Sonora, California
Encyclopedia
Sonora is the county seat
of Tuolumne County, California
. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,903, up from 4,423 at the 2000 census. Sonora is the only incorporated
community in Tuolumne County.
Sonora is located at 37.984361°N 120.381767°W, around the intersection of California State Highways 49
and 108
The altitude is 1825 feet (556 m). According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 3.1 square miles (8 km²), 99.55% of it land and 0.45% of it water.
Average annual rainfall is 32.07 inches (814.6 mm). There are an average of 60 days annually with measurable precipitation. Most of the rainfall falls from November through April. There are sometimes afternoon and evening thunderstorms in the summer months, which drift down from the Sierra Nevada. The wettest year was 1940 with 46.67 inches (1,185.4 mm) and the driest year was 1976 with 15.06 inches (382.5 mm). The most rainfall in one month was 21.69 inches (550.9 mm) in December 1955, including 7.1 inches (180.3 mm) on December 27, the record 24 hour rainfall. Average annual snowfall is only 4.7 inches (119.4 mm). The most snowfall in one month was 30.5 inches (774.7 mm) in January 1933.
was 1,593.0 people per square mile (615.0/km²). The racial makeup of Sonora was 4,402 (89.8%) White, 24 (0.5%) African American, 95 (1.9%) Native American, 79 (1.6%) Asian, 12 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 84 (1.7%) from other races
, and 207 (4.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 542 persons (11.1%).
The Census reported that 4,613 people (94.1% of the population) lived in households, 85 (1.7%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 205 (4.2%) were institutionalized.
There were 2,199 households, out of which 562 (25.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 689 (31.3%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 308 (14.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 116 (5.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 192 (8.7%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 12 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 881 households (40.1%) were made up of individuals and 312 (14.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10. There were 1,113 families
(50.6% of all households); the average family size was 2.77.
The population was spread out with 975 people (19.9%) under the age of 18, 526 people (10.7%) aged 18 to 24, 1,266 people (25.8%) aged 25 to 44, 1,324 people (27.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 812 people (16.6%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.7 years. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.
There were 2,463 housing units at an average density of 800.2 per square mile (309.0/km²), of which 898 (40.8%) were owner-occupied, and 1,301 (59.2%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 8.6%. 1,960 people (40.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 2,653 people (54.1%) lived in rental housing units.
of 2000, there are 4,423 people, 2,051 households, and 1,046 families residing in the city. The population density
is 1,456.2 people per square mile (561.8/km²). There are 2,197 housing units at an average density of 723.3 per square mile (279.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 91.4% White, 0.7% African American, 1.5% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.0% from other races
, and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race comprise 8.4% of the population.
There are 2,051 households out of which 24.0% have children under the age of 18, 33.2% are married couples
living together, 14.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 49.0% are non-families. 40.3% of all households are made up of individuals and 15% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.06 and the average family size is 2.75.
In the city the population is spread out with 20.4% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 41 years. For every 100 females there are 82.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 77.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $28,858, and the median income for a family is $39,722. Males have a median income of $40,958 versus $26,111 for females. The per capita income
for the city is $19,248. 16.9% of the population and 10.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 22.8% of those under the age of 18 and 7.2% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
or California State University, Stanislaus
in Turlock.
Sonora is located in the 14th Senate
District, represented by Republican
Tom Berryhill
, and in the 25th Assembly
District, represented by Republican Kristin Olsen
. Federally, Sonora is located in California's 19th congressional district
, which has a Cook PVI
of R +10 and is represented by Republican Jeff Denham
.
, Mexico—during the California Gold Rush
, Sonora was once a booming center of industry and trade in California's Mother Lode
. Most of the gold that was removable with traditional mining techniques was quickly extracted, leaving miners to use more complex and expensive mining techniques to reach deep pockets of quartz and gold. Sonora as well as other mining towns of the era experienced economic hardship when the value of gold decreased. As easier accessible gold deposits dried up, businesses and miners realized extracting the gold cost more than it was worth. As "gold fever" died down, Sonora's size and population steadily decreased over the years.
A local museum serves to remind locals and visitors of the Gold Rush era and what Sonora was once like.
Local museums depict the Gold Rush era and historic Sonora.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Tuolumne County, California
Tuolumne County, California
Tuolumne County is a county in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California. The northern half of Yosemite National Park is located in the eastern part of the county. As of the 2010 census, the population was 55,365, up from 54,501 at the 2000 census...
. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,903, up from 4,423 at the 2000 census. Sonora is the only incorporated
Municipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
community in Tuolumne County.
Geography
California State Route 49
State Route 49 is a north–south state highway in the U.S. state of California that passes through many historic mining communities of the 1849 California gold rush. Highway 49 is numbered after the "49ers", the waves of immigrants who swept into the area looking for gold, and a portion of it...
and 108
California State Route 108
State Route 108, also known as Highway 108, is a numbered state highway in California. SR 108 runs generally northeast across central California from downtown Modesto near the SR 99/SR 132 interchange, crossing the Sierra Nevada at Sonora Pass, to U.S. Route 395 near the Nevada state line...
The altitude is 1825 feet (556 m). According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 city has a total area of 3.1 square miles (8 km²), 99.55% of it land and 0.45% of it water.
Climate
Sonora has cool, wet winters and hot, mostly dry summers. Average January temperatures are a maximum of 54.5 °F (12.5 °C) and a minimum of 33.5 °F (0.833333333340022 °C). Average July temperatures are a maximum of 94.6 °F (34.8 °C) and a minimum of 58.8 °F (14.9 °C). There are an average of 75.5 days annually with highs of 90 °F (32.2 °C) or higher and an average of 52.2 days annually with lows of 32 °F (0 °C) or lower. The record high temperature was 113 °F (45 °C) on June 22, 1961, and July 15, 1972. The record low temperature was 8 °F (-13.3 °C) on December 9, 1972.Average annual rainfall is 32.07 inches (814.6 mm). There are an average of 60 days annually with measurable precipitation. Most of the rainfall falls from November through April. There are sometimes afternoon and evening thunderstorms in the summer months, which drift down from the Sierra Nevada. The wettest year was 1940 with 46.67 inches (1,185.4 mm) and the driest year was 1976 with 15.06 inches (382.5 mm). The most rainfall in one month was 21.69 inches (550.9 mm) in December 1955, including 7.1 inches (180.3 mm) on December 27, the record 24 hour rainfall. Average annual snowfall is only 4.7 inches (119.4 mm). The most snowfall in one month was 30.5 inches (774.7 mm) in January 1933.
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Sonora had a population of 4,903. 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 1,593.0 people per square mile (615.0/km²). The racial makeup of Sonora was 4,402 (89.8%) White, 24 (0.5%) African American, 95 (1.9%) Native American, 79 (1.6%) Asian, 12 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 84 (1.7%) 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 207 (4.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 542 persons (11.1%).
The Census reported that 4,613 people (94.1% of the population) lived in households, 85 (1.7%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 205 (4.2%) were institutionalized.
There were 2,199 households, out of which 562 (25.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 689 (31.3%) 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, 308 (14.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 116 (5.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 192 (8.7%) 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 12 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 881 households (40.1%) were made up of individuals and 312 (14.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10. There were 1,113 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...
(50.6% of all households); the average family size was 2.77.
The population was spread out with 975 people (19.9%) under the age of 18, 526 people (10.7%) aged 18 to 24, 1,266 people (25.8%) aged 25 to 44, 1,324 people (27.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 812 people (16.6%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.7 years. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.
There were 2,463 housing units at an average density of 800.2 per square mile (309.0/km²), of which 898 (40.8%) were owner-occupied, and 1,301 (59.2%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 8.6%. 1,960 people (40.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 2,653 people (54.1%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
As of the censusCensus
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...
of 2000, there are 4,423 people, 2,051 households, and 1,046 families residing in the city. The population density
Population 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...
is 1,456.2 people per square mile (561.8/km²). There are 2,197 housing units at an average density of 723.3 per square mile (279.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 91.4% White, 0.7% African American, 1.5% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.0% 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 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race comprise 8.4% of the population.
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, 14.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 49.0% are non-families. 40.3% of all households are made up of individuals and 15% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.06 and the average family size is 2.75.
In the city the population is spread out with 20.4% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 41 years. For every 100 females there are 82.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 77.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $28,858, and the median income for a family is $39,722. Males have a median income of $40,958 versus $26,111 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city is $19,248. 16.9% of the population and 10.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 22.8% of those under the age of 18 and 7.2% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Economy
The area economy was historically based on the mining and timber industries, but now relies on tourism. One of two active lumber mills in Tuolumne County was shut down in 2009, but reopened in July of 2011.Education
Columbia Community College is the sole college in Tuolumne County and offers two-year degrees. Individuals wishing to attend a university must commute 50 miles to University of California, MercedUniversity of California, Merced
The University of California, Merced, commonly referred to as UC Merced or UCM, is the tenth and newest of the University of California campuses. Located in the San Joaquin Valley in unincorporated Merced County, California, near Merced, UC Merced was the first American research university to...
or California State University, Stanislaus
California State University, Stanislaus
California State University, Stanislaus, also known as Cal State Stanislaus or simply Stan State is a campus in the California State University system which was established in 1957 in Turlock, California. It is also the only campus in the CSU system to offer a bachelor's degree in cognitive studies...
in Turlock.
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...
Sonora is located in the 14th 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...
Tom Berryhill
Tom Berryhill
Tom Berryhill is a Republican politician in the United States who currently represents the 14th district in the California State Senate...
, and in the 25th 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 Kristin Olsen
Kristin Olsen
Kristin Olsen is an American politician currently serving in the California State Assembly. She is a Republican representing the 25th district, encompassing Calaveras, Mariposa, Mono, and Tuolumne counties, and parts of Madera and Stanislaus counties...
. Federally, Sonora is located in California's 19th congressional district
California's 19th congressional district
California's 19th congressional district is a congressional district located in the U.S. state of California that covers parts of Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, Tuolumne, and Stanislaus 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 +10 and is represented by Republican Jeff Denham
Jeff Denham
Jeffrey John "Jeff" Denham is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party.He previously served two terms in the California State Senate, representing the 12th District, which includes Madera, Merced, Monterey, San Benito and Stanislaus counties. Denham was the second...
.
History
Founded by Mexican miners—reminiscent of the state of SonoraSonora
Sonora officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 72 municipalities; the capital city is Hermosillo....
, Mexico—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...
, Sonora was once a booming center of industry and trade in California's Mother Lode
Mother Lode
Mother lode is a principal vein or zone of veins of gold or silver ore. The term probably came from a literal translation of the Spanish veta madre, a term common in old Mexican mining...
. Most of the gold that was removable with traditional mining techniques was quickly extracted, leaving miners to use more complex and expensive mining techniques to reach deep pockets of quartz and gold. Sonora as well as other mining towns of the era experienced economic hardship when the value of gold decreased. As easier accessible gold deposits dried up, businesses and miners realized extracting the gold cost more than it was worth. As "gold fever" died down, Sonora's size and population steadily decreased over the years.
A local museum serves to remind locals and visitors of the Gold Rush era and what Sonora was once like.
Culture and arts
The Tuolumne County Film Commission describes Sonora as "one of the country's most versatile locations", where more than "300 film and television series" have been made.Local museums depict the Gold Rush era and historic Sonora.
Notable persons
Well-known people associated with Sonora:- Vaughn ArmstrongVaughn ArmstrongVaughn Dale Armstrong is an American actor.-Prior to acting:Armstrong served in the United States military and saw action in the Vietnam War.-Star Trek:...
– actor - Melvin BelliMelvin BelliMelvin Mouron Belli was a prominent American lawyer known as "The King of Torts" and by detractors as 'Melvin Bellicose'. He had many celebrity clients, including Zsa Zsa Gabor, Errol Flynn, Chuck Berry, Muhammad Ali, Sirhan Sirhan, the Rolling Stones, Jim Bakker and Tammy Faye Bakker, Martha...
– attorney - Jack CassinettoJack CassinettoJack Thomas Cassinetto is a prolific California plein air artist of the tonalism movement, painting primarily Northern California landscapes such as Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, the Gold Country, the Northern California Coast, and the American River and Sacramento River.-Biography:Cassinetto was born in...
– painter - Phil CokePhil CokePhillip "Phil" Douglas Coke is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. Coke was born in Sonora, California-College:Coke attended San Joaquin Delta College...
– MLBMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher - Molly CulverMolly CulverMolly Culver is an American actress and model of 1/4 Chickasaw/Choctaw Native American descent . She is best known for portraying the role of Tasha Dexter on the syndicated TV series V.I.P....
- actress - Francis "Rocco" PrestiaRocco PrestiaFrancis «Rocco» Prestia is an American musician, the bassist of the legendary funk band Tower of Power and one of the most important figures in electric bass' history.- Biography :...
- bassistBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
of Tower of PowerTower of PowerTower of Power is an American R&B-based horn section and band, originating in Oakland, California, that has been performing for over 43 years. They are best known for their funky soul sound highlighted by a powerful horn section... - Charles DellschauCharles DellschauCharles August Albert Dellschau was an American outsider artist of Prussian birth.-Life:Dellschau was a butcher by trade who, after his retirement in 1899, filled at least 13 notebooks with drawings, watercolor paintings and collages depicting fantastical airships.He lived and worked in an attic...
– artist - Brooke HavenBrooke Haven__notoc__Brooke Haven is an American pornographic actress.Haven grew up in Sonora, California and lived there until she turned 19, when she moved to San Francisco to start working as a stripper. She worked at a club called Deja Vu for three and a half years...
– adult films actress - James P. HoganJames P. Hogan (writer)James Patrick Hogan was a British science fiction author.-Biography:Hogan was born in London, England. He was raised in the Portobello Road area on the west side of London...
– writer - Benjamin HoltBenjamin HoltBenjamin Leroy Holt was an American inventor who was the first to patent and manufacture a first practical crawler-type tread tractor. The continuous-type track is used for heavy agricultural and engineering vehicles to spread the weight over a large area to prevent the vehicle from sinking into...
– Banjo player for The Nightshade Family - Jenny O'Hara – actress
- Josh ParryJosh ParryJoshua David "Josh" Parry is a former American football fullback in the National Football League. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2001...
- NFLNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
fullback - Dan PastoriniDan PastoriniDante "Dan" Anthony Pastorini is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the Houston Oilers, Oakland Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, and the Philadelphia Eagles.-NFL career:...
– NFLNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
quarterback