Butte County, California
Encyclopedia : B : BU : BUT : Butte County, California
Butte County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, north of state capital Sacramento. As of the 2000 census, it had a population of 203,171. 2003 figures place this at 210,400. The county seat is Oroville.
Butte County is watered by the Feather River and the Sacramento River. Butte Creek and Big Chico Creek are additional perennial streams, both tributary to the Sacramento. It is the site of Feather Falls, the sixth largest waterfall in the United States. The county is the home of California State University, Chico.
History
Butte County was one of California's first counties, created in 1850 at time of statehood. Part of the county's territory was given to Plumas County in 1854 and to Tehama County in 1856.Its name is derived from the Marysville or Sutter Buttes, which lay within the boundaries when it was created. The word butte is derived from the Teutonic word meaning "a blunt extension or elevation." In the French language, it signifies "a small hill or mound of earth detached from any mountain range."
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,344 km² (1,677 mi²). 4,246 km² (1,639 mi²) of it is land and 97 km² (38 mi²) of it (2.24%) is water.The county is drained by the Feather River and Butte Creek. Part of the county's western border is formed by the Sacramento River.
Adjacent Counties
- Yuba County, California - south
- Sutter County, California - south
- Colusa County, California - southwest
- Glenn County, California - west
- Tehama County, California - north
- Plumas County, California - east
Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 203,171 people, 79,566 households, and 49,410 families residing in the county. The population density was 48/km² (124/mi²). There were 85,523 housing units at an average density of 20/km² (52/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 84.52% White, 1.39% Black or African American, 1.90% Native American, 3.32% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 4.82% from other races, and 3.90% from two or more races. 10.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 79,566 households out of which 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.70% were married couples living together, 11.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.90% were non-families. 27.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.00% under the age of 18, 13.60% from 18 to 24, 24.80% from 25 to 44, 21.80% from 45 to 64, and 15.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,924, and the median income for a family was $41,010. Males had a median income of $34,137 versus $25,393 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,517. About 12.20% of families and 19.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.80% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
- Biggs
- Chico
- Concow
- Durham
- Gridley
- Magalia
- Oroville
- Oroville East
- Palermo
- Paradise
- Richvale
- South Oroville
- Stirling City
- Thermalito
Educational institutions
See also
External links
- [Butte County local government]
- [Butte County Search and Rescue]
- [Butte County Fire/Rescue]
- [CSU Chico (Chico State)]
- [Butte College]
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