Butte County, California
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Butte County, California | |
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| Map | |
 Location in the state of California |
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 California's location in the USA |
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| Statistics | |
| Founded | 1850 |
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| Seat | Oroville |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
4,344 km² (1,677 mi²) 4,246 km² (1,639 mi²) 97 km² (38 mi²), 2.24% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
203,171 48/km² |
| Website: www.buttecounty.net | |
Butte County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, north of state capital Sacramento. As of the 2000 census, it had a population of 203,171. 2005 estimates place this at 214,185. The county seat is Oroville. Butte County is the "Land of Natural Wealth and Beauty."
Butte County is watered by the Feather River and the Sacramento River. Butte Creek and Big Chico Creek are additional perennial streams, both tributary to the Sacramento. It is the site of Feather Falls, the sixth largest waterfall in the United States. The county is the home of California State University, Chico and of Butte Community College.
There are four major hospitals and the State of California defines Butte County as being inside Health Service Area 1. A special district, the Butte County Air Quality Management District, regulates airborne pollutant emissions in the county. It does this following regional regulations, state, and federal laws. For example, in recent years, the agency changed rules that used to allow residents to burn household trash outdoors.
Several movies have been filmed in Butte County, including Gone with the Wind, The Outlaw Josie Wales, Friendly Persuasion, Magic Town, The Klansman, Ruby Ridge: An American Tragedy ,The Adventures of Robin Hood",and Under Wraps.
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[edit] History
Butte County was one of California's first counties, created in 1850 at time of statehood. Part of the county's territory was given to Plumas County in 1854 and to Tehama County in 1856.
Its name is derived from the Marysville or Sutter Buttes, which lay within the boundaries when it was created. The word butte is derived from the Teutonic word meaning "a blunt extension or elevation." In the French language, it signifies "a small hill or mound of earth detached from any mountain range." Butte is the only California County whose name is a French word. There is also Butte Creek (California) which flows through Butte County, and has buttes.
[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,344 km² (1,677 mi²). 4,246 km² (1,639 mi²) of it is land and 97 km² (38 mi²) of it (2.24%) is water.
The county is drained by the Feather River and Butte Creek. Part of the county's western border is formed by the Sacramento River. The county lies along the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, the steep slopes making it prime territory for the sighting of hydroelectric power plants. About a half dozen of these plants are located in the county.
[edit] Cities and towns
[edit] Unincorporated communities
- Cohasset
- Concow
- Durham
- Magalia
- Oroville East
- Palermo
- Richvale
- South Oroville
- Stirling City
- Thermalito
[edit] Ghost Towns
- Hamilton - the original county seat of Butte County, this city has long been forgotten; the only reminder of it is now an overgrown cemetery.
- Bidwell's Bar - now located under Lake Oroville
- Forks of Butte
[edit] Adjacent Counties
- Yuba County, California - south
- Sutter County, California - south
- Colusa County, California - southwest
- Glenn County, California - west
- Tehama County, California - north
- Plumas County, California - east
[edit] Transportation Infrastructure
[edit] Major Highways
[edit] Public Transportation
Butte Regional Transit or the B-Line, provides service in and between Chico, Oroville, Paradise, Gridley and Biggs. Chico is also a connection point for pGlenn Ride buses to Glenn County and Plumas Transit Systems buses to Plumas County.
Greyhound buses stop in Chico.
[edit] Airports
General Aviation airports in Butte County include:
- Chico Municipal Airport
- Oroville Municipal Airport
- Paradise Airport
- Ranchaero Airport
- Richvale Airport
[edit] Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 203,171 people, 79,566 households, and 49,410 families residing in the county. The population density was 48/km² (124/mi²). There were 85,523 housing units at an average density of 20/km² (52/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 84.52% White, 1.39% Black or African American, 1.90% Native American, 3.32% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 4.82% from other races, and 3.90% from two or more races. 10.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 14.2% were of German, 11.1% English, 10.2% Irish, 7.8% American and 5.6% Italian ancestry according to Census 2000. 87.9% spoke English, 7.8% Spanish and 1.4% Hmong as their first language.
There were 79,566 households out of which 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.70% were married couples living together, 11.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.90% were non-families. 27.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.00% under the age of 18, 13.60% from 18 to 24, 24.80% from 25 to 44, 21.80% from 45 to 64, and 15.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,924, and the median income for a family was $41,010. Males had a median income of $34,137 versus $25,393 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,517. About 12.20% of families and 19.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.80% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
The citizens of the county of Butte are represented by the five member Butte County Board of Supervisors. Current Supervisors are:
[edit] Educational institutions
There are roughly 90 public schools in the county according to the National Center for Educational Statistics. The schools are operated by 15 school districts and the County Office of Education.
[edit] Sources
- US Department of Education, National Center for Educational Statistics.
- State of California, Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Butte County local government
- Butte County Search and Rescue
- Butte County Fire/Rescue
- CSU Chico (Chico State)
- Butte College
- Butte County Association of Governments
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Municipalities and Communities of Butte County, California County Seat: Oroville |
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| Incorporated places |
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| CDPs |
Concow • Durham • Magalia • Oroville East • Palermo • South Oroville • Thermalito |
| Unincorporated communities |
Bangor • Berry Creek • Butte Meadows • Camp Eighteen • Centerville • Cherokee • Cohasset • Dayton • DeSabla • East Biggs • Feather Falls • Forbestown • Forest Ranch • Inskip • Merrimac • Nord • Oregon City • Pulga • Richvale • Stirling City |
