Coarsegold, California
Encyclopedia
Coarsegold is a census-designated place
in Madera County
, California
. It is located 8 miles (13 km) south-southwest of Yosemite Forks
, at an elevation of 2218 feet (676 m). The population was 1,840 at the 2010 census.
The current name derives from the California Gold Rush
of the mid-19th century, when prospectors discovered coarse lumps of gold in a nearby creek. At one time, several dozen gold mines operated in the area.
The Coarse Gold Gulch post office opened in 1878, changed the name to Goldgulch in 1895 and to Coarsegold in 1899.
was 167.5 people per square mile (64.7/km²). The racial makeup of Coarsegold was 1,617 (87.9%) White, 11 (0.6%) African American, 50 (2.7%) Native American, 32 (1.7%) Asian, 6 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 47 (2.6%) from other races
, and 77 (4.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 156 persons (8.5%).
The Census reported that 1,840 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 766 households, out of which 184 (24.0%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 452 (59.0%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 70 (9.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 28 (3.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 29 (3.8%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 4 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 186 households (24.3%) were made up of individuals and 104 (13.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40. There were 550 families
(71.8% of all households); the average family size was 2.79.
The population was spread out with 338 people (18.4%) under the age of 18, 116 people (6.3%) aged 18 to 24, 295 people (16.0%) aged 25 to 44, 585 people (31.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 506 people (27.5%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 52.3 years. For every 100 females there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.0 males.
There were 864 housing units at an average density of 78.6 per square mile (30.4/km²), of which 617 (80.5%) were owner-occupied, and 149 (19.5%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.7%. 1,492 people (81.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 348 people (18.9%) lived in rental housing units.
between Fresno
and the southern entrance to Yosemite National Park
at an altitude of approximately 2000 feet (609.6 m). It is a very small town but does boast a few amenities such as a post office
, a supermarket, hardware store
, bank, florist, karaoke at various locations, a few restaurants and tourist
shops.
Nearby towns include Oakhurst
, around 7 miles (11.3 km) away.
Every year from mid-October to mid-November, tarantula
mating season takes place and the town is full of tarantulas. Locals go out of their way to protect and respect the arachnids during this time. There is a Coarsegold Tarantula Festival, now in its 14th year, which includes tarantula racing, a competition for the hairiest legs of both men and women, and a pumpkin dessert contest.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
in Madera County
Madera County, California
Madera County is a county of the U.S. state of California, located in the Central Valley and the Sierra Nevada north of Fresno County. It comprises the Madera-Chowchilla, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census the population was 150,865...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It is located 8 miles (13 km) south-southwest of Yosemite Forks
Yosemite Forks, California
Yosemite Forks is an unincorporated community in Madera County, California. It is located northeast of Raymond, at an elevation of 2907 feet . The road forks at the place: one continues to Yosemite Valley, the other to Bass Lake....
, at an elevation of 2218 feet (676 m). The population was 1,840 at the 2010 census.
History
The place was first called Texas Flat after miners from Texas discovered gold there in 1849. By 1874, the name had changed to Michaels, honoring Charles Michaels, a local merchant. A rival mining camp inhabited by Mexicans there was called Oro Grosso.The current name derives from the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
of the mid-19th century, when prospectors discovered coarse lumps of gold in a nearby creek. At one time, several dozen gold mines operated in the area.
The Coarse Gold Gulch post office opened in 1878, changed the name to Goldgulch in 1895 and to Coarsegold in 1899.
Demographics
The 2010 United States Census reported that Coarsegold had a population of 1,840. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 167.5 people per square mile (64.7/km²). The racial makeup of Coarsegold was 1,617 (87.9%) White, 11 (0.6%) African American, 50 (2.7%) Native American, 32 (1.7%) Asian, 6 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 47 (2.6%) from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 77 (4.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 156 persons (8.5%).
The Census reported that 1,840 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 766 households, out of which 184 (24.0%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 452 (59.0%) were opposite-sex married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 70 (9.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 28 (3.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 29 (3.8%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
POSSLQ
POSSLQ is an abbreviation for "Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters," a term coined in the late 1970s by the United States Census Bureau as part of an effort to more accurately gauge the prevalence of cohabitation in American households....
, and 4 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 186 households (24.3%) were made up of individuals and 104 (13.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40. There were 550 families
Family (U.S. Census)
A family or family household is defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes as "a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. They do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state...
(71.8% of all households); the average family size was 2.79.
The population was spread out with 338 people (18.4%) under the age of 18, 116 people (6.3%) aged 18 to 24, 295 people (16.0%) aged 25 to 44, 585 people (31.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 506 people (27.5%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 52.3 years. For every 100 females there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.0 males.
There were 864 housing units at an average density of 78.6 per square mile (30.4/km²), of which 617 (80.5%) were owner-occupied, and 149 (19.5%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.7%. 1,492 people (81.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 348 people (18.9%) lived in rental housing units.
Culture
The Coarsegold Historic Village is located on Highway 41California State Route 41
State Route 41 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California, connecting the Cabrillo Highway in Morro Bay with Fresno and Yosemite National Park via the San Joaquin Valley. Except between US 101 in Atascadero and SR 46 near Shandon, SR 41 is part of the California Freeway and Expressway...
between Fresno
Fresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
and the southern entrance to Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is a United States National Park spanning eastern portions of Tuolumne, Mariposa and Madera counties in east central California, United States. The park covers an area of and reaches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain chain...
at an altitude of approximately 2000 feet (609.6 m). It is a very small town but does boast a few amenities such as a post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
, a supermarket, hardware store
Hardware store
Hardware stores, sometimes known as DIY stores, sell household hardware including: fasteners, hand tools, power tools, keys, locks, hinges, chains, plumbing supplies, electrical supplies, cleaning products, housewares, tools, utensils, paint, and lawn and garden products directly to consumers for...
, bank, florist, karaoke at various locations, a few restaurants and tourist
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
shops.
Nearby towns include Oakhurst
Oakhurst, California
Oakhurst is a census-designated place in Madera County, California, south of the entrance to Yosemite National Park, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Oakhurst is located on the Fresno River south-southwest of Yosemite Forks, at an elevation of 2274 feet...
, around 7 miles (11.3 km) away.
Every year from mid-October to mid-November, tarantula
Tarantula
Tarantulas comprise a group of often hairy and often very large arachnids belonging to the family Theraphosidae, of which approximately 900 species have been identified. Some members of the same Suborder may also be called "tarantulas" in the common parlance. This article will restrict itself to...
mating season takes place and the town is full of tarantulas. Locals go out of their way to protect and respect the arachnids during this time. There is a Coarsegold Tarantula Festival, now in its 14th year, which includes tarantula racing, a competition for the hairiest legs of both men and women, and a pumpkin dessert contest.