Fiddletown, California
Encyclopedia
Fiddletown is a census-designated place
in Amador County
, California
. It lies at an elevation of 1683 feet (513 m). It is located at 38°30′14"N 120°45′20"W. The town is registered as California Historical Landmark
#35 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places
(NPS-78000655). The community is in ZIP code
95629 and area code 209
. Fiddletown's population was 235 at the 2010 census.
ans in 1849 and in the 1850s served as a trading center for a number of mining camps in the area. The town also had one of the largest Chinese
communities in the state (over 2,000 in the 1860 census
).
At the time of its founding, placer mining
was the most popular mining
technique, which is heavily dependent on water. The local water source, Dry Creek, ran dry during the summer months, during which time the miners were said to be "fiddling around," thus the name. However, one local citizen was embarrassed to be known as the "Man from Fiddletown" and successfully lobbied to have the name changed to Oleta (after his daughter) in 1878. After his death in 1932, town residents petitioned to have it restored to Fiddletown.
A post office first opened in Fiddletown in 1853.
was 50.7 people per square mile (19.6/km²). The racial makeup of Fiddletown was 215 (91.5%) White, 0 (0.0%) African American, 5 (2.1%) Native American, 1 (0.4%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 8 (3.4%) from other races
, and 6 (2.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22 persons (9.4%).
The Census reported that 235 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 102 households, out of which 23 (22.5%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 55 (53.9%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 8 (7.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 9 (8.8%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 2 (2.0%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 1 (1.0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 26 households (25.5%) were made up of individuals and 9 (8.8%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30. There were 72 families
(70.6% of all households); the average family size was 2.75.
The population was spread out with 48 people (20.4%) under the age of 18, 12 people (5.1%) aged 18 to 24, 42 people (17.9%) aged 25 to 44, 78 people (33.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 55 people (23.4%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 51.6 years. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.5 males.
There were 126 housing units at an average density of 27.2 per square mile (10.5/km²), of which 77 (75.5%) were owner-occupied, and 25 (24.5%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 7.4%. 174 people (74.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 61 people (26.0%) lived in rental housing units.
Fiddletown is located in the 1st California State Senate District, and in the 10th California State Assembly District. Federally, Fiddletown is located in California's 3rd congressional district
, which has a Cook PVI
of R +7 and is represented by Republican Dan Lungren
.
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...
in Amador County
Amador County, California
Amador County is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 38,091. The county seat is Jackson.Amador County bills itself as "The Heart of the Mother Lode" and lies within the Gold Country...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It lies at an elevation of 1683 feet (513 m). It is located at 38°30′14"N 120°45′20"W. The town is registered as California Historical Landmark
California Historical Landmark
California Historical Landmarks are buildings, structures, sites, or places in the state of California that have been determined to have statewide historical significance by meeting at least one of the criteria listed below:...
#35 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
(NPS-78000655). The community is in ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
95629 and area code 209
Area code 209
209 is the North American telephone area code for California that covers Stockton, Modesto, Turlock, Merced, Winton, Atwater, Livingston, Manteca, Ripon, Tracy, Lodi, Sonora, Los Banos, San Andreas, Mariposa, and Yosemite, as well as the northern San Joaquin Valley and the Sierra Foothills...
. Fiddletown's population was 235 at the 2010 census.
History
The town was first settled by MissouriMissouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
ans in 1849 and in the 1850s served as a trading center for a number of mining camps in the area. The town also had one of the largest Chinese
Chinese American
Chinese Americans represent Americans of Chinese descent. Chinese Americans constitute one group of overseas Chinese and also a subgroup of East Asian Americans, which is further a subgroup of Asian Americans...
communities in the state (over 2,000 in the 1860 census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
).
At the time of its founding, placer mining
Placer mining
Placer mining is the mining of alluvial deposits for minerals. This may be done by open-pit or by various surface excavating equipment or tunneling equipment....
was the most popular mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
technique, which is heavily dependent on water. The local water source, Dry Creek, ran dry during the summer months, during which time the miners were said to be "fiddling around," thus the name. However, one local citizen was embarrassed to be known as the "Man from Fiddletown" and successfully lobbied to have the name changed to Oleta (after his daughter) in 1878. After his death in 1932, town residents petitioned to have it restored to Fiddletown.
A post office first opened in Fiddletown in 1853.
Demographics
The 2010 United States Census reported that Fiddletown had a population of 235. 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 50.7 people per square mile (19.6/km²). The racial makeup of Fiddletown was 215 (91.5%) White, 0 (0.0%) African American, 5 (2.1%) Native American, 1 (0.4%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 8 (3.4%) 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 6 (2.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22 persons (9.4%).
The Census reported that 235 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 102 households, out of which 23 (22.5%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 55 (53.9%) 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, 8 (7.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 9 (8.8%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 2 (2.0%) 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 (1.0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 26 households (25.5%) were made up of individuals and 9 (8.8%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30. There were 72 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...
(70.6% of all households); the average family size was 2.75.
The population was spread out with 48 people (20.4%) under the age of 18, 12 people (5.1%) aged 18 to 24, 42 people (17.9%) aged 25 to 44, 78 people (33.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 55 people (23.4%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 51.6 years. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.5 males.
There were 126 housing units at an average density of 27.2 per square mile (10.5/km²), of which 77 (75.5%) were owner-occupied, and 25 (24.5%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 7.4%. 174 people (74.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 61 people (26.0%) lived in rental housing units.
Politics
In the state legislatureCalifornia State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
Fiddletown is located in the 1st California State Senate District, and in the 10th California State Assembly District. Federally, Fiddletown is located in California's 3rd congressional district
California's 3rd congressional district
California's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district located in the U.S. state of California. It covers most of Sacramento County and part of Solano County, as well as all of Alpine, Amador and Calaveras counties...
, which has a Cook PVI
Cook Partisan Voting Index
The Cook Partisan Voting Index , sometimes referred to as simply the Partisan Voting Index , is a measurement of how strongly an American congressional district or state leans toward one political party compared to the nation as a whole...
of R +7 and is represented by Republican Dan Lungren
Dan Lungren
Daniel Edward "Dan" Lungren is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. The district covers most of Sacramento County and part of Solano County, as well as all of Alpine, Amador and Calaveras counties...
.