Washington, California
Encyclopedia
Washington is a census-designated place
located in Nevada County, California
. Washington is located on the banks of the South Fork of The Yuba River
and has a population of approximately two hundred people. There is a hotel
/bar
and restaurant
, grocery store, a one room schoolhouse that has educated students continuously for one hundred years, and two trailer park campgrounds. The elevation is 3652 feet (1,113.1 m). The population was 185 at the 2010 census.
The population fluctuates seasonally and the town businesses rely on the tourist trade as the population increases in the summer. It was settled during the California Gold Rush
in 1849 and produced a large amount of placer gold. Hard rock mines were established soon afterword and were very productive. Washington is the only settlement in the vicinity to have survived to this day. There remains today much evidence of placer gold mining
, hydraulic mining
, and hard rock mining. During the mining period there were a large number of Chinese
living there.
Washington's biggest businesses are its two campsites, Gene's Pine Aire Campground and the River Rest, which has been in business since the 1960s through different owners. The summer sees the campsites usually filled to capacity and reservations are generally required.
Washington was also featured in a national phone commercial in the 1990s ("From Washington, D.C., to Washington, California.").
The ZIP Code is 95986. The community is inside area code 530
.
, and was originally named Indiana Camp. It was renamed Washington in 1850.
The Washington South Yuba post office operated here from 1852 to 1854. The Washington post office opened in 1862.
, the CDP covers an area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), all of it land.
was 97.4 people per square mile (37.6/km²). The racial makeup of Washington was 166 (89.7%) White, 1 (0.5%) African American, 4 (2.2%) Native American, 0 (0.0%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 4 (2.2%) from other races
, and 10 (5.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11 persons (5.9%).
The Census reported that 169 people (91.4% of the population) lived in households, 16 (8.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 90 households, out of which 11 (12.2%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 21 (23.3%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 5 (5.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 9 (10.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 12 (13.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 1 (1.1%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 43 households (47.8%) were made up of individuals and 10 (11.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.88. There were 35 families
(38.9% of all households); the average family size was 2.43.
The population was spread out with 25 people (13.5%) under the age of 18, 12 people (6.5%) aged 18 to 24, 31 people (16.8%) aged 25 to 44, 86 people (46.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 31 people (16.8%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 51.7 years. For every 100 females there were 160.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 138.8 males.
There were 131 housing units at an average density of 69.0 per square mile (26.6/km²), of which 55 (61.1%) were owner-occupied, and 35 (38.9%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0%; the rental vacancy rate was 2.8%. 110 people (59.5% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 59 people (31.9%) lived in rental housing units.
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...
located in Nevada County, California
Nevada County, California
Nevada County is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of California, in the Mother Lode country. As of 2010 its population was 98,764. The county seat is Nevada City.-History:Nevada County was created in 1851 from parts of Yuba County....
. Washington is located on the banks of the South Fork of The Yuba River
Yuba River
The Yuba River is a tributary of the Feather River in the Sacramento Valley of the U.S. state of California. It is one of the Feather's most important branches, providing about a third of its flow. The main stem of the river is about long, and its headwaters are split into North, Middle and South...
and has a population of approximately two hundred people. There is a hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
/bar
Bar (establishment)
A bar is a business establishment that serves alcoholic drinks — beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails — for consumption on the premises.Bars provide stools or chairs that are placed at tables or counters for their patrons. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go...
and restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
, grocery store, a one room schoolhouse that has educated students continuously for one hundred years, and two trailer park campgrounds. The elevation is 3652 feet (1,113.1 m). The population was 185 at the 2010 census.
The population fluctuates seasonally and the town businesses rely on the tourist trade as the population increases in the summer. It was settled during 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...
in 1849 and produced a large amount of placer gold. Hard rock mines were established soon afterword and were very productive. Washington is the only settlement in the vicinity to have survived to this day. There remains today much evidence of placer gold mining
Gold mining
Gold mining is the removal of gold from the ground. There are several techniques and processes by which gold may be extracted from the earth.-History:...
, hydraulic mining
Hydraulic mining
Hydraulic mining, or hydraulicking, is a form of mining that uses high-pressure jets of water to dislodge rock material or move sediment. In the placer mining of gold or tin, the resulting water-sediment slurry is directed through sluice boxes to remove the gold.-Precursor - ground...
, and hard rock mining. During the mining period there were a large number of Chinese
Overseas Chinese
Overseas Chinese are people of Chinese birth or descent who live outside the Greater China Area . People of partial Chinese ancestry living outside the Greater China Area may also consider themselves Overseas Chinese....
living there.
Washington's biggest businesses are its two campsites, Gene's Pine Aire Campground and the River Rest, which has been in business since the 1960s through different owners. The summer sees the campsites usually filled to capacity and reservations are generally required.
Washington was also featured in a national phone commercial in the 1990s ("From Washington, D.C., to Washington, California.").
The ZIP Code is 95986. The community is inside area code 530
Area code 530
North American area code 530 is a California telephone area code that covers Auburn, Chico, Colfax, Davis, Grass Valley, Marysville, Oroville, Placerville, Redding, Red Bluff, Susanville, Truckee, Woodland, Yuba City and South Lake Tahoe....
.
History
The place was founded in 1849 by miners from IndianaIndiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, and was originally named Indiana Camp. It was renamed Washington in 1850.
The Washington South Yuba post office operated here from 1852 to 1854. The Washington post office opened in 1862.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
The 2010 United States Census reported that Washington had a population of 185. 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 97.4 people per square mile (37.6/km²). The racial makeup of Washington was 166 (89.7%) White, 1 (0.5%) African American, 4 (2.2%) Native American, 0 (0.0%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 4 (2.2%) 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 10 (5.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11 persons (5.9%).
The Census reported that 169 people (91.4% of the population) lived in households, 16 (8.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 90 households, out of which 11 (12.2%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 21 (23.3%) 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, 5 (5.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 9 (10.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 12 (13.3%) 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 1 (1.1%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 43 households (47.8%) were made up of individuals and 10 (11.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.88. There were 35 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...
(38.9% of all households); the average family size was 2.43.
The population was spread out with 25 people (13.5%) under the age of 18, 12 people (6.5%) aged 18 to 24, 31 people (16.8%) aged 25 to 44, 86 people (46.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 31 people (16.8%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 51.7 years. For every 100 females there were 160.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 138.8 males.
There were 131 housing units at an average density of 69.0 per square mile (26.6/km²), of which 55 (61.1%) were owner-occupied, and 35 (38.9%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0%; the rental vacancy rate was 2.8%. 110 people (59.5% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 59 people (31.9%) lived in rental housing units.