Mono County, California

Mono County
County
Mono Lake in the Mono–Inyo Craters
Mammoth Lakes
Carson Peak
Convict Lake
Bodie
Mt. Morrison in the Sierra Nevada
Official seal of Mono County
Seal
Official logo of Mono County
Logo
Map
Interactive map of Mono County
Location in the state of California
Location in the state of California
Coordinates: 37°55′N 118°52′W / 37.917°N 118.867°W / 37.917; -118.867
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
RegionEastern California
FoundedApril 21, 1861; 164 years ago (1861-04-21)
Named afterMono Lake, which is derived from Monachi, a Yokutsan name for native peoples of the Sierra Nevada
County seatBridgeport
Largest cityMammoth Lakes
Government
 • TypeCouncil–CAO
 • BodyBoard of Supervisors
 • Chair[1]Jennifer Kreitz
 • Vice Chair[2]Paul McFarland
 • Chair Pro Tem[3]Rhonda Duggan
 • Board of Supervisors[4]
Supervisors
  • Jennifer Kreitz
  • Rhonda Duggan
  • Paul McFarland
  • John Peters
  • Lynda Salcido
 • County Administrative OfficerBob Lawton
Area
 • Total
3,132 sq mi (8,110 km2)
 • Land3,049 sq mi (7,900 km2)
 • Water83 sq mi (210 km2)
Highest elevation
[5]
14,252 ft (4,344 m)
Population
 (2020)[6]
 • Total
13,195
 • Estimate 
(2024)
12,991 Decrease
 • Density4.328/sq mi (1.671/km2)
GDP
[7]
 • Total$1.312 billion (2022)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific Time Zone)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (Pacific Daylight Time)
Area code530/837, 760/442
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.monocounty.ca.gov

Mono County (/ˈmoʊnoʊ/ MOH-noh) is a county located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 13,195,[6] making it the fourth-least populous county in California. The county seat is Bridgeport.[8][9] The county is located east of the Sierra Nevada between Yosemite National Park and Nevada. The only incorporated town in the county is Mammoth Lakes,[10] which is located at the foot of Mammoth Mountain.[11] Other locations, such as June Lake, are also famous as skiing and fishing resorts. Located in the middle of the county is Mono Lake, a vital habitat for millions of migratory and nesting birds. The lake is located in a wild natural setting, with pinnacles of tufa arising out of the salty and alkaline lake. Also located in Mono County is Bodie, the official state gold rush ghost town, which is now a California State Historic Park.

History

Bodie, as seen from the hill looking to the cemetery

Mono County was formed in 1861 from parts of Calaveras, Fresno and Mariposa counties. A portion of northern Mono County contributed to the formation of Alpine County in 1864; parts of the county's territory were given to Inyo County in 1866.

The county is named after Mono Lake which, in 1852, was named for a Native American Paiute tribe, the Mono people, who historically inhabited the Sierra Nevada from north of Mono Lake to Owens Lake. The tribe's western neighbors, the Yokuts, called them monachie, meaning "fly people" because they used fly larvae as their chief food staple and trading article.[12]

Archeologists know almost nothing about the first inhabitants of the county, as little material evidence has been found from them. The Kuzedika, a band of Paiute, had been there many generations by the time the first anglophones arrived. The Kuzedika were hunter-gatherers and their language is a part of the Shoshone language.[12]

Geography

Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,132 square miles (8,110 km2), of which 3,049 square miles (7,900 km2) is land and 83 square miles (210 km2) (2.6%) is water.[13] The highest point in Mono County is White Mountain Peak which, at 14,252 feet (4,344 m), is the third-highest peak in California.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1870430—
18807,4991,644.0%
18902,002−73.3%
19002,1678.2%
19102,042−5.8%
1920960−53.0%
19301,36041.7%
19402,29969.0%
19502,115−8.0%
19602,2134.6%
19704,01681.5%
19808,577113.6%
19909,95616.1%
200012,85329.1%
201014,20210.5%
202013,195−7.1%
2024 (est.)12,991[14]−1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[15]
1790–1960[16] 1900–1990[17]
1990–2000[18] 2010[19] 2020[20]

2021

In June 2021, U.S. News & World Report ranked the county with the third best life expectancy in the United States at 96.5 years old.[21]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 13,195. The median age was 39.5 years. 20.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 114.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 117.2 males age 18 and over.[22]

As of the 2020 census, the racial makeup of the county was 70.9% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 2.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% Asian, 0.2% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 12.9% from some other race, and 12.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 26.6% of the population.[23]

As of the 2020 census, 53.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 46.6% lived in rural areas.[24]

There were 5,474 households in the county, of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 19.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[22]

There were 13,589 housing units, of which 59.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 56.9% were owner-occupied and 43.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 18.4%.[22]

Racial and ethnic composition

Mono 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 Pop 1990 Pop 2000[25] Pop 2010[19] Pop 2020[20] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 7,761 8,329 9,837 9,687 8,679 90.49% 83.66% 76.53% 68.21% 65.77%
Black or African American alone (NH) 16 41 53 42 68 0.19% 0.41% 0.41% 0.30% 0.52%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 334 341 267 239 177 3.89% 3.43% 2.08% 1.68% 1.34%
Asian alone (NH) 43 114 140 191 159 0.50% 1.15% 1.09% 1.34% 1.21%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [26] x [27] 10 11 26 0.08% 0.08% 0.08% 0.08% 0.20%
Other race alone (NH) 18 5 82 33 78 0.21% 0.05% 0.64% 0.23% 0.59%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [28] x [29] 190 237 501 x x 1.48% 1.67% 3.80%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 405 1,126 2,274 3,762 3,507 4.72% 11.31% 17.69% 26.49% 26.58%
Total 8,577 9,956 12,853 14,202 13,195 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2010 Census

The 2010 United States census reported that Mono County had a population of 14,202. The racial makeup of Mono County was 11,697 (82.4%) White, 47 (0.3%) African American, 302 (2.1%) Native American, 192 (1.4%) Asian, 11 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 1,539 (10.8%) from other races, and 414 (2.9%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3,762 persons (26.5%).[30]

Politics

Overview

In November 2008, Mono County was one of just three counties in California's interior in which voters rejected Proposition 8 which sought to ban gay marriage. The county's voters rejected Proposition 8 by 55.5 percent to 44.5 percent. The other interior counties in which Proposition 8 failed to receive a majority of votes were neighboring Alpine County and Yolo County.[31]

Mono County is in California's 3rd congressional district, represented by Republican Kevin Kiley.[32]

In the state legislature Mono is in the 4th senatorial district, represented by Republican Marie Alvarado-Gil, and the 8th Assembly district, represented by Republican David Tangipa.[33]

Election results

After voting Republican for six decades, Mono County was won by John Kerry in 2004 by 7 votes. It has not voted for a Republican since George W. Bush in 2000.[34]

United States presidential election results for Mono County, California[34]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1892 286 53.36% 166 30.97% 84 15.67%
1896 259 44.27% 315 53.85% 11 1.88%
1900 284 52.11% 258 47.34% 3 0.55%
1904 245 64.64% 82 21.64% 52 13.72%
1908 224 59.89% 121 32.35% 29 7.75%
1912 3 0.81% 182 49.32% 184 49.86%
1916 137 42.02% 158 48.47% 31 9.51%
1920 170 67.73% 56 22.31% 25 9.96%
1924 166 53.55% 45 14.52% 99 31.94%
1928 220 61.80% 127 35.67% 9 2.53%
1932 199 34.25% 374 64.37% 8 1.38%
1936 241 34.09% 458 64.78% 8 1.13%
1940 459 46.13% 523 52.56% 13 1.31%
1944 378 60.87% 242 38.97% 1 0.16%
1948 541 64.79% 255 30.54% 39 4.67%
1952 891 76.61% 264 22.70% 8 0.69%
1956 673 73.79% 237 25.99% 2 0.22%
1960 912 66.33% 457 33.24% 6 0.44%
1964 850 56.07% 666 43.93% 0 0.00%
1968 1,130 64.28% 465 26.45% 163 9.27%
1972 1,872 66.88% 828 29.58% 99 3.54%
1976 1,600 58.80% 1,025 37.67% 96 3.53%
1980 2,132 62.32% 865 25.29% 424 12.39%
1984 2,659 72.31% 962 26.16% 56 1.52%
1988 2,177 61.38% 1,284 36.20% 86 2.42%
1992 1,570 36.05% 1,489 34.19% 1,296 29.76%
1996 1,882 46.00% 1,580 38.62% 629 15.38%
2000 2,296 52.53% 1,788 40.91% 287 6.57%
2004 2,621 49.10% 2,628 49.23% 89 1.67%
2008 2,354 42.25% 3,093 55.52% 124 2.23%
2012 2,285 44.10% 2,733 52.75% 163 3.15%
2016 2,111 39.97% 2,773 52.51% 397 7.52%
2020 2,513 37.30% 4,013 59.56% 212 3.15%
2024 2,294 37.83% 3,522 58.08% 248 4.09%

Transportation

photo of Mono County Court House
The Mono County Courthouse in Bridgeport.

Major highways

Public transportation

Eastern Sierra Transit Authority operates intercity bus service along U.S. 395, as well as local services in Mammoth Lakes. Service extends south to Lancaster, California (Los Angeles County) and north to Reno, Nevada.

Yosemite Area Regional Transit System (YARTS) also runs along U.S. 395 from Mammoth Lakes to Lee Vining before entering Yosemite National Park.

Airports

General aviation airports in Mono County include Bryant Field near Bridgeport, Mammoth Yosemite Airport and Lee Vining Airport. In December 2021, seasonal commercial air service by United Airlines to San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Denver began at the Eastern Sierra Regional Airport in Bishop, providing local service to southern Mono County.

Communities

Town

Census-designated places

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Mono County.[35]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census)
1 Mammoth Lakes Town 8,234
2 Crowley Lake CDP 875
3 Walker CDP 721
4 Chalfant CDP 651
5 June Lake CDP 629
6 † Bridgeport CDP 575
7 Coleville CDP 495
8 Benton CDP 280
9 Lee Vining CDP 222
10 Swall Meadows CDP 220
11 Sunny Slopes CDP 182
12 Mono City CDP 172
13 Paradise CDP 153
14 Benton Reservation (Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribe)[36] AIAN 76
15 Aspen Springs CDP 65
16 Topaz CDP 50
17 McGee Creek CDP 41
18 Bridgeport Reservation (Paiute Indians)[37] AIAN 35

See also

Notes

References

  1. ^ "District 1: Jennifer Kreitz, Chair (2026) | Mono County California".
  2. ^ "District 3: Paul McFarland, Vice Chair (2026) | Mono County California".
  3. ^ "District 2: Rhonda Duggan, Chair Pro-Tem (2026) | Mono County California".
  4. ^ "Board of Supervisors | Mono County California".
  5. ^ "White Mountain". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Mono County, California". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  7. ^ "Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Mono County, CA". Federal Reserve Economic Data. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
  8. ^ "Mono County General Information". Archived from the original on December 22, 2007. Retrieved November 5, 2007.
  9. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  10. ^ "Town of Mammoth Lakes, California". Retrieved November 5, 2007.
  11. ^ "Mammoth Mountain". Retrieved November 5, 2007.
  12. ^ a b Sprague, Marguerite (2003). "Welcome to Bodie". Bodie's Gold. Reno, Nevada: University of Nevada Press. pp. 3, 205. ISBN 0-87417-628-X.
  13. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  14. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  15. ^ "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  16. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  17. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  18. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  19. ^ a b "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Mono County, California". United States Census Bureau.
  20. ^ a b "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Mono County, California". United States Census Bureau.
  21. ^ Cirruzzo, Chelsea (June 30, 2021). "The 25 Counties With the Longest Life Expectancy". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  22. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  23. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  24. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  25. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Mono County, California". United States Census Bureau.
  26. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  27. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  28. ^ not an option in the 1980 Census
  29. ^ not an option in the 1990 Census
  30. ^ "2010 Census P.L. 94-171 Summary File Data". United States Census Bureau.
  31. ^ "California results". Los Angeles Times. September 16, 2014.
  32. ^ "California's 3rd Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  33. ^ "Final Maps | California Citizens Redistricting Commission". Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  34. ^ a b Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  35. ^ CNMP, US Census Bureau. "This site has been redesigned and relocated. - U.S. Census Bureau". www.census.gov.
  36. ^ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search". Archived from the original on February 6, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  37. ^ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search". Archived from the original on February 6, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2018.

Further reading

  • Rockwell, G. L.; Honeywell, P. D. (2004). Water-quality data for selected stream sites in Bridgeport Valley, Mono County, California, April 2000 to June 2003. U.S. Geological Survey Data Series. Vol. 89. Reston, VA: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mono_County,_California