Sonora, California Explained

Sonora, California should not be confused with Sonoma, California.

Sonora, California
Settlement Type:City
Pushpin Map:USA
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in the United States
Pushpin Relief:1
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:California
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Tuolumne
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Mark Plummer
Leader Title1:City Administrator
Leader Name1:Melissa Eads
Established Title:Incorporated
Established Date:February 15, 1850[1]
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[2]
Area Total Sq Mi:3.18
Area Land Sq Mi:3.16
Area Water Sq Mi:0.01
Area Total Km2:8.23
Area Land Km2:8.19
Area Water Km2:0.04
Area Water Percent:0.45
Elevation Footnotes:[3]
Elevation Ft:1,796
Population As Of:2020
Population Footnotes:[4]
Population Total:5003
Population Density Sq Mi:auto
Timezone:Pacific
Utc Offset:−8
Timezone Dst:PDT
Utc Offset Dst:−7
Coordinates:37.9844°N -120.3817°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP Codes
Postal Code:95370, 95373
Area Code Type:Area code
Area Code:209
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature IDs
Blank1 Info:,
Population Density Km2:auto

Sonora is the county seat of Tuolumne County, California, United States. Founded during the California Gold Rush by Mexican miners from Sonora (after which the city is named), the city population was 5,003 during the 2020 Census, an increase from the 4,610 counted during the 2010 Census.[5]

Sonora is the only incorporated community in Tuolumne County.

History

Sonora was founded by Mexican miners during the California Gold Rush. Named after their home state of Sonora, Mexico, it 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 "gold fever" died down, Sonora's size and population steadily decreased over the years.[6] In, the Sonora Hebrew Cemetery was formed by the Hebrew Benevolent Society and predominately contains the graves of European-born Jews who emigrated to Gold Country.[7] [8]

As detailed in the 2005 memoir of novelist David Carkeet, Campus Sexpot, Sonora was fictionalized as "Wattsville", the setting of Dale Koby's cult/underground classic (also titled Campus Sexpot).[9] The sequel, From Roundheel To Revolutionary by Jeff Daiell, also takes place primarily in "Wattsville"/Sonora.

The Tuolumne County Museum and History Center preserves the town's Gold Rush legacy.

Geography

Sonora is located at,[10] around the intersection of California State Highways 49 and 108 The altitude is 1825feet. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.1sqmi, 99.55% of it land and 0.45% of it water.

Climate

There are an average of 75 days annually with highs of or higher and an average of 65.5 days annually with lows of or lower. The record high temperature was 113F on June 22, 1961, and July 15, 1972. The record low temperature was 8F on December 9, 1972.

Average annual rainfall is 32.79inches, almost all from November through April, although there are occasionally afternoon and evening thunderstorms in the summer months, which drift down from the Sierra Nevada. There are an average of 63.8 days annually with measurable precipitation. The wettest “rain year” has been from July 1982 to June 1983 with 60.29inches and the driest from July 1975 to June 1976 with 15.26inches.[11] The most rainfall in one month was 21.69inches in December 1955, including 7.1inches on December 27, the record 24-hour rainfall. The most snowfall in one month was 30.5inches in January 1933.[12] The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is Csa (hot-summer Mediterranean climate).[13]

Demographics

2010

At the 2010 census Sonora had a population of 4,903. The population density was 1593sp=usNaNsp=us. 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 people (11.1%).[14]

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, 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 one person and 312 (14.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.10. There were 1,113 families (50.6% of households); the average family size was 2.77.

The age distribution was 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 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; of the occupied units, 898 (40.8%) were owner-occupied and 1,301 (59.2%) were rented. 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

At the 2000 census,[15] there were 4,423 people in 2,051 households, including 1,046 families, in the city. The population density was 1456.2sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 2,197 housing units at an average density of 723.3sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 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 were 2,051 households, 24.0% had children under the age of 18, 33.2% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.0% were non-families. 40.3% of households were made up of individuals, and 15% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.75.

The age distribution was 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 were 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.1 males.

The median household income was $28,858 and the median family income was $39,722. Males had a median income of $40,958 versus $26,111 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,248. 16.9% of the population and 10.9% of families were 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 were living below the poverty line.

Economy and tourism

The area economy was historically based on the mining and timber industries, but now relies on tourism.[16] One of two active lumber mills in Tuolumne County was shut down in 2009, but reopened in July 2011.[17]

As a city close to Yosemite National Park, Sonora provides services to some of Yosemite's visitors. The city also benefits from its proximity to Railtown 1897 State Historic Park and Columbia State Park.

Education

The city's schools include its namesake educational institutions Sonora Union High School[18] and Sonora Elementary School,[19] as well as Dario Cassina High[20] and the Foothill Horizons Outdoor School.

Columbia Community College is part of Yosemite Community College District (YCCD) which also includes Modesto Junior College. It 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, Merced, or to California State University, Stanislaus, in Turlock.

Government and politics

Sonora uses a city council consisting of five council members, including the mayor. The city council appoints a city administrator to implement the council's policies and enforce ordinances. As of June 2024, the current mayor of Sonora is Mark Plummer and the current city administrator is Melissa Eads.[21] [22]

In the California State Legislature, Sonora is in,[23] and in .[24] [25]

In the United States House of Representatives, Sonora is in .[26]

Culture and arts

See also: List of films shot in Sonora, California. The newspaper of record for the Sonora area is The Union Democrat.[27]

The Tuolumne County Film Commission describes Sonora as "one of the country's most versatile locations", where more than "300 film[s] and television series" have been made.[28]

Local museums depict the Gold Rush era and historic Sonora.

The small town is home to the professional theatre company Sierra Repertory Theatre[29] that produces a variety of musicals and plays each year at two different theatre buildings, the East Sonora Theatre and the Fallon House Theatre in Columbia.

Sonora is also home to the Tuolumne County Arts Alliance.[30]

The pilot, and various scenes, of the television show Little House on the Prairie was filmed in Sonora.

Notable people

Notes and References

  1. Web site: California Cities by Incorporation Date . Word . California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions . August 25, 2014. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130221091414/http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc . February 21, 2013. mdy-all.
  2. Web site: 2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. July 1, 2020.
  3. November 5, 2014.
  4. Web site: US Census Bureau . www.census.gov . 18 August 2024.
  5. Web site: QuickFacts - Sonora city, California . June 14, 2022 . Census.gov.
  6. News: A Short History - City of Sonora. City of Sonora. October 30, 2017. en-US.
  7. Web site: Ricapito . Giuseppe . Sonora Hebrew Cemetery hosts final burial for Holocaust survivor . October 13, 2022 . The Union Democrat . July 17, 2021 . en.
  8. Book: Levinson, Robert E. . The Jews in the California Gold Rush . . 1994 . 978-0943376622.
  9. Book: Carkeet, David. Campus Sexpot: A Memoir. 2005. University of Georgia Press. 9780820330761. en.
  10. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. April 23, 2011. February 12, 2011.
  11. [National Weather Service]
  12. Web site: SONORA, CALIFORNIA - Climate Summary. dri.edu. August 4, 2015.
  13. Web site: Sonora, California Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase). Weatherbase. August 4, 2015.
  14. Web site: 2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Sonora city. https://archive.today/20140715040407/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0672674. dead. July 15, 2014. U.S. Census Bureau. July 12, 2014.
  15. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. January 31, 2008.
  16. Web site: Membership benefits . Tuolumne County Chamber of Commerce . 2011 . July 13, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110605001340/http://www.tcchamber.com/benefits.html . June 5, 2011 . dead .
  17. News: Retooled lumber mill back in business . Dow Jones Local Media Group, Inc.. Nichols, Dana M . July 10, 2011 . July 13, 2011.
  18. Web site: Sonora Union High - School Directory Details (CA Dept of Education). www.cde.ca.gov. February 18, 2019.
  19. Web site: Sonora Elementary - School Directory Details (CA Dept of Education). www.cde.ca.gov. February 18, 2019.
  20. Web site: Dario Cassina High - School Directory Details (CA Dept of Education). www.cde.ca.gov. February 18, 2019.
  21. Web site: Sonora's City Council - City of Sonora. City of Sonora. March 31, 2020.
  22. Web site: City Administrator - City of Sonora. City of Sonora. March 31, 2020.
  23. Web site: Senate District 4 .
  24. Web site: District Map - AD08 | PATTERSON . November 12, 2021 .
  25. Web site: Statewide Database . UC Regents . November 29, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20150201113744/http://statewidedatabase.org/gis/gis2011/index_2011.html . February 1, 2015. dead .
  26. Web site: California's 5th Congressional District - CA-05 Representatives & District Map .
  27. Web site: About Us. AbDivine, The Union Democrat. uniondemocrat.com. August 4, 2015.
  28. Web site: Home page . Tuolumne County Film Commission . May 7, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101012111621/http://www.tcfilm.org/ . October 12, 2010 . mdy-all .
  29. Web site: Sierra Repertory Theatre. sierrarep.org. August 4, 2015.
  30. Web site: Imagine. August 4, 2015.