1950s, falling to an all-time low of 241 in [[1930 United States census|1930]].<ref name=":1" /> During this time, its small economy limited the county to serving primarily as a trading center for the local farming and lumber industries, as well as fishing and hunting during the 1930s. Several lots in the county were left vacant.<ref name=":0" />

Alpine County finally managed an economic rebound with the construction of the [[Bear Valley (resort)|Bear Valley]] and [[Kirkwood Mountain Resort|Kirkwood]] ski resorts in the late 1960s, the latter of which is split with [[Amador County, California|Amador County]]. The population shot up from 484 in [[1970 United States census|1970]] to 1,097 in [[1980 United States census|1980]], a 126.65% increase, and has remained around that level.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=March 27, 1995 |editor-last=Forstall |editor-first=Richard L. |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ca190090.txt |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000410230159/http://www.census.gov:80/population/cencounts/ca190090.txt |archive-date=April 10, 2000 |access-date=September 24, 2015 |website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |ref=1900}}</ref> The three [[List of national forests of the United States|national forests]] ([[Eldorado National Forest|Eldorado]], [[Humboldt–Toiyabe National Forest|Humboldt–Toiyabe]] and [[Stanislaus National Forest|Stanislaus]]) means 96% of the county is owned by the federal government,<ref name=":2" /> providing opportunities for economic development and tourism to the skiing resorts as well as historical tourism and outdoor recreation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Permits & Other Info |url=https://alpinecounty.com/permits-%26-other-info |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928162046/https://alpinecounty.com/permits-%26-other-info |archive-date=September 28, 2020 |access-date=November 24, 2021 |website=Alpine County Chamber of Commerce}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has an area of {{convert|743|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|738|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|4.8|sqmi}} (0.7%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_06.txt |access-date=September 24, 2015 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The federal government [[Federal lands|owns]] about 96% of Alpine County, the highest percentage in California,<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Sabalow |first=Ryan |last2=Kasler |first2=Dale |last3=Reese |first3=Phillip |date=January 9, 2016 |title=Rural Californians sympathize with protesters' goals in Oregon standoff |url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/article53922925.html |work=[[The Sacramento Bee]]}}</ref> including three [[National forest (United States)|national forests]]: [[Eldorado National Forest|Eldorado]] (54,318 acres, or 7.81% of the 695,098-acre total), [[Stanislaus National Forest|Stanislaus]] (119,805 acres, or 13.32% of the 899,427 acre-total) and [[Humboldt–Toiyabe National Forest|Humboldt–Toiyabe]] (233,962 acres, or 3.72% of the 6,290,945 acre-total).<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 30, 2015 |title=Land Areas of the National Forest System |url=https://www.fs.fed.us/land/staff/lar/LAR2015/FY2015%20LAR%20Book.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125100853/http://www.fs.fed.us/land/staff/lar/LAR2015/FY2015%20LAR%20Book.pdf |archive-date=January 25, 2016 |access-date=January 20, 2021 |website=[[United States Forest Service]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=November 18, 2008 |title=Table 6 – NFS Acreage by State, Congressional District and County |url=https://www.fs.fed.us/land/staff/lar/2008/TABLE_6.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018233835/https://www.fs.fed.us/land/staff/lar/2008/TABLE_6.htm |archive-date=October 18, 2020 |access-date=January 20, 2021 |website=[[United States Forest Service]] |via=[[Wayback Machine]]}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
* [[El Dorado County, California|El Dorado County]] – northwest
* [[Douglas County, Nevada]] – northeast
* [[Mono County, California|Mono County]] – southeast
* [[Tuolumne County, California|Tuolumne County]] – south
* [[Calaveras County, California|Calaveras County]] – southwest
* [[Amador County, California|Amador County]] – west

===National protected areas===
* [[Eldorado National Forest]] (part)
* [[Stanislaus National Forest]] (part)
* [[Toiyabe National Forest]] (part)

==Geology==

Alpine County's geology is characterized by granitic intrusions, volcanic activity, and glacial sculpting. A significant portion of Alpine County is underlain by granitic rocks of the [[Sierra Nevada Batholith]],<ref>{{cite map |editor-last1=Saucedo |editor-first1=George J. |date= |year=2005 |title=Geologic Map of the Lake Tahoe Basin California and Nevada|url=https://www.conservation.ca.gov/cgs/Documents/Publications/Regional-Geologic-Maps/RGM_004/RGM_004_TahoeBasin_2005.pdf|format=PDF |scale=1:100,000 |series=Regional Geologic Map Series|publisher= California Department of Conservation California Geological Survey |access-date=2025-06-03}}</ref> a vast composite of plutonic rocks formed during the Mesozoic Era, that extends along the Sierra Nevada mountain range.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bateman |first1=Paul C. |title=Plutonism in the central part of the Sierra Nevada Batholith, California |journal=USGS Numbered Series |date=1992 |issue=1483 |doi=10.3133/pp1483 |url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/pp1483 |access-date=3 June 2025|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

During the [[Miocene]] epoch, the region experienced extensive volcanic activity, leading to the deposition of andesitic lava flows, ash-flow tuffs, and volcanic breccias.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hagan |first1=Jeanette C. |last2=Busby |first2=Cathy J. |last3=Putirka |first3=Keith |last4=Renne |first4=Paul R. |title=Cenozoic palaeocanyon evolution, Ancestral Cascades arc volcanism, and structure of the Hope Valley–Carson Pass region, Sierra Nevada, California |journal=International Geology Review |date=September 2009 |volume=51 |issue=9-11 |pages=777–823 |doi=10.1080/00206810903028102}}</ref> These volcanic deposits are particularly evident along [[Monitor Pass]] and [[Ebbetts Pass]]. The [[Pleistocene]] epoch brought significant glaciation to Alpine County, carving out characteristic alpine landforms such as U-shaped valleys, cirques, and moraines. These glacial features are prominent in areas like the [[Mokelumne]] and Carson-Iceberg Wildernesses.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Moore |first1=James G. |last2=Moring |first2=Barry C. |title=Rangewide glaciation in the Sierra Nevada, California |journal=Geosphere |date=December 2013 |volume=9 |issue=6 |pages=1804–1818 |doi=10.1130/GES00891.1|doi-access=free }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 685
|1880= 539
|1890= 667
|1900= 509
|1910= 309
|1920= 243
|1930= 241
|1940= 323
|1950= 241
|1960= 397
|1970= 484
|1980= 1097
|1990= 1113
|2000= 1208
|2010= 1175
|2020= 1204
|estyear=2024
|estimate=1099
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024 |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html |access-date=May 9, 2025 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{Cite web |title=Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html |access-date=January 24, 2022 |publisher=[[US Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=September 24, 2015 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 27, 1995 |editor-last=Forstall |editor-first=Richard L. |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ca190090.txt |access-date=September 24, 2015 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 2, 2001 |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |access-date=September 24, 2015 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Alpine County, California – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 1980<ref>{{Cite web |title=California: 1980, General Social and Economic Characteristics, Part 1|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_caCs1-01.pdf|access-date=}}</ref>
!Pop 1990<ref>{{Cite web |title=California: 1990, Part 1 |website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-6-1.pdf |access-date=July 14, 2024}}</ref>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Alpine County, California|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US06003&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Alpine County, California|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US06003&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" | Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Alpine County, California|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US06003&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!% 1980
!% 1990
!% 2000
!% 2010
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|901
|772
|867
|852
|style='background: #ffffe6; |801
|82.13%
|69.36%
|71.77%
|72.51%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |66.53%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|3
|5
|7
|0
|style='background: #ffffe6; |10
|0.27%
|0.45%
|0.58%
|0.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.83%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|146
|257
|188
|210
|style='background: #ffffe6; |214
|13.31%
|23.09%
|15.56%
|17.87%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |17.77%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|5
|5
|4
|7
|style='background: #ffffe6; |12
|0.46%
|0.45%
|0.33%
|0.60%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.00%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|x
|x
|1
|0
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0
|x
|x
|0.08%
|0.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|0
|0
|6
|1
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7
|0.00%
|0.00%
|0.50%
|0.09%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.58%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|x
|x
|41
|21
|style='background: #ffffe6; |76
|x
|x
|3.39%
|1.79%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6.31%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|42
|74
|94
|84
|style='background: #ffffe6; |84
|3.83%
|6.65%
|7.78%
|7.15%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6.98%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''1,097'''
|'''1,113'''
|'''1,208'''
|'''1,175'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''1,204 '''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

===2019 American Community Survey estimates===
{{Hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#ccccff;|title=2019 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates: Alpine County, California}}
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="3" |Population<ref name="ACS Age and Sex 5-Year Estimates">{{Cite web |title=2019 ACS Age and Sex 5-Year Estimates |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Age&t=Age%20and%20Sex&g=0500000US06003&tid=ACSST5Y2019.S0101&moe=false&hidePreview=false |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128211519/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Age&t=Age%20and%20Sex&g=0500000US06003&tid=ACSST5Y2019.S0101&moe=false&hidePreview=false |archive-date=January 28, 2021 |access-date=January 20, 2021 |website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
|-
!Group
!Estimate
!Percent
|-
|Total population
| colspan="2" |1,039
|-
! colspan="3" |Sex<ref name="ACS Age and Sex 5-Year Estimates" />
|-
!Group
!Estimate
!Percent
|-
|Male
|554
|53.32%
|-
|Female
|485
|46.68%
|-
|Sex ratio (males per 100 females)
|92.8
|114.2
|-
! colspan="3" |Age<ref name="ACS Age and Sex 5-Year Estimates" />
|-
!Group
!Estimate
!Percent
|-
|Under 5 years
|44
|4.23%
|-
|5 to 9 years
|50
|4.81%
|-
|10 to 14 years
|73
|7.03%
|-
|15 to 19 years
|59
|5.68%
|-
|20 to 24 years
|43
|4.14%
|-
|25 to 29 years
|21
|2.02%
|-
|30 to 34 years
|45
|4.33%
|-
|35 to 39 years
|86
|8.28%
|-
|40 to 44 years
|62
|5.97%
|-
|45 to 49 years
|13
|1.25%
|-
|50 to 54 years
|43
|4.14%
|-
|55 to 59 years
|73
|7.03%
|-
|60 to 64 years
|116
|11.16%
|-
|65 to 69 years
|97
|9.34%
|-
|70 to 74 years
|133
|12.80%
|-
|75 to 79 years
|54
|5.20%
|-
|80 to 84 years
|4
|0.38%
|-
|85 years and over
|23
|2.21%
|-
|Median age (years)
| colspan="2" |52.2
|-
|[[Dependency ratio|Age dependency ratio]]
| colspan="2" |97.2
|-
|Old-age dependency ratio
| colspan="2" |59.0
|-
|Child dependency ratio
| colspan="2" |38.1
|-
! colspan="3" |[[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|Race]]<ref name=":99">{{Cite web |title=2019 ACS Demographic and Housing 5-Year Estimates |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?text=Demographics&g=0500000US06003&tid=ACSDP5Y2019.DP05&moe=false&hidePreview=false |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121021637/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?text=Demographics&g=0500000US06003&tid=ACSDP5Y2019.DP05&moe=false&hidePreview=false |archive-date=January 21, 2021 |access-date=January 20, 2021 |website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
|-
!Group
!Estimate
!Percent
|-
|White
|599
|57.65%
|-
|Black or African American
|9
|0.87%
|-
|American Indian or Alaska Native
|353
|33.97%
|-
|''--- Cherokee tribal grouping''
|''0''
|''0.00%''
|-
|''--- Chippewa tribal grouping''
|''0''
|''0.00%''
|-
|''--- Navajo tribal grouping''
|''0''
|''0.00%''
|-
|''--- Sioux tribal grouping''
|''0''
|''0.00%''
|-
|Asian
|10
|0.96%
|-
|''--- Asian Indian''
|''0''
|''0.00%''
|-
|''--- Chinese''
|''0''
|''0.00%''
|-
|''--- Filipino''
|''0''
|''0.00%''
|-
|''--- Japanese''
|''0''
|''0.00%''
|-
|''--- Korean''
|''0''
|''0.00%''
|-
|''--- Vietnamese''
|''5''
|''0.48%''
|-
|''--- Other Asian''
|''5''
|''0.48%''
|-
|Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander
|6
|0.58%
|-
|''--- Native Hawaiian''
|''6''
|''0.58%''
|-
|''--- Guamanian or Chamorro''
|''0''
|''0.00%''
|-
|''--- Samoan''
|''0''
|''0.00%''
|-
|''--- Other Pacific Islander''
|''0''
|''0.00%''
|-
|Some other race
|9
|0.87%
|-
|Two or more races
|53
|5.10%
|-
|''--- White and Black or African American''
|''0''
|''0.00%''
|-
|''--- White and American Indian and Alaska Native''
|''47''
|''4.52%''
|-
|''--- White and Asian''
|''0''
|''0.00%''
|-
|''--- Black or African American and''
''American Indian and Alaska Native''
|''0''
|''0.00%''
|-
! colspan="3" |[[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|Hispanic or Latino and race]]<ref name=":99" />
|-
!Group
!Estimate
!Percent
|-
|Hispanic or Latino
|130
|12.51%
|-
|''--- Mexican''
|''116''
|''11.16%''
|-
|''--- Puerto Rican''
|''0''
|''0.00%''
|-
|''--- Cuban''
|''0''
|''0.00%''
|-
|''--- Other Hispanic or Latino''
|''14''
|''1.35%''
|-
|Not Hispanic or Latino
|909
|87.49%
|-
|''--- White''
|''551''
|''53.03%''
|-
|''--- Black or African American''
|''9''
|''0.87%''
|-
|''--- American Indian and Alaska Native''
|''314''
|''30.22%''
|-
|''--- Asian''
|''10''
|''0.96%''
|-
|''--- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander''
|''0''
|''0.00%''
|-
|''--- Some other race''
|''0''
|''0.00%''
|-
|''--- Two or more races''
|''25''
|''2.41%''
|-
! colspan="3" |Voting Age Population<ref name=":99" />
|-
!Group
!Estimate
!Percent
|-
|Voting Age Population
|815
|78.44%
|-
|''--- Male''
|''428''
|''41.19%''
|-
|''--- Female''
|''387''
|''37.25%''
|-
! colspan="3" |Nativity and citizenship status<ref>{{Cite web |title=2019 ACS Place of Birth by Nativity and Citizenship Status 5-Year Estimates |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=B05002:%20PLACE%20OF%20BIRTH%20BY%20NATIVITY%20AND%20CITIZENSHIP%20STATUS&g=0500000US06003&tid=ACSDT5Y2019.B05002&hidePreview=false |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121025733/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=B05002%3A+PLACE+OF+BIRTH+BY+NATIVITY+AND+CITIZENSHIP+STATUS&g=0500000US06003&tid=ACSDT5Y2019.B05002&hidePreview=false |archive-date=January 21, 2021 |access-date=January 20, 2021 |website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
|-
!Group
!Estimate
!Percent
|-
|Native (born in the United States)
|986
|94.90%
|-
|''--- Born in California''
|''524''
|''50.43%''
|-
|''--- Born in other U.S. state''
|''446''
|''42.93%''
|-
|''------ [[Northeastern United States|Northeastern]] state''
|''65''
|''6.26%''
|-
|''------ [[Midwestern United States|Midwestern]] state''
|''65''
|''6.26%''
|-
|''------ [[Southern United States|Southern]] state''
|''41''
|''3.95%''
|-
|''------ [[Western United States|Western]] state''
|''275''
|''26.47%''
|-
|''--- Native born outside U.S. states''
|''16''
|''1.54%''
|-
|''------ [[Puerto Rico]]''
|''0''
|''0.00%''
|-
|''------ [[List of islands of the United States|U.S. Island Areas]]''
|''0''
|''0.00%''
|-
|''------ [[Birthright citizenship in the United States|Born abroad of American parents]]''
|''16''
|''1.54%''
|-
|Foreign Born
|53
|5.10%
|-
|''--- Naturalized U.S. citizen''
|''30''
|''2.89%''
|-
|''------ [[Europe]]''
|''16''
|''1.54%''
|-
|''------ [[Asia]]''
|''14''
|''1.35%''
|-
|''------ [[Africa]]''
|''0''
|''0.00%''
|-
|''------ [[Oceania]]''
|''0''
|''0.00%''
|-
|''------ [[Latin America]]''
|''0''
|''0.00%''
|-
|''------ [[Northern America]]''
|''0''
|''0.00%''
|-
|''--- Not a U.S. citizen''
|''23''
|''2.21%''
|-
|''------ [[Europe]]''
|''0''
|''0.00%''
|-
|''------ [[Asia]]''
|''5''
|''0.48%''
|-
|''------ [[Africa]]''
|''0''
|''0.00%''
|-
|''------ [[Oceania]]''
|''0''
|''0.00%''
|-
|''------ [[Latin America]]''
|''18''
|''1.73%''
|-
|''------ [[Northern America]]''
|''0''
|''0.00%''
|-
|}
{{Hidden end}}

===2010 Census===
The [[2010 United States census]] reported that Alpine County had a population of 1,175. The racial makeup of Alpine County was 881 (75.0%) [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0 (0.0%) [[African American (U.S. census)|African American]], 240 (20.4%) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 7 (0.6%) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0 (0.0%) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 19 (1.6%) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 28 (2.4%) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 84 persons (7.1%).<ref>{{USCensus2010CA}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
!colspan="10"|Population reported at [[2010 United States census]]
|-
|{{center|'''The County'''}} ||{{center|'''Total<br/>Population'''}}||{{center|'''[[White (U.S. Census)|White]]'''}} ||{{center|'''[[African American (U.S. census)|African<br/>American]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native<br/>American]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific<br/>Islander]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Race (United States Census)|other<br/>races]]'''}} || {{center|'''two or<br/>more races'''}} ||{{center|'''[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]]<br/>or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]<br/>(of any race)'''}}
|-
|''' Alpine County'''
|align="right"|1175||align="right"|881||align="right"|0||align="right"|240||align="right"|7||align="right"|0||align="right"|19||align="right"|28||align="right"|84
|-
|{{center|'''[[Census-designated place|Census-designated<br/>places]]'''}} ||{{center|'''Total<br/>Population'''}}||{{center|'''[[White (U.S. Census)|White]]'''}} ||{{center|'''[[African American (U.S. census)|African<br/>American]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native<br/>American]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific<br/>Islander]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Race (United States Census)|other<br/>races]]'''}} || {{center|'''two or<br/>more races'''}} ||{{center|'''[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]]<br/>or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]<br/>(of any race)'''}}
|-
|'''[[Alpine Village, California|Alpine Village]]'''
|align="right"|114||align="right"|91||align="right"|0||align="right"|19||align="right"|1||align="right"|0||align="right"|2||align="right"|1||align="right"|6
|-
|'''[[Bear Valley, Alpine County, California|Bear Valley]] '''
|align="right"|121||align="right"|119||align="right"|0||align="right"|0||align="right"|1||align="right"|0||align="right"|0||align="right"|1||align="right"|1
|-
|'''[[Kirkwood, California|Kirkwood]]‡'''
|align="right"|97||align="right"|94||align="right"|0||align="right"|3||align="right"|0||align="right"|0||align="right"|0||align="right"|0||align="right"|0
|-
|'''[[Markleeville, California|Markleeville]] '''
|align="right"|210||align="right"|192||align="right"|0||align="right"|4||align="right"|2||align="right"|0||align="right"|6||align="right"|6||align="right"|11
|-
|'''[[Mesa Vista, California|Mesa Vista]]'''
|align="right"|200||align="right"|178||align="right"|0||align="right"|15||align="right"|2||align="right"|0||align="right"|0||align="right"|5||align="right"|11
|-
|{{center|'''Other<br/>[[unincorporated area]]s'''}} ||{{center|'''Total<br/>Population'''}}||{{center|'''[[White (U.S. Census)|White]]'''}} ||{{center|'''[[African American (U.S. census)|African<br/>American]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native<br/>American]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific<br/>Islander]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Race (United States Census)|other<br/>races]]'''}} || {{center|'''two or<br/>more races'''}} ||{{center|'''[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]]<br/>or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]<br/>(of any race)'''}}
|-
|All others not CDPs (combined)
|align="right"|433||align="right"|217||align="right"|0||align="right"|199||align="right"|1||align="right"|0||align="right"|11||align="right"|15||align="right"|51
|-
!colspan="10"|‡ – census results for the portion of this CDP in Alpine County
|}

===2000===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census website |url=https://www.census.gov |access-date=January 31, 2008 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> of 2000, there were 1,208 people, 483 households, and 295 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 1,514 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 73.7% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.6% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 18.9% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.3% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.4% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 5.1% from two or more races. 7.8% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 12.1% were of [[German people|German]], 12.1% [[Irish people|Irish]], 9.3% [[English people|English]], 6.5% [[United States|American]] and 5.7% [[Italian people|Italian]] ancestry. 95.0% spoke [[English language|English]], 3.1% [[Spanish language|Spanish]] and 2.0% [[Washo language|Washo]] as their first language.

There were 483 households, out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.8% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 29.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 110.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 117.2 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,875, and the median income for a family was $50,250. Males had a median income of $36,544 versus $25,800 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $24,431. About 12.0% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 27.4% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

{{clear}}

==Politics==
Throughout the 20th century, Alpine County was a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] stronghold in [[President of the United States|presidential]] and [[United States Congress|congressional]] elections. From 1892 until 2004, the only [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] to carry Alpine County in a presidential election was [[Franklin Roosevelt]] in [[1932 United States presidential election in California|1932]] and [[1936 United States presidential election in California|1936]]. In [[1964 United States presidential election in California|1964]], Alpine was one of only five counties in the state to back [[Barry Goldwater]]. It was among the five most Republican counties in the entire nation in [[1892 United States presidential election in California|1892]],<ref>Dave Leip’s Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections; [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/stats.php?year=1892&f=0&off=0&elect=0 1892 Presidential Election Statistics]</ref> [[1908 United States presidential election in California|1908]],<ref>Dave Leip’s Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections; [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/stats.php?year=1908&f=0&off=0&elect=0 1908 Presidential Election Statistics]</ref> [[1920 United States presidential election in California|1920]],<ref>Dave Leip’s Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections; [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/stats.php?year=1920&f=0&off=0&elect=0 1920 Presidential Election Statistics]</ref> and [[1928 United States presidential election in California|1928]].<ref>Dave Leip’s Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections; [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/stats.php?year=1928&f=0&off=0&elect=0 1928 Presidential Election Statistics]</ref> [[Warren G. Harding|Warren Harding]] and [[Herbert Hoover]] gained over ninety percent of the county's vote. However, Alpine has become more of a Democratic county in recent elections. It was carried by [[John Kerry]] in [[2004 United States presidential election in California|2004]] and has stayed in the Democratic column since. No Republican has won a majority in the county since [[1988 United States presidential election in California|1988]]. In [[2024 United States presidential election in California|2024]], Alpine County was the only county in California to swing to the left, giving [[Kamala Harris]] a larger margin of victory than [[Joe Biden]] in [[2020 United States presidential election in California|2020]].

{{PresHead|place=Alpine County, California}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|65|17|4|California}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|40|39|2|California}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|69|15|0|California}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|74|9|0|California}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|75|11|0|California}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|8|34|38|California}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|60|23|0|California}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|64|6|0|California}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|52|5|2|California}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|49|3|0|California}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|53|56|3|California}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|74|85|0|California}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|125|62|1|California}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|98|45|0|California}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|106|25|7|California}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|148|20|0|California}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|114|29|0|California}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|132|40|0|California}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|124|91|0|California}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|150|83|20|California}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|366|195|15|California}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|225|189|33|California}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|254|133|74|California}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|264|194|8|California}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|306|230|16|California}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|222|215|194|California}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|264|258|92|California}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|281|265|40|California}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|311|373|17|California}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|252|422|20|California}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|236|389|29|California}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|217|334|51|California}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|244|476|26|California}}
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|243|479|22|California}}
{{PresFoot}}

In November 2008, Alpine was one of just three counties in California's interior in which voters rejected [[California Proposition 8 (2008)|Proposition 8]], the ballot initiative to amend the [[California Constitution]] to reject the legal extension of the title of marriage to same-sex couples. Alpine voters rejected Proposition 8 by 56.4 percent to 43.6 percent. The only other inland counties in which Proposition 8 failed to receive a majority of votes were [[Yolo County, California|Yolo County]] and Alpine's neighbor [[Mono County, California|Mono County]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 16, 2014 |title=California results |url=http://www.latimes.com/local/la-2008election-california-results-htmlstory.html |access-date=March 26, 2018 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>

Alpine County is in {{Representative|cacd|3|fmt=district}}.<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|3|access-date=June 9, 2023}}</ref> In the [[California State Assembly|State Assembly]], the county is in {{Representative|caad|1|fmt=adistrict}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Members Assembly |url=https://assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers |access-date=October 9, 2025 |publisher=State of California}}</ref> In the [[California State Senate|State Senate]], the county is in {{Representative|casd|4|fmt=sdistrict}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Senators |url=https://senate.ca.gov/senators |access-date=October 9, 2025 |publisher=State of California}}</ref>

Due to its low population density, Alpine County votes entirely by [[Postal voting|mail]], one of two counties in California which do so.<ref>{{Cite news |title=No voters at these polls |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2012/11/no-voters-at-these-polls.html |access-date=March 17, 2013 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> In the June 2014 primary elections, about 22% of registered voters statewide went to the polls; in Alpine County, the number was almost 70%, the highest of any county in the state.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mehta |first=Seema |date=June 17, 2014 |title=California's least-populous county takes voting seriously |url=http://www.latimes.com/local/politics/la-me-pol-alpine-county-20140614-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>

===Stonewall Nation===
Gay activist Don Jackson seriously presented an idea for taking over Alpine County at a December 28, 1969, gay liberation conference in Berkeley, California. The project, which eventually became known as [[Stonewall Nation]], was subsequently surreptitiously used by fellow gay activists [[Morris Kight]] and [[Don Kilhefner]] as an agitation and propaganda tool with no serious plans to bring the idea to fruition.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 2021 |title=In 1970, a Group of Gay Angelenos Plotted to Turn a Rural California County into a Gay Utopia |url=https://www.lamag.com/mag-features/alpine-county-gay-liberation-front/#:~:text=LGBTQ-,In%201970%2C%20a%20Group%20of%20Gay%20Angelenos%20Plotted%20to%20Turn,County%20into%20a%20Gay%20Utopia&text=One%20night%2C%20Don%20Jackson,for%20coming%20out%20as%20gay.}}</ref> Once the political theater aspect of the project was exposed, planning for the Alpine County project came to a halt even among demoralized true believers.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Algeo |first1=Matthew |title=Gaytopia |url=https://getpocket.com/explore/item/gaytopia?utm_source=pocket-newtab-en-us |website=getpocket.com |publisher=Truly*Adventurous |access-date=28 May 2024 |date=January 27, 2021}}</ref>

===Posse Comitatus controversy===
In the late 1970s, the [[Posse Comitatus (organization)#Alpine County.2C California|Posse Comitatus organization]] attempted to take over Alpine County by settling there and fielding candidates in local elections.<ref name="TerroristNextDoor">{{Cite book |last=Levitas |first=Daniel |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aS2L9yeTYb4C&q=alpine+county&pg=PA164 |title=The Terrorist Next Door: The Militia Movement and the Radical Right |date=January 20, 2004 |publisher=Macmillan |isbn=9781429941808 |page=164 |access-date=June 29, 2014}}</ref> The Posse thought winning local elections in Alpine County was their best opportunity to take control of a single county. The group fielded a candidate for sheriff and registered fictitious voters using post office boxes and vacant lots as their addresses. Six people were prosecuted for voter fraud, the false registrations were thrown out, and the incumbent sheriff was re-elected.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Duncan |first=Dayton |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7Nv6BQ74lsIC&q=alpine+county+elections&pg=PA258 |title=Miles from Nowhere: Tales from America's Contemporary Frontier |date=September 2000 |publisher=University of Nebraska Press |isbn=0803266278 |page=259 |access-date=June 29, 2014}}</ref>

===Voter registration statistics===
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|-
! colspan="3" | Population and registered voters
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | Total eligible population<ref name="2022reg">{{Cite web |title=Statement of Vote, November 8, 2022, General Election |url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2022-general/sov/complete.pdf |access-date=May 5, 2023 |website=California Secretary of State}}</ref>
| colspan="2" | 1,015
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;Registered voters<ref name="2022reg" /><ref name="PCT-RV" group="note">Percentage of registered voters with respect to total population. Percentages of party members with respect to registered voters follow.</ref>
| 915
| 90.1%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Democratic<ref name="2022reg" />
| 388
| 42.4%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Republican<ref name="2022reg" />
| 216
| 23.6%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Democratic–Republican spread<ref name="2022reg" />
| <span style="color:#00f;">'''+172'''</span>
| <span style="color:#00f;">'''+18.8%'''</span>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;American Independent<ref name="2022reg" />
| 50
| 5.5%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Libertarian<ref name="2022reg" />
| 18
| 1.9%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Green<ref name="2022reg" />
| 8
| 0.8%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Peace and Freedom<ref name="2022reg" />
| 3
| 0.0%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Other<ref name="2022reg" />
| 2
| 0.0%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Other<ref name="2022reg" />
| 3
| 0.0%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;No party preference<ref name="2022reg" />
| 277
| 30.3%
|}

==Transportation==

===Major highways===
*[[Image:California 4.svg|20px|link= |alt=]] [[California State Route 4|State Route 4]]
*[[Image:California 88.svg|20px|link= |alt=]] [[California State Route 88|State Route 88]]
*[[Image:California 89.svg|20px|link= |alt=]] [[California State Route 89|State Route 89]]
*[[Image:California 108.svg|20px|link= |alt=]] [[California State Route 108|State Route 108]]
*[[Image:California 207.svg|20px|link= |alt=]] [[California State Route 207|State Route 207]]

===Airport===
[[Alpine County Airport]] is a general aviation airport in the Eastern Sierra about {{convert|4|mi|km}} from the town of [[Markleeville, California|Markleeville]]. The airport consists of a simple airstrip with an apron for small light aircraft to park. The airport has no buildings, no lights, and is rarely used. The airport is popular with astronomers due to the clear, dark skies.{{Citation needed|date=April 2019}}

==Communities==
[[File:Map of Alpine County, California.png|thumb|Locator map of communities in Alpine County]]
All communities in Alpine County are [[Unincorporated area|unincorporated]]:
{{div col}}
*[[Alpine Village, California|Alpine Village]]{{r|CDP| group=note}}
*[[Bear Valley, Alpine County, California|Bear Valley]]{{r|CDP| group=note}}
*[[Fredericksburg, California|Fredericksburg]]
*[[Kirkwood, California|Kirkwood]]{{r|CDP| group=note}}
*[[Lake Alpine, California|Lake Alpine]]
*[[Loope, California|Loope]]
*[[Markleeville, California|Markleeville]] (county seat){{r|CDP| group=note}}
*[[Mesa Vista, California|Mesa Vista]]{{r|CDP| group=note}}
*[[Paynesville, California|Paynesville]]
*[[Sorensens, California|Sorensens]]
*[[Woodfords, California|Woodfords]]
{{div col end}}

The only other counties in California with no incorporated cities are [[Mariposa County, California|Mariposa]] and [[Trinity County, California|Trinity]].

===Population ranking===
The population ranking of the following table is based on the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]] of Alpine County.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020 U.S. Census website |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.2020.html |access-date=December 6, 2021 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

'''†''' ''county seat''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Rank
!City/Town/etc.
!Municipal type
!Population (2020 census)

|- style="background-color:#FFFF99;"
| 1
|'''[[Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California#Woodfords Community|Woodfords Community]]'''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Website Services & Coordination |title=US Census Bureau 2010 Census Interactive Population Map |url=https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=4665 |access-date=March 26, 2018 |website=www.census.gov}}{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
| [[AIAN (U.S. Census)|AIAN]]
| 225
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 2
|'''[[Alpine Village, California|Alpine Village]]''' 
| CDP
| 224
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 3
|'''[[Mesa Vista, California|Mesa Vista]]''' 
| CDP
| 217
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 4
|'''†''' '''[[Markleeville, California|Markleeville]]''' 
| CDP
| 191
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 5
|'''[[Kirkwood, California|Kirkwood]]''' (''partially in [[Amador County, California|Amador County]]'')
| CDP
| 190
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 6
|'''[[Bear Valley, Alpine County, California|Bear Valley]]''' 
| CDP
| 128
|}

== See also ==
*[[Alpine County Unified School District]]
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Alpine County, California]]
*[[Stonewall Nation]], a proposal by gay activists to colonize Alpine County in the 1970s
*[[List of counties in California]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=note|refs=
<ref name="CDP" group="note">For statistical purposes, defined by the United States Census Bureau as a [[census-designated place]] (CDP).</ref>
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage|Alpine County}}
* {{Official website}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Alpine County, California
|North     = [[Douglas County, Nevada]]
|Northeast = 
|East      = [[Mono County, California|Mono County]]
|Southeast = 
|South     = [[Tuolumne County, California|Tuolumne County]]
|Southwest = [[Calaveras County, California|Calaveras County]]
|West      = [[Amador County, California|Amador County]]
|Northwest = [[El Dorado County, California|El Dorado County]]
}} 
{{Cities of Alpine County, California}}
{{California}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|38.58|-119.80|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-CA_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Alpine County, California| ]]
[[Category:California counties]]
[[Category:1864 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1864]]