Nicolaus, California
Encyclopedia
Nicolaus is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Sutter County
, California
. Nicolaus is part of the Yuba City Metropolitan Statistical Area. Nicolaus sits at an elevation of 26 feet (7.9 m). The 2010 United States census reported Nicolaus's population was 211.
It is named after Nicolaus Allgeier, local rancher. The town's former names included Nicolaus Ferry, and Nicolaus' Ranche.
on the road between Sutter's Fort
and Sutter
's Hock Farm. The town was established in 1850 and has had a post office since July 28, 1851 making it one of the oldest post offices in the state.
Nicolaus was an early major stopping point on the Feather River during the California Gold Rush
. It was the county seat of Sutter County in 1850-1851 and again 1852-1856 except for two months in 1854 when it was located in Yuba City. The area was described by R.T.P. Allen, Special Agent of the United States Government for the purpose of selecting early post offices in California as "a most beautiful country...[t]he country bordering the Feather River (near Nicolaus) is by far the most fertile and most beautiful I have seen in California."
Nicolaus was once home to a significant Chinese American
community, but it violently drove all its Chinese American residents out of town in March 1886. It was also home to a large mixed population of Maidu Indians and Hawaiians, or Kanuks which has since relocated to El Dorado County, California. The Hawaiians or Kanuks are descendants of workers brought over by John Sutter during the 1840s.
The town itself has approximately 110 residents and the outlying area has a population of roughly 600. The town is located just off State Highway 99 and adjoins the Feather River. The State Highway used to go through the town but a major flood in 1955 tore out the bridge over the Feather River and the town's commercial district has declined since that time.
The community is inside area code 530
. The zip code is 95659 which also encompasses the communities of East Nicolaus
, Trowbridge, Lee and Verona. It is served by East Nicolaus High School which is renowned for its male and female sports teams and which has won several section titles in football and other sports. It is also served by Marcum-Illinois Elementary School.
Recreational opportunities abound in the area. Golfers have access to the River Oaks Golf Course, a public 18 hole course, which is located next to the Feather River. The area is an outdoor paradise widely known for its hunting, fishing and bird watching. It is also known for canoeing and kayaking on the Feather River and for bicycling along its roads.
The area is unique in that it has retained its rural character yet is only 20 minutes north of Sacramento, the state capital. The economy of the Nicolaus area is driven by farming and walnut orchards and rice farming, predominate. The town of Nicolaus is the site of an annual Labor Day parade which attracts visitors from throughout the state.
, the CDP covers an area of 3.1 square miles (8.1 km²), all of it land.
was 67.2 people per square mile (26.0/km²). The racial makeup of Nicolaus was 186 (88.2%) White, 1 (0.5%) African American, 0 (0.0%) Native American, 5 (2.4%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 10 (4.7%) from other races
, and 9 (4.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13 persons (6.2%).
The Census reported that 207 people (98.1% of the population) lived in households, 4 (1.9%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 92 households, out of which 22 (23.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 56 (60.9%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 7 (7.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 4 (4.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 3 (3.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 1 (1.1%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 23 households (25.0%) were made up of individuals and 7 (7.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25. There were 67 families
(72.8% of all households); the average family size was 2.63.
The population was spread out with 35 people (16.6%) under the age of 18, 16 people (7.6%) aged 18 to 24, 32 people (15.2%) aged 25 to 44, 65 people (30.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 63 people (29.9%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 51.1 years. For every 100 females there were 104.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.8 males.
There were 98 housing units at an average density of 31.2 per square mile (12.1/km²), of which 65 (70.7%) were owner-occupied, and 27 (29.3%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.4%. 145 people (68.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 62 people (29.4%) lived in rental housing units.
Nicolaus is located in the 4th Senate
District, represented by Republican
Doug LaMalfa
, and in the 2nd Assembly
District, represented by Republican Jim Nielsen
. Federally, Nicolaus is located in California's 2nd congressional district
, which has a Cook PVI
of R +13 and is represented by Republican Wally Herger
.
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...
(CDP) in Sutter County
Sutter County, California
Sutter County is a county located along the Sacramento River in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, north of state capital Sacramento. Sutter County is part of the Greater Sacramento CSA....
, 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...
. Nicolaus is part of the Yuba City Metropolitan Statistical Area. Nicolaus sits at an elevation of 26 feet (7.9 m). The 2010 United States census reported Nicolaus's population was 211.
It is named after Nicolaus Allgeier, local rancher. The town's former names included Nicolaus Ferry, and Nicolaus' Ranche.
History
Nicolaus Allgeier established a ferry at what later became the town of Nicolaus in 1843 to cross the Feather RiverFeather River
The Feather River is the principal tributary of the Sacramento River, in the Sacramento Valley of Northern California. The river's main stem is about long. Its length to its most distant headwater tributary is about . Its drainage basin is about...
on the road between Sutter's Fort
Sutter's Fort
Sutter's Fort State Historic Park is a state-protected park in Sacramento, California which includes Sutter's Fort and the California State Indian Museum. Begun in 1839 and originally called "New Helvetia" by its builder, John Sutter, the fort was a 19th century agricultural and trade colony in...
and Sutter
John Sutter
Johann Augus Sutter was a Swiss pioneer of California known for his association with the California Gold Rush by the discovery of gold by James W. Marshall and the mill making team at Sutter's Mill, and for establishing Sutter's Fort in the area that would eventually become Sacramento, the...
's Hock Farm. The town was established in 1850 and has had a post office since July 28, 1851 making it one of the oldest post offices in the state.
Nicolaus was an early major stopping point on the Feather River during the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
. It was the county seat of Sutter County in 1850-1851 and again 1852-1856 except for two months in 1854 when it was located in Yuba City. The area was described by R.T.P. Allen, Special Agent of the United States Government for the purpose of selecting early post offices in California as "a most beautiful country...[t]he country bordering the Feather River (near Nicolaus) is by far the most fertile and most beautiful I have seen in California."
Nicolaus was once home to a significant Chinese American
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...
community, but it violently drove all its Chinese American residents out of town in March 1886. It was also home to a large mixed population of Maidu Indians and Hawaiians, or Kanuks which has since relocated to El Dorado County, California. The Hawaiians or Kanuks are descendants of workers brought over by John Sutter during the 1840s.
The town itself has approximately 110 residents and the outlying area has a population of roughly 600. The town is located just off State Highway 99 and adjoins the Feather River. The State Highway used to go through the town but a major flood in 1955 tore out the bridge over the Feather River and the town's commercial district has declined since that time.
The community is inside area code 530
Area code 530
North American area code 530 is a California telephone area code that covers Auburn, Chico, Colfax, Davis, Grass Valley, Marysville, Oroville, Placerville, Redding, Red Bluff, Susanville, Truckee, Woodland, Yuba City and South Lake Tahoe....
. The zip code is 95659 which also encompasses the communities of East Nicolaus
East Nicolaus, California
East Nicolaus is a census-designated place in Sutter County, California. East Nicolaus sits at an elevation of . The 2010 United States census reported East Nicolaus's population was 225.-Geography:...
, Trowbridge, Lee and Verona. It is served by East Nicolaus High School which is renowned for its male and female sports teams and which has won several section titles in football and other sports. It is also served by Marcum-Illinois Elementary School.
Recreational opportunities abound in the area. Golfers have access to the River Oaks Golf Course, a public 18 hole course, which is located next to the Feather River. The area is an outdoor paradise widely known for its hunting, fishing and bird watching. It is also known for canoeing and kayaking on the Feather River and for bicycling along its roads.
The area is unique in that it has retained its rural character yet is only 20 minutes north of Sacramento, the state capital. The economy of the Nicolaus area is driven by farming and walnut orchards and rice farming, predominate. The town of Nicolaus is the site of an annual Labor Day parade which attracts visitors from throughout the state.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP covers an area of 3.1 square miles (8.1 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
The 2010 United States Census reported that Nicolaus had a population of 211. 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 67.2 people per square mile (26.0/km²). The racial makeup of Nicolaus was 186 (88.2%) White, 1 (0.5%) African American, 0 (0.0%) Native American, 5 (2.4%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 10 (4.7%) 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 9 (4.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13 persons (6.2%).
The Census reported that 207 people (98.1% of the population) lived in households, 4 (1.9%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 92 households, out of which 22 (23.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 56 (60.9%) 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, 7 (7.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 4 (4.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 3 (3.3%) 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 (1.1%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 23 households (25.0%) were made up of individuals and 7 (7.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25. There were 67 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...
(72.8% of all households); the average family size was 2.63.
The population was spread out with 35 people (16.6%) under the age of 18, 16 people (7.6%) aged 18 to 24, 32 people (15.2%) aged 25 to 44, 65 people (30.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 63 people (29.9%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 51.1 years. For every 100 females there were 104.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.8 males.
There were 98 housing units at an average density of 31.2 per square mile (12.1/km²), of which 65 (70.7%) were owner-occupied, and 27 (29.3%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.4%. 145 people (68.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 62 people (29.4%) 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...
Nicolaus is located in the 4th Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
District, represented by Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Doug LaMalfa
Doug LaMalfa
Doug LaMalfa is an American politician currently serving in the California State Senate. He is a Republican representing the 4th district, encompassing Del Norte, Siskiyou, Shasta, Trinity, Tehama, Butte, Glenn, Colusa, Sutter, and Yuba counties, as well as parts of Nevada and Placer counties...
, and in the 2nd Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
District, represented by Republican Jim Nielsen
Jim Nielsen
James Wiley Nielsen is an American politician from California and a member of the Republican party. Nielsen served on the Yolo County Republican Committee before winning election to the California State Senate in 1978...
. Federally, Nicolaus is located in California's 2nd congressional district
California's 2nd congressional district
California's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district located in the U.S. state of California. The district contains much of the far northern part of the state, north of Sacramento. It is the largest district by area in California...
, 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 +13 and is represented by Republican Wally Herger
Wally Herger
Walter William "Wally" Herger, Jr. , American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1987, representing the California's 2nd congressional district. The second district is physically large...
.