Tehama County, California

Tehama County, California
County
County of Tehama
Images, from top down, left to right: Black Rock in the Ishi Wilderness, State Theatre in Red Bluff, Park Headquarters in Lassen Volcanic National Park, front of the William B. Ide Adobe
Seal
Interactive map of Tehama County
Location in the state of California
Country	United States
State	California
Region	Shasta Cascade
Incorporated	April 9, 1856
County seat	Red Bluff
Largest city	Red Bluff
Government
• Type	Council–Administrator
• Chair	Bill Moule
• Vice Chair	John Leach
• Board of Supervisors[1]	Supervisors Bill Moule Candy Carlson Pati Nolen Matt Hansen John Leach
• Chief Administrator	Gabriel Hydrick
Area
• Total	2,962 sq mi (7,670 km2)
• Land	2,950 sq mi (7,600 km2)
• Water	12 sq mi (30 km2)
Highest elevation [2]	9,239 ft (2,816 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	65,829
• Density	22/sq mi (8.6/km2)
GDP [3]
• Total	$2.517 billion (2022)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific Standard Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (Pacific Daylight Time)
Congressional district	1st
Website	www.co.tehama.ca.us

Tehama County (/təˈheɪmə/ ^ⓘ tə-HAY-mə; Wintun for "high water") is a county located in the northern part of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 65,829.^[4] The county seat and largest city is Red Bluff.^[5]

Tehama County comprises the Red Bluff, California micropolitan statistical area, which is also included in the Redding-Red Bluff, California combined statistical area. The county is bisected by the Sacramento River.

The county is named for the City of Tehama. Tehama is most commonly believed to be derived from the Wintun word for "high water". Others definitions of native origin that have been proposed such as "low land", "salmon", "mother nature" or "shallow". A less accepted theory proposes the names origin is tejamanil, shingle in Spanish.

Tehama County was formed from parts of Butte, Colusa, and Shasta Counties in 1856.

The first permanent non-indigenous settlers in the area that is now Tehama County were Robert Hasty Thomes, Albert Gallatin Toomes, William George Chard, and Job Francis Dye. The four men were each given land grants by the government of Mexico in 1844. Thomes received Rancho Saucos, Toomes received Rancho Rio de los Molinos, Chard received Rancho Las Flores, and Dye received Rancho Primer Cañon o Rio de Los Berrendos. Later in the same year Josiah Belden received Rancho Barranca Colorado.^[6]

Famous early figures include Kit Carson, who took part in a fight that gave name to Bloody Island and Battle Creek, Jedediah Smith, John C. Fremont, and William B. Ide, the first and only president of the California Republic.

The history of Tehama County includes the January 1886 relocation of Red Bluff's Chinese population, followed by the August 1886 torching of Red Bluff's Chinatown by alleged arsonists.^[7] The January 29, 1886, edition of The Daily Alta detailed 'The Anti-Coolie Move' and confirms that a secret anti-Chinese meeting was convened in the town of Tehama, and an organization established to relocate the estimated 2,000 Chinese in and around Vina. Secret daily anti-Chinese caucuses in Red Bluff were also held.^[8]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,962 square miles (7,670 km²), of which 2,950 square miles (7,600 km²) is land and 12 square miles (31 km²) (0.4%) is water.^[9] Watercourses in Tehama County include Dye Creek and Payne's Creek. The county is intersected by Sacramento River.^[10] A small part of Lassen Volcanic National Park extends into the northeast corner of the county. The highest point of the county^[11] is Brokeoff Mountain (9,235 feet^[12]).

• Shasta County - north
• Plumas County - northeast
• Butte County - east
• Glenn County - south
• Mendocino County - southwest
• Trinity County - west

• Lassen National Forest (part)
• Lassen Volcanic National Park (part)
• Mendocino National Forest (part)
• Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge (part)
• Shasta–Trinity National Forest (part)

• Interstate 5
• State Route 32
• State Route 36
• State Route 89
• State Route 99

Tehama Rural Area Express (TRAX) operates local service in Red Bluff, with service to Los Molinos and Corning. Greyhound and FlixBus buses stop in Red Bluff.

The Shasta Regional Transportation Agency has proposed a weekday commuter bus to/from Red Bluff and the Sacramento Valley Station, following a route similar to the twice daily Amtrak Thruway 3.^[13][14]

Red Bluff Municipal Airport and Corning Municipal Airport are two general aviation airports.

The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense.

Population and crime rates
Population[15]	62,985
Violent crime[16]	387	6.14
Homicide[16]	3	0.05
Forcible rape[16]	9	0.14
Robbery[16]	28	0.44
Aggravated assault[16]	347	5.51
Property crime[16]	725	11.51
Burglary[16]	400	6.35
Larceny-theft[16][note 1]	808	12.83
Motor vehicle theft[16]	136	2.16
Arson[16]	33	0.52

Cities by population and crime rates
City	Population[17]	Violent crimes[17]	Violent crime rate per 1,000 persons	Property crimes[17]	Property crime rate per 1,000 persons
Corning	7,751	51	6.58	281	36.25
Red Bluff	14,236	112	7.87	811	56.97

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	4,044		—
1870	3,587		−11.3%
1880	9,301		159.3%
1890	9,916		6.6%
1900	10,996		10.9%
1910	11,401		3.7%
1920	12,882		13.0%
1930	13,866		7.6%
1940	14,316		3.2%
1950	19,276		34.6%
1960	25,305		31.3%
1970	29,517		16.6%
1980	38,888		31.7%
1990	49,625		27.6%
2000	56,039		12.9%
2010	63,463		13.2%
2020	65,829		3.7%
2023 (est.)	64,896	[18]	−1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[19] 1790-1960[20] 1900-1990[21] 1990-2000[22] 2010[23] 2020[24]

Tehama County, California – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000[25]	Pop 2010[23]	Pop 2020[24]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	43,792	45,603	41,340	78.47%	71.86%	62.80%
Black or African American alone (NH)	279	349	391	0.50%	0.55%	0.59%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	1,008	1,205	1,167	1.80%	1.90%	1.77%
Asian alone (NH)	423	625	985	0.75%	0.98%	1.50%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	48	64	96	0.09%	0.10%	0.15%
Other Race alone (NH)	109	67	324	0.19%	0.11%	0.49%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH)	1,329	1,644	3,588	2.37%	2.59%	5.45%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	8,871	13,906	17,938	15.83%	21.91%	27.25%
Total	56,039	63,463	65,829	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

Population, race, and income
Total population[15]	62,985
White[15]	53,613	85.1%
Black or African American[15]	418	0.7%
American Indian or Alaska Native[15]	1,426	2.3%
Asian[15]	768	1.2%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander[15]	69	0.1%
Some other race[15]	4,159	6.6%
Two or more races[15]	2,532	4.0%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)[26]	13,491	21.4%
Per capita income[27]	$20,689
Median household income[28]	$38,753
Median family income[29]	$46,805

Places by population and race
Place	Type[30]	Population[15]	White[15]	Other[15] [note 2]	Asian[15]	Black or African American[15]	Native American[15] [note 3]	Hispanic or Latino (of any race)[26]
Bend	CDP	620	93.1%	3.7%	1.5%	0.0%	1.8%	3.5%
Corning	City	7,624	77.7%	18.3%	1.4%	0.0%	2.6%	42.0%
Flournoy	CDP	115	99.1%	0.9%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	29.6%
Gerber	CDP	855	72.7%	24.3%	0.0%	0.0%	2.9%	51.0%
Lake California	CDP	2,855	90.2%	4.9%	0.5%	0.0%	4.3%	4.5%
Las Flores	CDP	100	74.0%	26.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Los Molinos	CDP	2,479	84.0%	15.4%	0.0%	0.0%	0.6%	24.7%
Manton	CDP	313	87.9%	8.3%	0.0%	3.8%	0.0%	7.0%
Mineral	CDP	133	97.0%	3.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	4.5%
Paskenta	CDP	71	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Paynes Creek	CDP	56	92.9%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	7.1%	14.3%
Proberta	CDP	254	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Rancho Tehama	CDP	1,356	82.4%	17.6%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	16.2%
Red Bluff	City	14,026	89.3%	7.4%	0.9%	0.4%	2.0%	21.2%
Richfield	CDP	243	88.9%	3.3%	3.7%	0.0%	4.1%	0.8%
Tehama	City	383	85.9%	12.5%	0.0%	0.0%	1.6%	13.3%
Vina	CDP	107	93.5%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	6.5%	15.0%

Places by population and income
Place	Type[30]	Population[31]	Per capita income[27]	Median household income[28]	Median family income[29]
Bend	CDP	620	$31,726	$72,917	$86,597
Corning	City	7,624	$13,884	$38,225	$42,561
Flournoy	CDP	115	$60,147	$70,000	$78,333
Gerber	CDP	855	$13,410	$29,612	$31,346
Lake California	CDP	2,855	$21,022	$47,611	$50,027
Las Flores	CDP	100	$12,060	$21,389	$23,636
Los Molinos	CDP	2,479	$15,727	$32,567	$40,077
Manton	CDP	313	$23,536	$41,875	$45,000
Mineral	CDP	133	$35,310	$65,729	$65,729
Paskenta	CDP	71	$15,446	$29,375	$45,625
Paynes Creek	CDP	56	$29,325	$51,250	$75,000
Proberta	CDP	254	$19,601	$32,049	$31,111
Rancho Tehama	CDP	1,356	$14,323	$26,306	$29,485
Red Bluff	City	14,026	$17,877	$31,690	$39,388
Richfield	CDP	243	$21,631	$42,969	$43,438
Tehama	City	383	$20,801	$36,786	$39,712
Vina	CDP	107	$40,851	$51,607	[32]

The 2010 United States Census reported that Tehama County had a population of 63,463. The racial makeup of Tehama County was 51,721 (81.5%) White, 406 (0.6%) African American, 1,644 (2.6%) Native American, 656 (1.0%) Asian, 76 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 6,258 (9.9%) from other races, and 2,702 (4.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13,906 persons (21.9%).^[33]

Population reported at 2010 United States Census
The County	Total Population	White	African American	Native American	Asian	Pacific Islander	other races	two or more races	Hispanic orLatino (of any race)
Tehama County	63,463	51,721	406	1,644	656	76	6,258	2,702	13,906
Incorporated cities and towns	Total Population	White	African American	Native American	Asian	Pacific Islander	other races	two or more races	Hispanic orLatino (of any race)
Corning	7,663	5,510	44	201	82	11	1,496	319	3,271
Red Bluff	14,076	11,366	128	438	187	16	1,168	773	3,037
Tehama	418	346	6	23	1	0	27	15	57
Census-designated places	Total Population	White	African American	Native American	Asian	Pacific Islander	other races	two or more races	Hispanic orLatino (of any race)
Bend	619	570	4	15	3	0	14	13	48
Flournoy	101	90	0	1	3	2	4	1	9
Gerber	1,060	575	6	55	8	0	371	45	526
Lake California	3,054	2,751	11	81	31	6	55	119	251
Las Flores	187	127	0	5	0	0	41	14	72
Los Molinos	2,037	1,581	0	39	7	2	321	87	537
Manton	347	312	0	20	1	0	7	7	35
Mineral	123	115	0	1	1	0	1	5	4
Paskenta	112	95	0	0	0	0	8	9	19
Paynes Creek	57	51	0	2	0	0	1	3	7
Proberta	267	174	0	7	1	1	76	8	91
Rancho Tehama	1,485	1,181	21	52	21	5	102	103	214
Richfield	306	264	0	4	0	0	35	3	65
Vina	237	195	1	7	2	0	20	12	42
Other unincorporated areas	Total Population	White	African American	Native American	Asian	Pacific Islander	other races	two or more races	Hispanic orLatino (of any race)
All others not CDPs (combined)	31,314	26,418	185	693	308	33	2,511	1,166	5,621

As of the census^[34] of 2000, there were 56,039 people, 21,013 households, and 14,898 families residing in the county. The population density was 19 people per square mile (7.3 people/km²). There were 23,547 housing units at an average density of 8 units per square mile (3.1 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 84.8% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 2.1% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 8.3% from other races, and 3.4% from two or more races. 15.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 14.4% were of German, 11.0% English, 9.6% Irish and 9.5% American ancestry according to the 2000 United States Census. 86.0% spoke English and 13.0% Spanish as their first language.

There were 21,013 households, out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.4% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,206, and the median income for a family was $37,277. Males had a median income of $30,872 versus $22,864 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,793. About 13.0% of families and 17.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.0% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.

Population and registered voters
Total population[15]	62,985
Registered voters[35][note 4]	30,485	48.4%
Democratic[35]	9,163	30.1%
Republican[35]	13,542	44.4%
Democratic–Republican spread[35]	-4,379	-14.3%
American Independent[35]	1,502	4.9%
Green[35]	125	0.4%
Libertarian[35]	234	0.8%
Peace and Freedom[35]	92	0.3%
Americans Elect[35]	0	0.0%
Other[35]	108	0.4%
No party preference[35]	5,719	18.8%

Cities by population and voter registration
City	Population[15]	Registered voters[35] [note 4]	Democratic[35]	Republican[35]	D–R spread[35]	Other[35]	No party preference[35]
Corning	7,624	33.8%	35.2%	35.1%	+0.1%	11.7%	22.8%
Red Bluff	14,026	42.1%	33.8%	37.2%	-3.4%	12.8%	21.6%
Tehama	383	54.3%	35.1%	39.9%	-4.8%	15.4%	16.8%

Tehama is a strongly Republican county in Presidential and congressional elections. The last Democrat to win a majority in the county was Jimmy Carter in 1976. Bill Clinton won a plurality in 1992.

United States presidential election results for Tehama County, California^[36]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	19,141	66.62%	8,911	31.02%	679	2.36%
2016	15,494	64.81%	6,809	28.48%	1,605	6.71%
2012	14,235	61.95%	7,934	34.53%	808	3.52%
2008	14,843	60.44%	8,945	36.42%	772	3.14%
2004	15,572	66.42%	7,504	32.01%	368	1.57%
2000	13,270	63.63%	6,507	31.20%	1,077	5.16%
1996	10,292	50.34%	7,290	35.66%	2,861	14.00%
1992	7,419	35.36%	7,508	35.79%	6,052	28.85%
1988	9,854	56.52%	7,213	41.37%	367	2.11%
1984	11,586	62.78%	6,527	35.37%	342	1.85%
1980	9,140	59.13%	4,832	31.26%	1,485	9.61%
1976	6,110	44.81%	6,990	51.27%	535	3.92%
1972	6,054	48.73%	5,175	41.65%	1,195	9.62%
1968	5,198	47.26%	4,565	41.50%	1,236	11.24%
1964	4,529	39.50%	6,928	60.42%	10	0.09%
1960	5,522	49.96%	5,483	49.61%	47	0.43%
1956	4,866	53.82%	4,143	45.82%	33	0.36%
1952	5,742	64.31%	3,110	34.83%	77	0.86%
1948	3,348	51.27%	2,920	44.72%	262	4.01%
1944	2,903	47.79%	3,130	51.53%	41	0.68%
1940	2,913	43.95%	3,618	54.59%	97	1.46%
1936	2,376	38.46%	3,687	59.68%	115	1.86%
1932	2,001	34.20%	3,534	60.40%	316	5.40%
1928	3,393	65.58%	1,650	31.89%	131	2.53%
1924	1,943	45.97%	486	11.50%	1,798	42.54%
1920	2,462	61.81%	1,079	27.09%	442	11.10%
1916	1,739	36.32%	2,534	52.92%	515	10.76%
1912	13	0.38%	1,595	47.16%	1,774	52.45%
1908	1,064	47.46%	894	39.88%	284	12.67%
1904	1,234	56.32%	720	32.86%	237	10.82%
1900	1,210	50.35%	1,138	47.36%	55	2.29%
1896	969	45.39%	1,135	53.16%	31	1.45%
1892	969	43.39%	1,045	46.80%	219	9.81%
1888	1,171	46.88%	1,290	51.64%	37	1.48%
1884	1,075	47.80%	1,146	50.96%	28	1.24%
1880	868	47.61%	954	52.33%	1	0.05%

In the United States House of Representatives, Tehama County is in California's 1st congressional district, represented by Republican Doug LaMalfa.^[37]

In the California State Legislature, the county is in the 1st Senate District, represented by Republican Megan Dahle, and the 3rd Assembly District, represented by Republican James Gallagher.

On November 4, 2008, Tehama County voted 72.7% for Proposition 8, which amended the California Constitution to ban same-sex marriages.^[38]

• Corning
• Red Bluff
• Tehama

• El Camino
• Kirkwood
• Loybas Hill
• Mill Creek
• Mineral

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Tehama County.^[39]

† county seat

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Municipal type	Population (2020 Census)
1	† Red Bluff	City	14,710
2	Corning	City	8,244
3	Lake California	CDP	3,377
4	Los Molinos	CDP	2,098
5	Rancho Tehama	CDP	1,572
6	Gerber	CDP	1,044
7	Bend	CDP	603
8	Tehama	City	435
9	Manton	CDP	310
10	Richfield	CDP	309
11	Proberta	CDP	237
12	Vina	CDP	198
13	Las Flores	CDP	190
14	Mineral	CDP	136
15	Flournoy	CDP	117
16	Paskenta	CDP	110
17	Paynes Creek	CDP	54

• Hiking trails in Tehama County
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Tehama County, California
• Orland Buttes
• Red Bank, California

• Vestra (April 2006). Tehama West Watershed Assessment (PDF). Tehama County Resource Conservation District.
• Smith, Josie (2016). Tehama County. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9781540201430.
• Hislop, Donald L.; Hughes, Benjamin M. (2007). Tehama County Place Names. Red Bluff, California.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
• Smith, Dottie (1997). Ritter, Eric W. (ed.). Historical Overview of the Western Tehama County Foothills. Bureau of Land Management, Redding Resource Area.

• Official website

40°08′N 122°14′W / 40.13°N 122.23°W / 40.13; -122.23