Happy Camp, California
Encyclopedia
Happy Camp is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Siskiyou County
, California
in the United States
. The population was 1,190 at the 2010 census.
The town of Happy Camp "The Heart of the Klamath" is located on State Route 96
, about 70 miles (112.7 km) west of Interstate 5 and 100 miles (160.9 km) northeast of Willow Creek
. The town of O'Brien, Oregon
is accessible from Happy Camp (which is nearly 40 miles (64.4 km) away). The shortest route to Oregon, over the Grey Back pass, is a seasonal summer road and is not cleared or maintained in snowy conditions. Check with the Forest Service located in town on SR 96, for road closure information.
Take the virtual tour of the State of Jefferson Scenic Byway along the Klamath River and up Grayback Road.
1851 - European Americans began to settle in the area, then known as Murderer’s Bar because of cultural
clashes and claim jumping. Later that year, the area's name was changed when a group of about thirty miners arrived to seek gold in the Klamath River Valley. According to Vera Toleman's history, published by the Siskiyou County Historical Society, "At a time of celebrating their survival of the hardships of the trip up the treacherous Klamath and of having found a spot where 'the pickings' seemed so promising, they named it 'Happy Camp'." They made their way up the Klamath River in the late spring or early summer from the Salmon River, southwest of Happy Camp, working the Klamath's gravel bars as they came.
1856 - By this year Henry Doolittle owned a home on the east bank of Indian Creek, a hotel, the American House, and a general merchandise business. The American House is probably the original name of the Cuddihy Hotel, which still exists as of 2002 on the corner of 2nd Avenue and Indian Creek Road.
1857 - James and Heil Camp and John Titus bought the buildings at Ferry Point, downriver, and started operating the ferry there. Later they moved to Happy Camp where they built the Camp Mercantile store, which still exists as of 2002.
1862 - Henry Doolittle appointed to be postmaster in Happy Camp and served in that office until 1870.
1865 - By this year the Camp Mercantile store had been built at the corner of Bridge and Main (now 2nd and Indian Creek Rd.) by James Camp, his brother, Heil Camp, and John Titus. They had purchased the lot from Henry Doolittle, whose American House hotel is still right across the street.
1866 - Henry Doolittle appointed to be Justice of the Peace and served in that office until 1870.
1872 - March - Henry Doolittle sold out his mining companies to the Happy Camp Hydraulic Mining Company. This sale included "water rights on Indian Creek, Elk Creek, Grider Creek, and Perkins Creek—the Keystone Ditch, the Empire Ditch, the Eureka Ditch, and the Hornback Ditch together with all dams belonging to said ditches—all gravel benches, and mining claims and mining ground covered by said ditches and creeks, together with all flumes, tunnels, improvements, pipes—a sawmill located in Happy Camp, with its lot and barn and adjoining lot, flume and dam belonging to said sawmill, two yoke of oxen, the butcher shop, corral and barn, also dwelling house and lot." Henry Doolittle left town after this sale and went to Washington state, according to his great-grandson, Richard Ramsey.
1875 - Staples Sawmill - 1/2 mile downriver on south side of Klamath River. Bought by James Camp Co.
1877 - Happy Camp Hydraulic Mining Company sold to Horace Gasquet. This included 298.92 acres (1.2 km²).
1880 - Happy Camp Hydraulic Mining Company claims patented by Horace Gasquet, owner. This included Schoolhouse Flat (northeast of town) and the mine southwest of town (now at the Happy Camp Airport). The census for 1880 shows Happy Camp population 597 including 250 Chinese and 97 Karuks.
1883 - James Camp, Heil Camp, John Titus built a bridge over Indian Creek using steel and wood. The long irons were brought into Happy Camp by pack train.
1884 - Howard Gasquet sold Happy Camp Hydraulic Mining Company lands plus the Ferguson and Frazier patent (39.93 acres) to an eastern gentleman, excepting a strip of land on the east bank of Indian Creek. Bridge over Indian Creek built by James and Heil Camp and John Titus in 1883 sold to Del Norte County.
1885 - Happy Camp Hydraulic Mining Company purchased by Siskiyou Mining Company, a New York based firm. They operated the mine for ten years.
1890 - John Titus sold his interests to James Camp and moved to Fruitvale, California. Soon afterward James Camp gave up his 20 year job as postmaster in Happy Camp and sold his business interests to Horace Gasquet. Camp moved to Fort Jones where he had other business interests.
and a nexus of creeks including: Elk Creek; Little Grider Creek; Indian Creek; Doolittle Creek; Ikes Creek; Deer Lick Creek and Cade Creek.
Take the virtual tour of the State of Jefferson Scenic Byway along the Klamath River.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP covers an area of 12.3 square miles (32.0 km²), 12.1 square miles (31.4 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (1.94%) is water.
The town of Happy Camp is also known as the "Gateway to the Marbles
." There are many trailheads for this Wilderness Area within ten miles (16 km) of the town. Check with the Forest Service for trail information. The Marble Mountains cover thousands of acres, and contain almost a hundred lakes. Among the most interesting lakes are Spirit Lake, which contains a luminescent chemical and has been seen to "glow" in the dark; Ukonom Lake, which is very large and beautiful even though the area is recovering from fire damage; and the Green and Blue Granite Lakes, where trout swim in the cold and clear waters. Deer, bear, elk, and mountain lion are common in the Wilderness Area.
and Indian Creek, camping is one of the biggest summer tourism draws to the community. Commercial campsites are available. Many public campgrounds can be found along State Highway 96, with many more located in remote and beautiful places like the nearby Marble Mountain Wilderness Area, Kelly Lake, Dillon Creek, and Greyback.
Mining in Happy Camp is not generally a recreational activity, although many people here make a living mining for gold.
Available game include deer, bear, elk, quail, turkey, and mountain lion. Contact the California Department of Fish and Game for more information. The Klamath River and surrounding area, including the creeks are famous for their salmon.
The wet, rainy autumns, winters, and springs provide ideal conditions for mushrooms to grow. These are harvested by individual local mushroom hunters, who receive anywhere from $7–$50 per pound for their efforts.
River rafting and kayaking is a popular activity, and there are several outfitters in the region who will launch at Happy Camp.
Hills, canyons and dense treecover can and will scatter GPS signals, so coverage may be spotty in many places around town.
was 96.4 people per square mile (37.2/km²). The racial makeup of Happy Camp was 814 (68.4%) White, 2 (0.2%) African American, 277 (23.3%) Native American, 7 (0.6%) Asian, 1 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 18 (1.5%) from other races
, and 71 (6.0%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 95 persons (8.0%).
The Census reported that 1,190 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 525 households, out of which 129 (24.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 208 (39.6%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 63 (12.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 26 (5.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 63 (12.0%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 5 (1.0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 175 households (33.3%) were made up of individuals and 67 (12.8%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27. There were 297 families
(56.6% of all households); the average family size was 2.84.
The population was spread out with 238 people (20.0%) under the age of 18, 98 people (8.2%) aged 18 to 24, 232 people (19.5%) aged 25 to 44, 428 people (36.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 194 people (16.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47.3 years. For every 100 females there were 107.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.2 males.
There were 646 housing units at an average density of 52.3 per square mile (20.2/km²), of which 299 (57.0%) were owner-occupied, and 226 (43.0%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 8.0%. 677 people (56.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 513 people (43.1%) lived in rental housing units.
, Hoopa and Yurok tribes are at odds with each other over what constitutes fair and ethical use of the river. Issues range from property rights, to endangered species
, to Native American civil rights.
Happy Camp is located within the State of Jefferson, a proposed U.S. State and call for secession
from Oregon and California.
In the state legislature
Happy Camp is located in the 4th Senate
District, represented by Republican
Doug LaMalfa
, and in the 2nd Assembly
District, represented by Republican Jim Nielsen
. Federally, Happy Camp is located in California's 2nd congressional district
, which has a Cook PVI
of R +13 and is represented by Republican Wally Herger
.
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...
(CDP) in Siskiyou County
Siskiyou County, California
Siskiyou County is a county located in the far northernmost part of the U.S. state of California, in the Shasta Cascade region on the Oregon border. Yreka is the county seat. Because of its substantial natural beauty, outdoor recreation opportunities, and Gold Rush era history, it is an important...
, 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...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,190 at the 2010 census.
The town of Happy Camp "The Heart of the Klamath" is located on State Route 96
California State Route 96
State Route 96 follows the Trinity and Klamath Rivers in Northern California. For most of the route it goes through the Karuk Tribal Reservation, the Yurok Tribal Reservation, and the Hoopa Tribal Reservation...
, about 70 miles (112.7 km) west of Interstate 5 and 100 miles (160.9 km) northeast of Willow Creek
Willow Creek, California
Willow Creek is a census-designated place in Humboldt County, California, United States. The population was 1,710 at the 2010 census, down from 1,743 at the 2000 census....
. The town of O'Brien, Oregon
O'Brien, Oregon
O'Brien is an unincorporated community in Josephine County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2000 census, O'Brien had a total population of 546. The community was named after John O'Brien, who was one of the first settlers to arrive at the locality....
is accessible from Happy Camp (which is nearly 40 miles (64.4 km) away). The shortest route to Oregon, over the Grey Back pass, is a seasonal summer road and is not cleared or maintained in snowy conditions. Check with the Forest Service located in town on SR 96, for road closure information.
Take the virtual tour of the State of Jefferson Scenic Byway along the Klamath River and up Grayback Road.
Time line
Prior to 1851 - The area now occupied by Happy Camp is the ancestral homeland of the Karuk tribe. Karuk means "upriver people". Their cousins, the Yurok, are the "downriver people". There was a Karuk village on the banks of Indian Creek near the Klamath River.1851 - European Americans began to settle in the area, then known as Murderer’s Bar because of cultural
clashes and claim jumping. Later that year, the area's name was changed when a group of about thirty miners arrived to seek gold in the Klamath River Valley. According to Vera Toleman's history, published by the Siskiyou County Historical Society, "At a time of celebrating their survival of the hardships of the trip up the treacherous Klamath and of having found a spot where 'the pickings' seemed so promising, they named it 'Happy Camp'." They made their way up the Klamath River in the late spring or early summer from the Salmon River, southwest of Happy Camp, working the Klamath's gravel bars as they came.
1856 - By this year Henry Doolittle owned a home on the east bank of Indian Creek, a hotel, the American House, and a general merchandise business. The American House is probably the original name of the Cuddihy Hotel, which still exists as of 2002 on the corner of 2nd Avenue and Indian Creek Road.
1857 - James and Heil Camp and John Titus bought the buildings at Ferry Point, downriver, and started operating the ferry there. Later they moved to Happy Camp where they built the Camp Mercantile store, which still exists as of 2002.
1862 - Henry Doolittle appointed to be postmaster in Happy Camp and served in that office until 1870.
1865 - By this year the Camp Mercantile store had been built at the corner of Bridge and Main (now 2nd and Indian Creek Rd.) by James Camp, his brother, Heil Camp, and John Titus. They had purchased the lot from Henry Doolittle, whose American House hotel is still right across the street.
1866 - Henry Doolittle appointed to be Justice of the Peace and served in that office until 1870.
1872 - March - Henry Doolittle sold out his mining companies to the Happy Camp Hydraulic Mining Company. This sale included "water rights on Indian Creek, Elk Creek, Grider Creek, and Perkins Creek—the Keystone Ditch, the Empire Ditch, the Eureka Ditch, and the Hornback Ditch together with all dams belonging to said ditches—all gravel benches, and mining claims and mining ground covered by said ditches and creeks, together with all flumes, tunnels, improvements, pipes—a sawmill located in Happy Camp, with its lot and barn and adjoining lot, flume and dam belonging to said sawmill, two yoke of oxen, the butcher shop, corral and barn, also dwelling house and lot." Henry Doolittle left town after this sale and went to Washington state, according to his great-grandson, Richard Ramsey.
1875 - Staples Sawmill - 1/2 mile downriver on south side of Klamath River. Bought by James Camp Co.
1877 - Happy Camp Hydraulic Mining Company sold to Horace Gasquet. This included 298.92 acres (1.2 km²).
1880 - Happy Camp Hydraulic Mining Company claims patented by Horace Gasquet, owner. This included Schoolhouse Flat (northeast of town) and the mine southwest of town (now at the Happy Camp Airport). The census for 1880 shows Happy Camp population 597 including 250 Chinese and 97 Karuks.
1883 - James Camp, Heil Camp, John Titus built a bridge over Indian Creek using steel and wood. The long irons were brought into Happy Camp by pack train.
1884 - Howard Gasquet sold Happy Camp Hydraulic Mining Company lands plus the Ferguson and Frazier patent (39.93 acres) to an eastern gentleman, excepting a strip of land on the east bank of Indian Creek. Bridge over Indian Creek built by James and Heil Camp and John Titus in 1883 sold to Del Norte County.
1885 - Happy Camp Hydraulic Mining Company purchased by Siskiyou Mining Company, a New York based firm. They operated the mine for ten years.
1890 - John Titus sold his interests to James Camp and moved to Fruitvale, California. Soon afterward James Camp gave up his 20 year job as postmaster in Happy Camp and sold his business interests to Horace Gasquet. Camp moved to Fort Jones where he had other business interests.
Climate
| Average / Period | July | January | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum Temp. (F) | 94.8° | 46.9° | - |
| Minimum Temp. (F) | 51.7° | 31.2° | - |
| Precipitation (in.) | 0.3 | 10.4 | 52.5 |
| Snowfall (in.) | - | 9.4 | 20.5 |
Geography
Happy Camp sits on the Klamath RiverKlamath River
The Klamath River is an American river that flows southwest through Oregon and northern California, cutting through the Cascade Range to empty into the Pacific Ocean. The river drains an extensive watershed of almost that stretches from the high desert country of the Great Basin to the temperate...
and a nexus of creeks including: Elk Creek; Little Grider Creek; Indian Creek; Doolittle Creek; Ikes Creek; Deer Lick Creek and Cade Creek.
Take the virtual tour of the State of Jefferson Scenic Byway along the Klamath River.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP covers an area of 12.3 square miles (32.0 km²), 12.1 square miles (31.4 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (1.94%) is water.
The town of Happy Camp is also known as the "Gateway to the Marbles
Marble Mountains
The Marble Mountains are a sub-range of the Klamath Mountains in northwestern California. The highest point in the Marbles is Boulder Peak at , or 2530 meters. The Marbles are protected by the Marble Mountain Wilderness Area of the Klamath National Forest....
." There are many trailheads for this Wilderness Area within ten miles (16 km) of the town. Check with the Forest Service for trail information. The Marble Mountains cover thousands of acres, and contain almost a hundred lakes. Among the most interesting lakes are Spirit Lake, which contains a luminescent chemical and has been seen to "glow" in the dark; Ukonom Lake, which is very large and beautiful even though the area is recovering from fire damage; and the Green and Blue Granite Lakes, where trout swim in the cold and clear waters. Deer, bear, elk, and mountain lion are common in the Wilderness Area.
Outdoor Activities
With the town situated at above 1000 feet (304.8 m) in elevation and located at the merging of the Klamath RiverKlamath River
The Klamath River is an American river that flows southwest through Oregon and northern California, cutting through the Cascade Range to empty into the Pacific Ocean. The river drains an extensive watershed of almost that stretches from the high desert country of the Great Basin to the temperate...
and Indian Creek, camping is one of the biggest summer tourism draws to the community. Commercial campsites are available. Many public campgrounds can be found along State Highway 96, with many more located in remote and beautiful places like the nearby Marble Mountain Wilderness Area, Kelly Lake, Dillon Creek, and Greyback.
Mining in Happy Camp is not generally a recreational activity, although many people here make a living mining for gold.
Available game include deer, bear, elk, quail, turkey, and mountain lion. Contact the California Department of Fish and Game for more information. The Klamath River and surrounding area, including the creeks are famous for their salmon.
The wet, rainy autumns, winters, and springs provide ideal conditions for mushrooms to grow. These are harvested by individual local mushroom hunters, who receive anywhere from $7–$50 per pound for their efforts.
River rafting and kayaking is a popular activity, and there are several outfitters in the region who will launch at Happy Camp.
Hills, canyons and dense treecover can and will scatter GPS signals, so coverage may be spotty in many places around town.
Family Resource Center
The Happy Camp Family Resource Center (HCFRC/FRC) is a non-profit organization providing family-oriented services in Happy Camp, California.United States Forest Service
The US Forest Service maintains an office in town. Happy Camp is the administration site for the Happy Camp/Oak Knoll Ranger Districts of the Klamath National Forest.Demographics
The 2010 United States Census reported that Happy Camp had a population of 1,190. 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 96.4 people per square mile (37.2/km²). The racial makeup of Happy Camp was 814 (68.4%) White, 2 (0.2%) African American, 277 (23.3%) Native American, 7 (0.6%) Asian, 1 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 18 (1.5%) 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 71 (6.0%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 95 persons (8.0%).
The Census reported that 1,190 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 525 households, out of which 129 (24.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 208 (39.6%) 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, 63 (12.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 26 (5.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 63 (12.0%) 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 5 (1.0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 175 households (33.3%) were made up of individuals and 67 (12.8%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27. There were 297 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...
(56.6% of all households); the average family size was 2.84.
The population was spread out with 238 people (20.0%) under the age of 18, 98 people (8.2%) aged 18 to 24, 232 people (19.5%) aged 25 to 44, 428 people (36.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 194 people (16.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47.3 years. For every 100 females there were 107.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.2 males.
There were 646 housing units at an average density of 52.3 per square mile (20.2/km²), of which 299 (57.0%) were owner-occupied, and 226 (43.0%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 8.0%. 677 people (56.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 513 people (43.1%) lived in rental housing units.
Education
- Happy Camp Elementary School
- Happy Camp High School
- Jefferson High Continuation School
- College of the Siskiyous - Happy Camp
Politics
Klamath Controversy: Gold prospectors, conservation groups, the Department of Fish & Game, the Forest Service, and the KarukKaruk
Karuk is an indigenous people of California in the United States.The tribal headquarters, located off State Route 96, is in the town of Happy Camp, California. Currently the tribe has three tribal board meeting places, in Yreka, Happy Camp, and Orleans...
, Hoopa and Yurok tribes are at odds with each other over what constitutes fair and ethical use of the river. Issues range from property rights, to endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
, to Native American civil rights.
Happy Camp is located within the State of Jefferson, a proposed U.S. State and call for secession
Secession
Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:...
from Oregon and California.
In the state legislature
California State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
Happy Camp is located in the 4th Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
District, represented by Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Doug LaMalfa
Doug LaMalfa
Doug LaMalfa is an American politician currently serving in the California State Senate. He is a Republican representing the 4th district, encompassing Del Norte, Siskiyou, Shasta, Trinity, Tehama, Butte, Glenn, Colusa, Sutter, and Yuba counties, as well as parts of Nevada and Placer counties...
, and in the 2nd Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
District, represented by Republican Jim Nielsen
Jim Nielsen
James Wiley Nielsen is an American politician from California and a member of the Republican party. Nielsen served on the Yolo County Republican Committee before winning election to the California State Senate in 1978...
. Federally, Happy Camp is located in California's 2nd congressional district
California's 2nd congressional district
California's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district located in the U.S. state of California. The district contains much of the far northern part of the state, north of Sacramento. It is the largest district by area in California...
, which has a Cook PVI
Cook Partisan Voting Index
The Cook Partisan Voting Index , sometimes referred to as simply the Partisan Voting Index , is a measurement of how strongly an American congressional district or state leans toward one political party compared to the nation as a whole...
of R +13 and is represented by Republican Wally Herger
Wally Herger
Walter William "Wally" Herger, Jr. , American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1987, representing the California's 2nd congressional district. The second district is physically large...
.