Alta Sierra, California

Census-designated place in Nevada County, California, U.S.

For the census designated place in Kern County with this name, see Alta Sierra, Kern County, California.

Census-designated place in California, United States

Alta Sierra

census-designated place

Location in Nevada County and the state of California

Alta Sierra

Location in the United States

Coordinates: 39°7′44″N 121°3′9″W﻿ / ﻿39.12889°N 121.05250°W﻿ / 39.12889; -121.05250
Country|  United States
State|  California
County| Nevada
Area

[1]

• Total

| 8.34 sq mi (21.60 km2)
• Land| 8.32 sq mi (21.55 km2)
• Water| 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2)  0.25%
Elevation

| 2,310 ft (704 m)
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 7,204
• Density| 865.76/sq mi (334.27/km2)
Time zone| UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)| UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code|

95949

Area codes| 530, 837
FIPS code| 06-01360
GNIS feature ID| 1682830

Alta Sierra (Spanish for "Upper Range") is a census-designated place (CDP) in Nevada County, California, United States. The population was 7,204 at the 2020 census.

## History

[edit]

Alta Sierra was laid out by property developers in the 1960s.[2] Alta Sierra is a golf course community, with homes built around the Alta Sierra Country Club, a semi-private 18 hole course built in 1964.[3] The community has a member-owned airport with a 2800-foot runway.[4] The community is located just east of California State Highway 49, at an elevation of approximately 2300 feet, between the cities of Grass Valley, California to the north and Auburn, California to the south. There is a small commercial district with several restaurants, a gas station, a market and personal service businesses. There is also an elementary school and a motel. [5]

## Geography

[edit]

Alta Sierra is located at 39°7′44″N 121°3′9″W﻿ / ﻿39.12889°N 121.05250°W﻿ / 39.12889; -121.05250 (39.128952, -121.052442).[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 8.3 square miles (21 km2), of which, 8.3 square miles (21 km2) of it is land and 0.02 square miles (0.052 km2) of it (0.25%) is water.

There is also another community called Alta Sierra in northcentral Kern County, CA near Lake Isabella.

### Climate

[edit]

Climate data for Alta Sierra, California

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)  | 53
(12)  | 56
(13)  | 59
(15)  | 65
(18)  | 73
(23)  | 82
(28)  | 89
(32)  | 89
(32)  | 83
(28)  | 73
(23)  | 60
(16)  | 52
(11)  | 70
(21)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)  | 34
(1)  | 35
(2)  | 38
(3)  | 41
(5)  | 47
(8)  | 53
(12)  | 58
(14)  | 57
(14)  | 52
(11)  | 45
(7)  | 38
(3)  | 34
(1)  | 44
(7)
Average precipitation inches (mm)  | 9.0
(230)  | 8.9
(230)  | 8.5
(220)  | 4.1
(100)  | 2.4
(61)  | .7
(18)  | 0
(0)  | .2
(5.1)  | .9
(23)  | 2.9
(74)  | 6.9
(180)  | 10.3
(260)  | 54.8
(1,401.1)
Average snowfall inches (cm)  | 1.1
(2.8)  | 2.7
(6.9)  | 2.3
(5.8)  | .3
(0.76)  | 0
(0)  | 0
(0)  | 0
(0)  | 0
(0)  | 0
(0)  | 0
(0)  | .3
(0.76)  | 1.4
(3.6)  | 8.1
(20.62)
Source: [7]

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1980| 2,168| | —
1990| 5,709| | 163.3%
2000| 6,522| | 14.2%
2010| 6,911| | 6.0%
2020| 7,204| | 4.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1850–1870[9][10] 1880-1890[11]
1900[12] 1910[13] 1920[14]
1930[15] 1940[16] 1950[17]
1960[18] 1970[19] 1980[20]
1990[21] 2000[22] 2010[23]

The 2020 United States census reported that Alta Sierra had a population of 7,204. The population density was 865.8 inhabitants per square mile (334.3/km2). The racial makeup of Alta Sierra was 85.4% White, 0.3% African American, 1.2% Native American, 1.3% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 1.7% from other races, and 9.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.0% of the population.[24]

The census reported that 100.0% of the population lived in households and 1 person (0.0%) was institutionalized.[24]

There were 2,947 households, out of which 25.0% included children under the age of 18, 59.2% were married-couple households, 7.2% were cohabiting couple households, 21.1% had a female householder with no partner present, and 12.5% had a male householder with no partner present. 20.5% of households were one person, and 12.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.44.[24] There were 2,161 families (73.3% of all households).[25]

The age distribution was 19.3% under the age of 18, 4.7% aged 18 to 24, 20.1% aged 25 to 44, 26.5% aged 45 to 64, and 29.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.5 males.[24]

There were 3,065 housing units at an average density of 368.3 units per square mile (142.2 units/km2), of which 2,947 (96.2%) were occupied. Of these, 85.6% were owner-occupied, and 14.4% were occupied by renters.[24]

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that 3.3% of the population were foreign-born. Of all people aged 5 or older, 95.6% spoke only English at home, 2.7% spoke Spanish, 0.6% spoke other Indo-European languages, 0.1% spoke Asian or Pacific Islander languages, and 1.0% spoke other languages. Of those aged 25 or older, 96.5% were high school graduates and 42.0% had a bachelor's degree.[26]

The median household income was $99,576, and the per capita income was $49,657. About 3.3% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line.[27]

## Politics

[edit]

In the state legislature, Alta Sierra is in the 1st senatorial district, represented by Republican Megan Dahle,[28] and the 1st Assembly district, represented by Republican Heather Hadwick.[29]

Federally, Alta Sierra is in California's 3rd congressional district, represented by Republican Kevin Kiley.[30]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
2. ^ "Urban refugees, country-seekers flock to Nevada County developments for 'good life'". The Union. July 26, 2014. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
3. ^ "Alta Sierra Country Club". GolfPass. Golf Channel. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
4. ^ "ASAOA Operating Rules". ASAOA. Alta Sierra Airport Owners Association. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
5. ^ "Nevada County Communities – Alta Sierra". Coldwell-Banker Grass Roots Realty. January 17, 2017. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
6. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
7. ^ "Alta Sierra, CA Weather". Usa.com. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
8. ^ "Decennial Census by Decade". United States Census Bureau.
9. ^ "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
10. ^ "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
11. ^ "1890 Census of Population - Population of California by Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
12. ^ "1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
13. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
14. ^ "1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
15. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
16. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
17. ^ "1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
18. ^ "1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
19. ^ "1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
20. ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
21. ^ "1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
22. ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
23. ^ "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
24. ^ a b c d e "Alta Sierra CDP (Nevada County), California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
25. ^ "Alta Sierra CDP (Nevada County), California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
26. ^ "Alta Sierra CDP (Nevada County), California; CP02: Comparative Social Characteristics in the United States - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
27. ^ "Alta Sierra CDP (Nevada County), California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
28. ^ "Senators". State of California. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
29. ^ "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
30. ^ "California's 3rd Congressional District - CA-03 Representatives & District Map". GovTrack.us. Retrieved May 12, 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* Alta Sierra Property Owner's Association [1] provides local information about the area.

Places adjacent to Alta Sierra, California

| Penn Valley | Grass Valley | Norden

|
|

|  |
Wheatland |

Alta Sierra

| Foresthill
|  |
Lincoln | North Auburn | Georgetown

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Nevada County, California, United States

County seat: Nevada City

Cities and towns|

* Grass Valley
* Nevada City
* Truckee

Nevada County map

CDPs|

* Alta Sierra
* Floriston
* Graniteville
* Kingvale‡
* Lake of the Pines
* Lake Wildwood
* North San Juan
* Penn Valley
* Rough and Ready
* Soda Springs
* Washington

Unincorporated
communities|

* Cedar Ridge
* Chicago Park
* French Corral
* Gaston
* Gold Flat
* Higgins Corner
* Hills Flat
* Hirschdale
* Lake City
* Mooney Flat
* Norden
* North Bloomfield
* North Columbia
* Peardale
* Polaris
* Relief
* Willow Valley
* Wolf
* You Bet

Ghost towns|

* Alpha
* Badger Hill
* Baltimore Town
* Birchville
* Blue Tent
* Boca
* Boston Ravine
* Brass Wire Bar
* Bridgeport
* Camp Spaulding
* Chalk Bluff
* Cherokee
* Coyoteville
* Democrat
* French Lake
* Glenbrook
* Gold Hill
* Hobart Mills
* Hunt's Hill
* Iceland
* Indian Springs
* Kentucky Flat
* Little York
* Maybert
* Meadow Lake
* Moores Flat
* Newtown
* Omega
* Orleans Flat
* Red Dog
* Remington Hill
* Rose's Corral
* Sebastopol
* Shands
* Snow Point
* Snow Tent
* Spenceville
* Sweetland
* Town Talk
* Tsekankan
* Union Hill
* Ustoma
* Waloupa
* Wokodot
* Woolsey Flat
* Yamako

Footnotes|

‡This CDP also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* California portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

Greater Sacramento

Counties|

* El Dorado
* Nevada
* Placer
* Sacramento
* Sutter
* Yolo
* Yuba

Major city|

* Sacramento

Cities
and
towns|

| 100k–200k|

* Elk Grove
* Roseville

|

25k–100k|

* Antelope
* Arden-Arcade
* Carmichael
* Citrus Heights
* Davis
* El Dorado Hills
* Fair Oaks
* Florin
* Folsom
* Foothill Farms
* Galt
* Lincoln
* North Highlands
* Orangevale
* Rancho Cordova
* Rocklin
* West Sacramento
* Woodland
* Yuba City

10k–25k|

* Auburn
* Cameron Park
* Diamond Springs
* Gardnerville Ranchos (NV)
* Granite Bay
* Grass Valley
* La Riviera
* Lemon Hill
* Linda
* Marysville
* North Auburn
* Olivehurst
* Parkway
* Placerville
* Rio Linda
* Rosemont
* South Lake Tahoe
* Truckee
* Vineyard

Sub-regions|

* Gold Country
* Lake Tahoe
* Sacramento Valley
* Sierra Nevada
* Yuba–Sutter area

*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template