Tehama County, California

Tehama County
County
Mount Tehama and Lassen Volcanic Park
Corning
Vina
Red Bluff
Tehama
Official seal of Tehama County
Seal
Map
Interactive map of Tehama County
Location in the state of California
Location in the state of California
Country United States
State California
RegionShasta Cascade
IncorporatedApril 9, 1856
County seatRed Bluff
Largest cityRed Bluff
Government
 • TypeCouncil–Administrator
 • ChairMatt Hansen
 • Vice ChairPati Nolen
 • Board of Supervisors[1]
Supervisors
  • Robert Burroughs
  • Tom Walker
  • Matt Hansen
  • Greg Jones
 • Chief AdministratorGabriel Hydrick
Area
 • Total
2,962 sq mi (7,670 km2)
 • Land2,950 sq mi (7,600 km2)
 • Water12 sq mi (31 km2)
Highest elevation
[2]
9,239 ft (2,816 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
65,829
 • Estimate 
(2024)
64,451 Decrease
 • Density22.3/sq mi (8.62/km2)
GDP
[3]
 • Total$2.517 billion (2022)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific Standard Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (Pacific Daylight Time)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.co.tehama.ca.us

Tehama County (/təˈheɪmə/ ⓘ tə-HAY-mə) is a county located in the northern part of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 65,829.[4] The county seat and largest city is Red Bluff.[5] Tehama County comprises the Red Bluff, California micropolitan statistical area, which is also included in the Redding-Red Bluff, California combined statistical area. The county is bisected by the Sacramento River.

Etymology

The county is named for the City of Tehama. Tehama is most commonly believed to be derived from the Wintun word for "high water". Others definitions of native origin that have been proposed such as "low land", "salmon", "mother nature" or "shallow". A less accepted theory proposes the names origin is tejamanil, shingle in Spanish.

History

Tehama County was formed from parts of Butte, Colusa, and Shasta Counties in 1856.

The first permanent non-indigenous settlers in the area that is now Tehama County were Robert Hasty Thomes, Albert Gallatin Toomes, William George Chard, and Job Francis Dye. The four men were each given land grants by the government of Mexico in 1844. Thomes received Rancho Saucos, Toomes received Rancho Rio de los Molinos, Chard received Rancho Las Flores, and Dye received Rancho Primer Cañon o Rio de Los Berrendos. Later in the same year Josiah Belden received Rancho Barranca Colorado.[6]

Famous early figures include Kit Carson, who took part in a fight that gave name to Bloody Island and Battle Creek, Jedediah Smith, John C. Fremont, and William B. Ide, the first and only president of the California Republic.

The history of Tehama County includes multiple Chinatowns with some of its most distinguishable townsmen attending annual Chinese and American banquets, that merged the two cultures together.[7] The deep bonds formed would culminate into a powerful petition by 20 influential leaders in support of the Chew family, who were detained at Angel Island in 1916, proving that Tehama County valued the Chinese community.[8] This single act of kindness set the stage for a 20th-century Chinese American pioneer to be born, Dr. Kenneth Kendall Chew, and his research in aquaculture would change the world.[9] Historically, Red Bluff has been plagued with tunnel and expulsion folklore including untrue incidents such as an 1886 torching of Red Bluff's Chinatown by alleged anti-Coolie league arsonists.[10] [11] The January 29, 1886, edition of The Daily Alta detailed 'The Anti-Coolie Move' held a meeting that was convened in the town of Tehama, and due to prominent White merchants, they deemed the movement as a public nuisance and as a result avoided any of its Chinese residence from being forced to relocate, which was an estimated 2,000 Chinese people in and around Vina.[12] Secret daily anti-Chinese caucuses continued their failed attempts in Red Bluff until their agitations died down.[13] [14]

School at Red Bluff, 1902

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,962 square miles (7,670 km2), of which 2,950 square miles (7,600 km2) is land and 12 square miles (31 km2) (0.4%) is water.[15] Watercourses in Tehama County include Dye Creek and Payne's Creek. The county is intersected by Sacramento River.[16] A small part of Lassen Volcanic National Park extends into the northeast corner of the county. The highest point of the county[17] is Brokeoff Mountain (9,235 feet[18]).

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Transportation

Major highways

Public transportation

Tehama Rural Area Express (TRAX) operates local service in Red Bluff, with service to Los Molinos and Corning. Greyhound and FlixBus buses stop in Red Bluff.

The Shasta Regional Transportation Agency has proposed a weekday commuter bus to/from Red Bluff and the Sacramento Valley Station, following a route similar to the twice daily Amtrak Thruway 3.[19][20]

Airports

Red Bluff Municipal Airport and Corning Municipal Airport are two general aviation airports.

Crime

The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense.

Population and crime rates
Population[21] 62,985
Violent crime[22] 387 6.14
  Homicide[22] 3 0.05
  Forcible rape[22] 9 0.14
  Robbery[22] 28 0.44
  Aggravated assault[22] 347 5.51
Property crime[22] 725 11.51
  Burglary[22] 400 6.35
  Larceny-theft[22][note 1] 808 12.83
  Motor vehicle theft[22] 136 2.16
Arson[22] 33 0.52

Cities by population and crime rates

Cities by population and crime rates
City Population[23] Violent crimes[23] Violent crime rate
per 1,000 persons 		Property crimes[23] Property crime rate
per 1,000 persons
Corning 7,751 51 6.58 281 36.25
Red Bluff 14,236 112 7.87 811 56.97

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18604,044—
18703,587−11.3%
18809,301159.3%
18909,9166.6%
190010,99610.9%
191011,4013.7%
192012,88213.0%
193013,8667.6%
194014,3163.2%
195019,27634.6%
196025,30531.3%
197029,51716.6%
198038,88831.7%
199049,62527.6%
200056,03912.9%
201063,46313.2%
202065,8293.7%
2024 (est.)64,451[24]−2.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[25]
1790–1960[26] 1900–1990[27]
1990–2000[28] 2010[29] 2020[30]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 65,829 and a median age of 40.4 years. 24.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.0% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.5 males.[31]

The racial makeup of the county was 68.2% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 2.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% Asian, 0.2% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 14.6% from some other race, and 11.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 27.2% of the population.[32]

43.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 57.0% lived in rural areas.[33]

There were 24,910 households in the county, of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[31]

There were 27,341 housing units, of which 8.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 64.8% were owner-occupied and 35.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.7%.[31]

Racial and ethnic composition

Tehama County, California – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[34] Pop 1990[35] Pop 2000[36] Pop 2010[29] Pop 2020[30] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 35,875 43,049 43,972 45,603 41,340 92.25% 86.75% 78.47% 71.86% 62.80%
Black or African American alone (NH) 58 246 279 349 391 0.15% 0.50% 0.50% 0.55% 0.59%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 603 849 1,008 1,205 1,167 1.55% 1.71% 1.80% 1.90% 1.77%
Asian alone (NH) 191 325 423 625 985 0.49% 0.65% 0.75% 0.98% 1.50%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [37] x [38] 48 64 96 x x 0.09% 0.10% 0.15%
Other race alone (NH) 34 32 109 67 324 0.09% 0.06% 0.19% 0.11% 0.49%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [39] x [40] 1,329 1,644 3,588 x x 2.37% 2.59% 5.45%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2,127 5,124 8,871 13,906 17,938 5.47% 10.33% 15.83% 21.91% 27.25%
Total 38,888 49,625 56,039 63,463 65,829 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2010 Census

The 2010 United States census reported that Tehama County had a population of 63,463. The racial makeup of Tehama County was 51,721 (81.5%) White, 406 (0.6%) African American, 1,644 (2.6%) Native American, 656 (1.0%) Asian, 76 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 6,258 (9.9%) from other races, and 2,702 (4.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13,906 persons (21.9%).[41]

2000 Census

As of the census[42] of 2000, there were 56,039 people, 21,013 households, and 14,898 families residing in the county. The population density was 19 people per square mile (7.3 people/km2). There were 23,547 housing units at an average density of 8 units per square mile (3.1 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 84.8% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 2.1% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 8.3% from other races, and 3.4% from two or more races. 15.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 14.4% were of German, 11.0% English, 9.6% Irish and 9.5% American ancestry according to the 2000 United States census. 86.0% spoke English and 13.0% Spanish as their first language.

There were 21,013 households, out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.4% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,206, and the median income for a family was $37,277. Males had a median income of $30,872 versus $22,864 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,793. About 13.0% of families and 17.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.0% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Voter registration statistics

Population and registered voters
Total population[21] 62,985
  Registered voters[43][note 2] 30,485 48.4%
    Democratic[43] 9,163 30.1%
    Republican[43] 13,542 44.4%
    Democratic–Republican spread[43] -4,379 -14.3%
    American Independent[43] 1,502 4.9%
    Green[43] 125 0.4%
    Libertarian[43] 234 0.8%
    Peace and Freedom[43] 92 0.3%
    Americans Elect[43] 0 0.0%
    Other[43] 108 0.4%
    No party preference[43] 5,719 18.8%

Cities by population and voter registration

Cities by population and voter registration
City Population[21] Registered voters[43]
[note 2] 		Democratic[43] Republican[43] D–R spread[43] Other[43] No party preference[43]
Corning 7,624 33.8% 35.2% 35.1% +0.1% 11.7% 22.8%
Red Bluff 14,026 42.1% 33.8% 37.2% -3.4% 12.8% 21.6%
Tehama 383 54.3% 35.1% 39.9% -4.8% 15.4% 16.8%

Overview

Tehama is a strongly Republican county in presidential and congressional elections. The last Democrat to win a majority in the county was Jimmy Carter in 1976. Bill Clinton won a plurality in 1992.

United States presidential election results for Tehama County, California[44][note 3]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
№  % №  % №  %
1880 868 47.61% 954 52.33% 1 0.05%
1884 1,075 47.80% 1,146 50.96% 28 1.24%
1888 1,171 46.88% 1,290 51.64% 37 1.48%
1892 969 43.39% 1,045 46.80% 219 9.81%
1896 969 45.39% 1,135 53.16% 31 1.45%
1900 1,210 50.35% 1,138 47.36% 55 2.29%
1904 1,234 56.32% 720 32.86% 237 10.82%
1908 1,064 47.46% 894 39.88% 284 12.67%
1912 13 0.38% 1,595 47.16% 1,774 52.45%
1916 1,739 36.32% 2,534 52.92% 515 10.76%
1920 2,462 61.81% 1,079 27.09% 442 11.10%
1924 1,943 45.97% 486 11.50% 1,798 42.54%
1928 3,393 65.58% 1,650 31.89% 131 2.53%
1932 2,001 34.20% 3,534 60.40% 316 5.40%
1936 2,376 38.46% 3,687 59.68% 115 1.86%
1940 2,913 43.95% 3,618 54.59% 97 1.46%
1944 2,903 47.79% 3,130 51.53% 41 0.68%
1948 3,348 51.27% 2,920 44.72% 262 4.01%
1952 5,742 64.31% 3,110 34.83% 77 0.86%
1956 4,866 53.82% 4,143 45.82% 33 0.36%
1960 5,522 49.96% 5,483 49.61% 47 0.43%
1964 4,529 39.50% 6,928 60.42% 10 0.09%
1968 5,198 47.26% 4,565 41.50% 1,236 11.24%
1972 6,054 48.73% 5,175 41.65% 1,195 9.62%
1976 6,110 44.81% 6,990 51.27% 535 3.92%
1980 9,140 59.13% 4,832 31.26% 1,485 9.61%
1984 11,586 62.78% 6,527 35.37% 342 1.85%
1988 9,854 56.52% 7,213 41.37% 367 2.11%
1992 7,419 35.36% 7,508 35.79% 6,052 28.85%
1996 10,292 50.34% 7,290 35.66% 2,861 14.00%
2000 13,270 63.63% 6,507 31.20% 1,077 5.16%
2004 15,572 66.42% 7,504 32.01% 368 1.57%
2008 14,843 60.44% 8,945 36.42% 772 3.14%
2012 14,235 61.95% 7,934 34.53% 808 3.52%
2016 15,494 64.81% 6,809 28.48% 1,605 6.71%
2020 19,141 66.62% 8,911 31.02% 679 2.36%
2024 18,503 69.73% 7,415 27.94% 618 2.33%

In the United States House of Representatives, Tehama County is in California's 1st congressional district, seat currently vacant.[45]

In the California State Legislature, the county is in the 1st Senate District, represented by Republican Megan Dahle, and the 3rd Assembly District, represented by Republican James Gallagher.

On November 4, 2008, Tehama County voted 72.7% for Proposition 8, which amended the California Constitution to ban same-sex marriages.[46]

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Census-designated places

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Tehama County.[47]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2020 Census)
1 † Red Bluff City 14,710
2 Corning City 8,244
3 Lake California CDP 3,377
4 Los Molinos CDP 2,098
5 Rancho Tehama CDP 1,572
6 Gerber CDP 1,044
7 Bend CDP 603
8 Tehama City 435
9 Manton CDP 310
10 Richfield CDP 309
11 Proberta CDP 237
12 Vina CDP 198
13 Las Flores CDP 190
14 Mineral CDP 136
15 Flournoy CDP 117
16 Paskenta CDP 110
17 Paynes Creek CDP 54

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Only larceny-theft cases involving property over $400 in value are reported as property crimes.
  2. ^ a b Percentage of registered voters with respect to total population. Percentages of party members with respect to registered voters follow.
  3. ^ This total comprised 1,218 votes for Progressive Theodore Roosevelt (who was official Republican nominee in California), 388 votes for Socialist Eugene V. Debs and 168 votes for Prohibition Party nominee Eugene W. Chafin.

References

  1. ^ "Board of Supervisors".
  2. ^ Brokeoff Mountain
  3. ^ "Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Tehama County, CA". Federal Reserve Economic Data. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
  4. ^ "Tehama County, California". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  5. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  6. ^ E. J. Lewis ,1891,Tehama County History:A Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California, Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago
  7. ^ Helen and Joe Chew Foundation (2026). Chew, Jessica (ed.). Images of America: Chinese of Tehama County. Arcadia Publishing. p. 11. ISBN 9781467161442. Retrieved January 6, 2026. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  8. ^ Helen and Joe Chew Foundation (2026). Chew, Jessica (ed.). Images of America: Chinese of Tehama County. Arcadia Publishing. p. 1. ISBN 9781467161442. Retrieved January 6, 2026. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help) Via Arcadia Publishing
  9. ^ Helen and Joe Chew Foundation (2026). Chew, Jessica (ed.). Images of America: Chinese of Tehama County. Arcadia Publishing. p. 1. ISBN 9781467161442. Retrieved January 6, 2026. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help) Via Arcadia Publishing
  10. ^ Helen and Joe Chew Foundation (2026). Chew, Jessica (ed.). Images of America: Chinese of Tehama County. Arcadia Publishing. p. 1. ISBN 9781467161442. Retrieved January 6, 2026. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help) Via Arcadia Publishing
  11. ^ Chan, Sucheng (2000). Wu, Jean; Song, Min (eds.). Hostility and Conflict. Rutgers University Press. p. 53. ISBN 0-8135-2726-0. Retrieved October 10, 2015. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help) Via Google Books
  12. ^ Helen and Joe Chew Foundation (2026). Chew, Jessica (ed.). Images of America: Chinese of Tehama County. Arcadia Publishing. p. 9. ISBN 9781467161442. Retrieved January 6, 2026. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  13. ^ Helen and Joe Chew Foundation (2026). Chew, Jessica (ed.). Images of America: Chinese of Tehama County. Arcadia Publishing. p. 9. ISBN 9781467161442. Retrieved January 6, 2026. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  14. ^ "THE ANTI-COOLIE MOVE. Tehama Taking a Hand—Chinese Leaving Sacramento". Daily Alta California. San Francisco, California. January 29, 1886. p. 5, column 4. Retrieved October 10, 2015. Volume 40, Number 13304. Via California Digital Newspaper Collection of the University of California at Riverside
  15. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  16. ^ Ripley, George; Dana, Charles A., eds. (1879). "Tehama" . The American Cyclopædia.
  17. ^ Helman, Adam. "Tehama County - Brokeoff Mountain (9,235 feet)". California County Highpoint Trip Reports. County Highpointers. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  18. ^ Suess, Bubba. "Brokeoff Mountain". SummitPost.org. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  19. ^ "North State Intercity Bus System Business Plan June 2018". Srta.ca.gov. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  20. ^ "Shasta Intercity Bus Transportation Studies | Shasta Regional Transportation Agency, CA".
  21. ^ a b c U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B02001. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Office of the Attorney General, Department of Justice, State of California. Table 11: Crimes – 2009 Archived December 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  23. ^ a b c United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Crime in the United States, 2012, Table 8 (California). Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  24. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
  25. ^ "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  26. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
  27. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
  28. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
  29. ^ a b "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Tehama County, California". United States Census Bureau.
  30. ^ a b "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Tehama County, California". United States Census Bureau.
  31. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  32. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  33. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  34. ^ "California: 1980, General Social and Economic Characteristics, Part 1 - Table 59: Persons by Race, Hispanic Origin, and Sex" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  35. ^ "California: 1990, Part 1 - Table 5: Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  36. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Tehama County, California". United States Census Bureau.
  37. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  38. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  39. ^ not an option in the 1980 Census
  40. ^ not an option in the 1990 Census
  41. ^ "2010 Census P.L. 94-171 Summary File Data". United States Census Bureau.
  42. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  43. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q California Secretary of State. February 10, 2013 - Report of Registration Archived July 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
  44. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  45. ^ "California's 1st Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  46. ^ "County Results - Election Center 2008 - Elections & Politics from CNN.com". cnn.com.
  47. ^ "2020 Census".

Further reading

  • Vestra (April 2006). Tehama West Watershed Assessment (PDF). Tehama County Resource Conservation District.
  • Smith, Josie (2016). Tehama County. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9781540201430.
  • Hislop, Donald L.; Hughes, Benjamin M. (2007). Tehama County Place Names. Red Bluff, California.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Smith, Dottie (1997). Ritter, Eric W. (ed.). Historical Overview of the Western Tehama County Foothills. Bureau of Land Management, Redding Resource Area.

40°08′N 122°14′W / 40.13°N 122.23°W / 40.13; -122.23

allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Bluff,_CA_Micropolitan_Statistical_Area