Seiad Valley, California
Encyclopedia
Seiad Valley is a small unincorporated town
in Siskiyou County, California
situated 15 miles south of the Oregon border. A population of approximately 300 people is clustered around the Klamath River
, State Route 96
and spread out along the surrounding creeks. The three craggy peaks of the Lower Devil's look over the forested valley, which is completely surrounded on all sides by the green Klamath Mountains, just north of the Marble Mountains
Wilderness area. The Pacific Crest Trail
, which runs all the way from Canada to Mexico, passes through the West Side of Seiad Valley. A general store/cafe/post office, an elementary school, a small trailer park, and the former Wildwood restaurant/inn make up central portion of the town; beyond that are small agricultural/herding fields, a scattering of residences, and the bridges crossing the Klamath River
. Seiad Valley is within zip code 96086, but itself is not incorporated and so has no strictly defined boundaries.
or other native American ancestry.
Most people live in houses scattered about the mountains, usually along paved side-roads or dirt former logging roads. A small number of people live far off in the hills, some living a more subsistence lifestyle.
The population does not include many young people, and is increasingly aging as the younger generation moves away to find broader opportunities.
A large number work in nearby Happy Camp or farther away in the county seat of Yreka. Increasingly, people are living in the pastoral setting of Seiad Valley while telecommuting
with their employers in San Francisco, Sacramento, or even the Los Angeles area. The internet has made such long distance business possible and is changing the demographics of the area. The older inhabitants of the town are generally more conservative and more closely identified with the small town atmosphere while the newer inhabitants are generally more liberal and raised in urban areas.
Seiad Valley is within the mythical "State of Jefferson", an area encompassing several northern California counties. (Some southern Oregon
counties are also occasionally included in the "State of Jefferson", as well.) The yellow and black "double-cross" flag of the State of Jefferson flies over the general store, although the American flag flies over the nearby elementary school. Pro-Jefferson sentiment is significant, but not particularly active in the area.
and the Seiad Cafe. The first is a beautiful hiking trail that winds through the Klamath mountains, passing through Seiad Valley along the way. During the Spring and Summer months hikers are a frequent site in the central area of Seiad Valley as they pass through town to buy supplies.
Secondly, the Seiad Cafe was nominated third in the Travel Channel's "Top 10 Places to Pig Out" for all of America. The flap-jack challenge at the Cafe gives the eater a free meal, but only if he or she is able to finish five inch-thick, dinner-plate sized pancakes in less than two hours.
Seiad Elementary is also known for its small classes, dedicated teachers, and close-knit atmosphere.
Recreation in Seiad is limited in the eyes of the less imaginative members. But Seiad is known and loved for the serene mountains surrounding it and breathtaking cold creeks that flow through. Swimming and hiking are great fun in the summer time. Horse back riding as well as motorcycle and quad riding is also popular. Once a week some members of the community also like to get together and play bingo.
Seiad Day is the yearly local celebration, and features a parade, games, music and late-night parties for the locals.
Seiad Valley is located in the 4th Senate
District, represented by Republican
Doug LaMalfa
, and in the 2nd Assembly
District, represented by Republican Jim Nielsen
. Federally, Seiad Valley is located in California's 2nd congressional district
, which has a Cook PVI
of R +13 and is represented by Republican Wally Herger
.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Siskiyou County, California
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...
situated 15 miles south of the Oregon border. A population of approximately 300 people is clustered around the Klamath River
Klamath 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...
, 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...
and spread out along the surrounding creeks. The three craggy peaks of the Lower Devil's look over the forested valley, which is completely surrounded on all sides by the green Klamath Mountains, just north of the Marble Mountains
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....
Wilderness area. The Pacific Crest Trail
Pacific Crest Trail
The Pacific Crest Trail is a long-distance mountain hiking and equestrian trail on the Western Seaboard of the United States. The southern terminus is at the California border with Mexico...
, which runs all the way from Canada to Mexico, passes through the West Side of Seiad Valley. A general store/cafe/post office, an elementary school, a small trailer park, and the former Wildwood restaurant/inn make up central portion of the town; beyond that are small agricultural/herding fields, a scattering of residences, and the bridges crossing the Klamath River
Klamath 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...
. Seiad Valley is within zip code 96086, but itself is not incorporated and so has no strictly defined boundaries.
Population
The approximately 350 people live in Seiad Valley. The vast majority are of European descent, a small minority is Hispanic, and another minority has some portion of 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...
or other native American ancestry.
Most people live in houses scattered about the mountains, usually along paved side-roads or dirt former logging roads. A small number of people live far off in the hills, some living a more subsistence lifestyle.
The population does not include many young people, and is increasingly aging as the younger generation moves away to find broader opportunities.
Economy and politics
The local economy includes river miners, forest service workers, farmers, health service workers, utilities managers, construction workers, Caltrans workers, pack mule trainers, elementary/high school teachers, social workers, secretaries, cooks, and self-employed business workers. Part of the population is either unemployed or living, in part, off of Social Security benefits.A large number work in nearby Happy Camp or farther away in the county seat of Yreka. Increasingly, people are living in the pastoral setting of Seiad Valley while telecommuting
Telecommuting
Telecommuting or telework is a work arrangement in which employees enjoy flexibility in working location and hours. In other words, the daily commute to a central place of work is replaced by telecommunication links...
with their employers in San Francisco, Sacramento, or even the Los Angeles area. The internet has made such long distance business possible and is changing the demographics of the area. The older inhabitants of the town are generally more conservative and more closely identified with the small town atmosphere while the newer inhabitants are generally more liberal and raised in urban areas.
Seiad Valley is within the mythical "State of Jefferson", an area encompassing several northern California counties. (Some southern Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
counties are also occasionally included in the "State of Jefferson", as well.) The yellow and black "double-cross" flag of the State of Jefferson flies over the general store, although the American flag flies over the nearby elementary school. Pro-Jefferson sentiment is significant, but not particularly active in the area.
Culture
Seiad Valley's two claims to fame are the Pacific Crest TrailPacific Crest Trail
The Pacific Crest Trail is a long-distance mountain hiking and equestrian trail on the Western Seaboard of the United States. The southern terminus is at the California border with Mexico...
and the Seiad Cafe. The first is a beautiful hiking trail that winds through the Klamath mountains, passing through Seiad Valley along the way. During the Spring and Summer months hikers are a frequent site in the central area of Seiad Valley as they pass through town to buy supplies.
Secondly, the Seiad Cafe was nominated third in the Travel Channel's "Top 10 Places to Pig Out" for all of America. The flap-jack challenge at the Cafe gives the eater a free meal, but only if he or she is able to finish five inch-thick, dinner-plate sized pancakes in less than two hours.
Seiad Elementary is also known for its small classes, dedicated teachers, and close-knit atmosphere.
Recreation in Seiad is limited in the eyes of the less imaginative members. But Seiad is known and loved for the serene mountains surrounding it and breathtaking cold creeks that flow through. Swimming and hiking are great fun in the summer time. Horse back riding as well as motorcycle and quad riding is also popular. Once a week some members of the community also like to get together and play bingo.
Seiad Day is the yearly local celebration, and features a parade, games, music and late-night parties for the locals.
Politics
In the state legislatureCalifornia 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...
Seiad Valley 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, Seiad Valley 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...
.