Dunsmuir, California

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Dunsmuir is a city in Siskiyou County, California, United States. The population was 1,923 at the 2000 census. It is currently a hub of tourism in Northern California as visitors enjoy fishing, skiing, climbing, or sight-seeing. During steam engine days, it was notable for being the site of an important Central Pacific (and later Southern Pacific) railroad yard, where extra steam locomotives were added to trains to get them through the grade to the north.

Contents 1 Commerce and tourism 2 History 3 Geography 4 Demographics 5 Rail Transportation 6 See also 7 External links

[edit] Commerce and tourism

In the center of the Shasta Cascade area of Northern California, Dunsmuir is a popular destination for tourists. Visitors come to enjoy world-famous trout fishing in the Sacramento and McCloud Rivers. In addition, many visitors come to see and climb Mount Shasta, Castle Crags or the Trinity Alps, as well as skiing, or biking or hiking to enjoy the many waterfalls, streams and lakes in the area. The town is well-known as a destination for historical and cultural tourists, as the town has preserved an authentic 1920s and 1930s look and feel. Finally, given Dunsmuir's long connection with the railroad, railfans arrive from around the world to enjoy the sights and sounds of the railroad in the steep Sacramento River canyon.

[edit] History

Sites in and near Dunsmuir have been inhabited for at least 5000 years. At least three waves of early peoples swept through area, establishing residence. At the time of the first European-American contact in the 1820s, the site of Dunsmuir was within the range of the Okwanuchu tribe of Native Americans.

During the 1820s, early European-American hunters and trappers passed through Dunsmuir's site, following the Siskiyou Trail. In the mid-1830s, pioneer horse and cattle drives came up the Sacramento Canyon, delivering livestock from Mexican California to the new settlements in the Oregon Country in the north. In 1841, an overland party of the famous United States Exploring Expedition passed through the area.

The California Gold Rush led to increased traffic along the Siskiyou Trail through Dunsmuir's site, leading to the first non-Native American settlers at Upper Soda Springs in north Dunsmuir in the early 1850s. The discovery of gold at Yreka, California dramatically increased movement through the site of Dunsmuir, and a toll bridge and stagecoach hotel were built at Upper Soda Springs.

In 1887, the completion of the Central Pacific Railroad along the line of the Siskiyou Trail led to the creation of the modern town of Dunsmuir. The railroad developed a division point on the flats south of Upper Soda Springs, as a place where railroad steam engines would be serviced, and added to trains to push them up the steep grades north of town. A roundhouse and turntable were built; all this activity required the creation of a town, initially known as Cedar Flat or Pusher.

In 1888, British Columbian coal baron Alexander Dunsmuir was passing through the little development, and according to contemporary accounts, was so taken with the beauty of the area that he offered to donate a fountain to the new town, if they would name in the town in his honor. The offer was accepted, and Dunsmuir's fountain remains near the City Park.

By the early 1900s, Dunsmuir was the largest town in Siskiyou County. The construction of the Pacific Highway along the Siskiyou Trail in the mid-1910s brought still more tourists in the area. However, by the mid-1950s, the railroad (then known as the Southern Pacific Railroad), made the transition from steam to diesel engines. With this change, there was no longer the need for the substantial workforce in Dunsmuir, and the town began to contract in size.

As a result, Dunsmuir retains today much of the charm and scale of the 1920s and 1930s, and has been designated on the National Registry of Historic Places.

On the night of July 14, 1991, a derailment on a horseshoe curve of the nearby railroad (then owned by the Southern Pacific Railroad) resulted in the release of approximately 19,500 gallons of biocide into the Sacramento River just above Dunsmuir (Map). The biocide killed every living thing in the river for a distance of some 38 miles (61.15 km), devastating a popular fly fishing area -- one of the most severe toxic spills in U.S. history.

The Upper Sacramento River healed itself and is now largely recovered from the spill. The once popular fishery is once again healthy. Recent changes to angling regulations have opened the Upper Sacramento River to catch and release fishing year round.

[edit] Geography

Dunsmuir is located at 41°13′18″N, 122°16′23″W (41.221542, -122.273011).^GR1

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.7 km² (1.8 mi²), all land.

The City is the site of the historic park being developed at the Upper Soda Springs site on the path of the Siskiyou Trail along the Sacramento River.

Elevation: 2347 ft

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 1,923 people, 867 households, and 491 families residing in the city. The population density was 410.2/km² (1,062.1/mi²). There were 1,170 housing units at an average density of 249.6/km² (646.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.64% White, 1.87% African American, 1.98% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.34% from other races, and 2.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.93% of the population.

There were 867 households out of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.3% were non-families. 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.4% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 28.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,191, and the median income for a family was $27,420. Males had a median income of $27,393 versus $19,148 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,982. About 13.4% of families and 19.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.7% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Rail Transportation

Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service through Dunsmuir, operating its Coast Starlight daily in both directions between Seattle, Washington and Los Angeles, California.

[edit] See also

Upper Soda Springs

[edit] External links

• Official City Website
• Dunsmuir Chamber of Commerce
• Upper Sacramento River Exchange
• Alexander Dunsmuir & The Naming of Dunsmuir, California
• Alexander Dunsmuir's mansion in Oakland, California
• Museum of the Siskiyou Trail
• KZRO/Z100.1FM, Dunsmuir radio station with live audio stream.
• Dunsmuir Events
• Alexander Dunsmuir's mansion in Oakland, California

• Maps and aerial photos for 41°13′18″N 122°16′23″W / 41.221542, -122.273011Coordinates: 41°13′18″N 122°16′23″W / 41.221542, -122.273011
  • Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
  • Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
  • Topographic map from TopoZone
  • Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA