Modoc County, California
Modoc County is a county located in California's far northeast corner, bounded by Oregon to the north and Nevada to the east. As of 2000, its population was 9,449. Its population in 2002 was estimated at 9,289. The county seat is Alturas, the county's only incorporated city.
History
Modoc County was formed in 1855 from parts of Siskiyou County.
The county derives its name from the Modoc tribe which lived at the Pit River headwaters. One historian suggests that the word modoc means "the head of the river." Another states that the word is derived from the Klamath word moatakni meaning "southerners," i.e., the people living south of the Klamath tribe.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 10,887 km² (4,203 mi²). 10,215 km² (3,944 mi²) of it is land and 672 km² (259 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 6.17% water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 9,449 people, 3,784 households, and 2,550 families residing in the county. The population density is 1/km² (2/mi²). There are 4,807 housing units at an average density of 0/km² (1/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 85.94% White, 0.69% Black or African American, 4.21% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 5.69% from other races, and 2.78% from two or more races. 11.51% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 3,784 households out of which 29.10% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.60% are married couples living together, 8.80% have a female householder with no husband present, and 32.60% are non-families. 28.10% of all households are made up of individuals and 12.70% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.39 and the average family size is 2.91.
In the county the population is spread out with 25.60% under the age of 18, 5.70% from 18 to 24, 23.30% from 25 to 44, 27.70% from 45 to 64, and 17.60% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 42 years. For every 100 females there are 102.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 98.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county is $27,522, and the median income for a family is $35,978. Males have a median income of $30,538 versus $23,438 for females. The per capita income for the county is $17,285. 21.50% of the population and 16.40% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 29.70% of those under the age of 18 and 8.60% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Cities and towns
| Counties and Largest Cities in California | 
|
|---|---|
| Cities: Anaheim | Bakersfield | Fremont | Fresno | Glendale | Huntington Beach | Long Beach | Los Angeles | Modesto | Oakland | Oxnard | Riverside | Sacramento | San Bernardino | San Diego | San Francisco | San Jose | Santa Ana | Stockton | |
| Counties: Alameda | Alpine | Amador | Butte | Calaveras | Colusa | Contra Costa | Del Norte | El Dorado | Fresno | Glenn | Humboldt | Imperial | Inyo | Kern | Kings | Lake | Lassen | Los Angeles | Madera | Marin | Mariposa | Mendocino | Merced | Modoc | Mono | Monterey | Napa | Nevada | Orange | Placer | Plumas | Riverside | Sacramento | San Benito | San Bernardino | San Diego | San Francisco | San Joaquin | San Luis Obispo | San Mateo | Santa Barbara | Santa Clara | Santa Cruz | Shasta | Sierra | Siskiyou | Solano | Sonoma | Stanislaus | Sutter | Tehama | Trinity | Tulare | Tuolumne | Ventura | Yolo | Yuba | | |