Susanville, California Explained

Official Name:City of Susanville
Nickname:The Hub of Northeastern California
Settlement Type:City
Mapsize:250px
Pushpin Map:California#USA
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within California##Location within the United States
Pushpin Label:Susanville
Coordinates:40.4164°N -120.6531°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:California
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Lassen
Established Title:Incorporated
Established Date:August 24, 1900[1]
Named For:Susan Roop
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Mendy Schuster
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[2]
Area Total Sq Mi:8.03
Area Land Sq Mi:7.94
Area Water Sq Mi:0.09
Area Total Km2:20.80
Area Land Km2:20.58
Area Water Km2:0.22
Area Water Percent:1.07
Elevation Footnotes:[3]
Elevation Ft:4186
Elevation M:1276
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:16728
Population Density Km2:812.83
Population Density Sq Mi:2106.80
Population Demonym:Susanvillain
Timezone:Pacific (PST)
Utc Offset:-8
Timezone Dst:PDT
Utc Offset Dst:-7
Postal Code Type:ZIP codes
Postal Code:96127, 96130
Area Code:530
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature IDs
Blank1 Info:,

Susanville (formerly known as Rooptown) is a city in and is the county seat of Lassen County, California, United States.[3] Susanville is located on the Susan River in the southern part of the county, at an elevation of 4186feet.[3] Its population is 16,728 as of the 2020 census, down from 17,947 from the 2010 census. The Susanville urban area contains 8,995 people and 4,233 households.

Susanville, a former logging and mining town, is the site of the High Desert State Prison, California (not to be confused with High Desert State Prison, Nevada), which opened in 1995. The Federal Correctional Institution, Herlong is nearby, having opened in 2001.

The prisons and their effects on the community, including the addition of local jobs, were explored in the documentary Prison Town, USA (2007), aired on PBS.[4] [5] Nearly half the adult population of Susanville works at the three prisons in the area, where 6,000 people are incarcerated.[6]

Etymology

It was originally known as Rooptown, named for Isaac Roop, a pioneer of the Honey Lake District.[3] Roop later renamed the town Susanville in honor of his daughter in 1857.[7]

History

The Susanville US post office was established in 1860. Early in its history, Susanville was a hub for overland freight transit, as it marked the meeting point of Nobles Emigrant Trail from Nevada and the Humboldt Wagon Road leading west to Chico.[8] Susanville was incorporated in 1900.

Formerly the center of farming, mining and the lumber industry, Susanville suffered from the loss of jobs as these industries changed or declined in the 20th century. Since the late 20th century, the only area of growth in the economy has been associated with the construction and operation of two state prisons in the city and one federal prison in the area. In 2007, half of the adult population of Susanville worked in the prisons:[6] the California Correctional Center, a minimum-medium security facility, which opened in 1963; the High Desert State Prison, California (not to be confused with High Desert State Prison, Nevada), which opened in 1995; and the Federal Correctional Institution, Herlong, which opened in 2007.

Geography

Susanville is located at the head of Honey Lake Valley, 40miles east of Lassen Peak,[7] The elevation is approximately 4186feet above sea level.[3] It is considered a gateway city to Reno on U.S. Route 395.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.03 square miles (20.8 km), of which 7.95 square miles (20.58 km) or 98.93% is land and 0.09 square miles (0.22 km) or 1.07% is water.

Geology

Susanville is underlain by igneous rock, which provides the parent material for its well-drained brown stony to gravelly sandy loams or loams. On the western outskirts under forest cover, the soils are often reddish brown. The most common soil series in Susanville's urban area is Springmeyer gravelly fine sandy loam.[9]

Climate

Susanville has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csb) with cool winters and hot, mostly dry summers, except for occasional afternoon thunderstorms. Records have been kept at several stations since 1895, including Susanville Airport and Susanville 2 SW, southwest of the town center. There are two other area stations with shorter records.

Temperatures reach 90F or higher on an average of 30.8 days annually, and drop to 32F or lower on an average of 148.7 days annually. Freezing temperatures have been recorded in every month of the year, and summer nighttime temperatures are usually cool, but extreme cold is rare. The highest recorded temperature in Susanville was 106F on July 25, 1928, and July 19 - 20, 1931, and the lowest recorded temperature was -23F on February 1, 1956.

Annual precipitation averages 13.02inches, with an average of 38.7 days with measurable precipitation. The wettest calendar year has been 1907 with 33.51inches and the driest 1976 with 5.33inches, though the wettest "rain year" was from July 1937 to June 1938 with 33.01inches as against 32.42inches between July 1906 and June 1907 and 4.36inches in the driest rain year from July 1975 to June 1976. The most precipitation in one month was 12.3inches in March 1907, and the most in 24 hours 5.04inches on January 31, 1897. The most snowfall in one year was 114inches in 1937, with the most in one month being 65.5inches in January 1895.

Demographics

2010

At the 2010 census Susanville had a population of 17,947. The population density was 2238.7sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of Susanville was 11,269 (62.8%) White, 2,249 (12.5%) African American, 212 (1.2%) Native American, 198 (1.1%) Asian, 111 (0.6%) Pacific Islander, 2,928 (16.3%) from other races, and 580 (3.2%) from two or more races. There were 4,259 people (23.7%) of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.[10]

The census reported that 9,439 people (52.6% of the population) lived in households, 108 (0.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 8,400 (46.8%) were institutionalized.

There were 3,833 households, 1,357 (35.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,645 (42.9%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 499 (13.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 233 (6.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 327 (8.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 16 (0.4%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,161 households (30.3%) were one person and 405 (10.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.46. There were 2,377 families (62.0% of households); the average family size was 3.05.

The age distribution was 2,559 people (14.3%) under the age of 18, 2,547 people (14.2%) aged 18 to 24, 7,633 people (42.5%) aged 25 to 44, 4,024 people (22.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,184 people (6.6%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 33.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 273.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 327.3 males.

2000

As of the census[11] [12] of 2000, there were 13,541 people in 3,516 households, including 2,250 families, in the city. The population density was 2294.8sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 3,882 housing units at an average density of 657.9sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 76.0% White, 12.5% African American, 3.2% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.9% Pacific Islander, 3.5% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.6% of the population.

Of the 3,516 households 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were non-families. 29.9% of households were one person and 10.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.10.

The age distribution was 20.0% under the age of 18, 13.6% from 18 to 24, 41.5% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% 65 or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 198.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 231.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,675, and the median family income was $45,216. Males had a median income of $29,973 versus $27,044 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,238. About 11.0% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.5% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

The current city council members are:[13]

PositionName
MayorMendy Schuster
Mayor Pro TemRuss Brown
City CouncilorPatrick Parrish
City CouncilorCurtis Bortle
City CouncilorDawn Miller

List of mayors

This is a list of Susanville mayors by year.

State and federal representation

In the California State Legislature, Susanville is in,[16] and .[17]

In the United States House of Representatives, Susanville is in .[18]

Transportation

Susanville lies at the junction of California State Routes 36 and 139. Highway 139 heads north to the Oregon border as a direct route to Klamath Falls. Highway 36 runs west to Red Bluff, then east to where it terminates with U.S. Route 395 just outside Susanville's city limits. U.S. 395 connects Alturas to the north and Reno to the south.

Susanville Municipal Airport, 5miles southeast of Susanville, serves as a public, general aviation airport. Lassen Rural Bus, operated by the Lassen County Transportation Commission, provides bus service within the city. Sage Stage, operated by Modoc County, connects Alturas, Susanville, and Reno, Nevada, with connections to Redding, California and Klamath Falls, Oregon as well as connections to/from Reno International Airport.

The Quincy Railroad stopped serving Susanville on the former Southern Pacific Railroad line in 2004. A Union Pacific Railroad caboose is on an intact section of track next to the rail depot.

Economy

One California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation facility, High Desert State Prison,[19] [20] is in Susanville.[21] [22]

Top employers

According to Susanville's 2014 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[23] the top employers in the city are:

Employer
  1. of Employees
1High Desert State Prison1,250
2Lassen County441
3Susanville Indian Rancheria295
4Lassen College267
5Banner Lassen Medical Center197
6Diamond Mountain Casino179
7Walmart150
8Susanville School District101
9Lassen Nursing & Rehabilitation Center101
10Lassen Union High School District85
11Northeastern Rural Health81
12Safeway80
13City of Susanville62
14Susanville Supermarket IGA48

Notable people

External links

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/20141103002921/http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc. November 3, 2014.
  2. Web site: 2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. July 1, 2020.
  3. December 17, 2014.
  4. Prison Town, USA]. radioproject.org. Making Contact]. July 30, 2008. 11. 31.
  5. https://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2007/prisontown/preview.html POV - Prison Town
  6. http://www.mercurynews.com/tv/ci_6488035?nclick_check=1 Taylor, Robert. "'Prison Town' a view from outside"
  7. Capace, Nancy (1999). Encyclopedia of California. North American Book Dist LLC. Pages 447-48. .
  8. Book: Mark, Andy . Stories of the Humboldt Wagon Road . The History Press . Charleston, SC . 2020 . 17 . 9781439669785 .
  9. Web site: SoilWeb: An Online Soil Survey Browser | California Soil Resource Lab.
  10. Web site: 2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Susanville city. https://archive.today/20140715033439/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0677364. dead. July 15, 2014. U.S. Census Bureau. July 12, 2014.
  11. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. January 31, 2008.
  12. https://www.census.gov/main/www/cen2000.html Census 2000 Gateway
  13. Web site: Susanville City Council . cityofsusanville.net . July 19, 2020.
  14. Web site: Long Time Lassen County Supervisor Jim Chatnan. californiacountynews.org . October 25, 2016 . July 21, 2020.
  15. Web site: City welcomes new mayor, councilmember . lassennews.com . Jake . Hibbitts . June 27, 2018 . July 21, 2020.
  16. Web site: Senators . March 10, 2013. State of California.
  17. Web site: Members Assembly . March 2, 2013 . State of California.
  18. March 2, 2013.
  19. "High Desert State Prison." California Department of Corrections. Retrieved on September 25, 2011. "475-750 Rice Canyon Rd. Susanville, CA"
  20. "California Correctional Center." California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Retrieved on September 25, 2011. "711-045 Center Rd. Susanville, CA 96127-0790"
  21. "Susanville city, California ." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on September 25, 2011.
  22. News: Mathews . Joe . March 31, 2022 . Susanville, California, is being punished for town's business of punishment . April 8, 2022 . Ventura County Star . en.
  23. http://www.cityofsusanville.net/wp-content/uploads/documents/finance/CityofSusanvilleCAFR2014Final.pdf City of Susanville CAFR
  24. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/barryha01.shtml Hardin Barry
  25. News: Slotnik. Daniel E.. Frank Cady, Kept Store on 'Green Acres,' Dies at 96. January 3, 2013. The New York Times. June 11, 2012.
  26. http://34.orycon.org/guests-of-honor/aaron-duran-media-guest-of-honor Aaron Duran – Media Guest of Honor
  27. Web site: Jack Ellena. Pro-Football-Reference. December 22, 2010.
  28. http://www.nndb.com/people/573/000166075/ Mike Leach profile
  29. Web site: SusanvilleStuff.com WebXtra. susanvillestuff.com. December 20, 2018.
  30. http://archive.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=32014 Profile
  31. Woods, Michael, Brothers Ken, Frank Shamrock itching to fight, ESPN.go.com, October 12, 2008; accessed September 13, 2013.
  32. http://www.mikeskinner.com/history.html Mike Skinner website
  33. News: Magagnini. Stephen. Susanville Symphony Hits a High Note in Small Lassen County City. Sacramento Bee. 1B. October 31, 2009.