Plumas County is one of 58 counties within the State of California.

The Feather River was originally named “El Rio de las Plumas” in 1821 by Spanish explorer Luis AntonioArgüelo for the multitude of waterfowl seen upon its waters. In about 1850, the name was anglicized to “Feather River.” It was only natural, when the county was formed from parts of Butte County in 1854, that it be named for the river that flows through it: Plumas County. Parts of Plumas County’s territory were given to Lassen County in 1864.

Estimated Population (2004): 21,359.

County Seat: Quincy. The only incorporated city in the county is Portola.

Area: 2,618 square miles.

Population Density: approximately 8 people for every square mile.

Return to Top of Page

Racial Makeup (2000 figures):
92% Caucasian
03% Native American
0.6% African American
0.5% Asian
0.1% Pacific Islander
04% other race or two or more races

Population by Gender (2000 figures): 10,403 males (50%), 10, 421 females (50%)

Population by Age (2000 figures):
15 or younger: 3,738 (18%)
16-24: 2,236 (10.7%)
25-44: 4,707 (22.6%)
45-64: 6,418 (30.8%)
65 and older: 3,725 (17.9%)
Average age (years): 41.91

Return to Top of Page

Population Growth:
2000 Population: 20,824
2003 Population: 21, 148
Change: 1.6%
State Rank: 43 of 58

Housing (2000 figures):
Median price asked for vacant housing: $181,700
Compared to median price in California: $151,900
Compared to median price in U.S.: $89,600
Owner-Occupied housing: 47.1%
Renter-Occupied housing: 20.1%

Return to Top of Page

Income: In 2002, the per capita personal income in Plumas County was $27,869. This was an increase of 23.0% from 1997. The 2002 figure was 90% of the national per capita income, which was $30,906.

Religion (ARDA 2000 figures): 

*Adherents include adults and children.

Return to Top of Page

Airports (3) – Nervino Field (Beckwourth), Gansner Field (Quincy), Rogers Field (Chester)

Colleges (1) – Feather River College, Quincy

Libraries (5) – Chester Branch, Greenville Branch, LaPorte Station, Plumas County (Quincy), Portola Branch

Museums (3) – Indian Valley (Taylorsville), Plumas County (Quincy), Portola Railroad (Portola)

Return to Top of Page

School Districts (1) – Plumas Unified

Schools, Continuation/Other (7) –
Almanor High (Chester)
Greenville Opportunity (Greenville)
Indian Valley High (Greenville)
Jim Beckwourth High (Portola)
Plumas Charter (Quincy)
Plumas County Community (Quincy)
Sierra High (Quincy)

Return to Top of Page

Schools, Elementary (6) –
C. Roy Carmichael (Portola)
Chester (Chester)
Greenville (Greenville)
Pioneer (Quincy)
Quincy (Quincy)
Taylorsville (Taylorsville)        

Schools, Junior and Senior High (5) –
Chester Junior-Senior (Chester)
Feather River Middle (Portola)
Greenville Junior-Senior (Greenville)
Portola High (Portola)
Quincy Junior-Senior (Quincy)

Return to Top of Page

Schools, Private (2) –
Plumas Christian (Quincy)
Sierra Valley Christian – Mennonite (Beckwourth)

Crime Statistics (FedStats 2000 figures):
*note: Crime Statistics are crimes reported to police. For actual arrests, see next category.
Murder: 1
Rape: 12
Robbery: 4
Aggravated Assault: 46
Burglary: 172
Larceny – Theft: 347
Motor Vehicle Theft: 29

Return to Top of Page

Arrest Statistics (FedStats 2000 figures):
Murder: 0
Rape: 2
Robbery: 0
Aggravated Assault: 123
Burglary: 44
Larceny – Theft: 37
Motor Vehicle Theft: 12
Arson: 5
Other Assaults: 51
Forgery & Counterfeiting: 4
Fraud: 5
Embezzlement: 2
Receiving Stolen Property: 30
Vandalism: 54
Weapons Violations: 8
Prostitution & Commercial Vice: 1
Sex Offenses: 10
Total Drug Violations: 90
Gambling: 0
Domestic Violence: 1
Driving Under Influence: 299
Liquor Law Violations: 216
Public Drunkenness: 152
Disorderly Conduct: 8
Vagrancy: 1
All Other Offenses, Except Traffic: 609

Return to Top of Page

Clean Air Statistics:
Plumas County does not make the Scorecard list of California counties with Health Risks from Criteria Air Pollutants.
Plumas County does not make the Scorecard list of California counties with Exposures to Criteria Air Pollutants.
Plumas County does not make the Scorecard list of California counties with Emissions of Criteria Air Pollutants.
Plumas County has no exceedances of Clean Air Act Standards.

Politics:

Plumas County is currently a strongly Republican county in presidential and congressional elections. The last Democrat presidential candidate to win a majority in the county was Jimmy Carter in 1976.

Plumas County is part of California's 4th Congressional District, which currently is held by Republican Tom McClintock.

In the state legislature, Plumas County is part of the 3rd Assembly District, which is held by Republican Dan Logue, and the 1st Senate District, which is held by Republican Dave Cox.

On November 4, 2008, Plumas County voted overwhelmingly (60%) for Proposition 8, which amended the California Constitution to ban same-sex marriages.

Return to Top of Page