Rail Road Flat, California

Place in California, United States

Rail Road Flat

Unincorporated Community
Census Designated Place

Location in Calaveras County and the state of California

Rail Road Flat

Location in the United States

Coordinates: 38°20′36″N 120°30′44″W﻿ / ﻿38.34333°N 120.51222°W﻿ / 38.34333; -120.51222
Country|  United States
State|  California
County| Calaveras
Area

[1]

• Total

| 9.220 sq mi (23.880 km2)
• Land| 9.077 sq mi (23.509 km2)
• Water| 0.143 sq mi (0.370 km2)  1.55%
Elevation

| 2,608 ft (795 m)
Population

(2020)[2]

• Total

| 316
• Density| 34/sq mi (13/km2)
Time zone| UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)| UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code|

95248

Area code| 209
FIPS code| 06-59220
GNIS feature IDs| 255013, 2409122

California Historical Landmark

Reference no.| 286

Rail Road Flat (formerly Independence Flat[3] and Railroad Flat) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Calaveras County, California, United States. The population was 316 at the 2020 census.

## History

[edit]

This historic mining town, elevation 2,600 feet (788 m), was named after primitive mule-drawn ore cars used here. There was never actually a railroad here. The town was established in 1849. It was the site of an Indian council as well as the center of rich placer and quartz mining. Its largest producer was the Petticoat Mine. The post office was established in 1857, closed in 1858, and re-established in 1869[3] and the Edwin Taylor store built in 1867. The town's population was decimated in 1880 by black fever.

The Clark Reservoir was created when an engineer named W.V. Clark constructed a ditch from the Mokelumne River, as there was not much water to work the placers. The reservoir, located on his property, supplied water to the mines and to the town.

The town is registered as California Historical Landmark #286.[4]

## Geography

[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 9.2 square miles (24 km2), of which, 9.1 square miles (24 km2) of it is land and 0.14 square miles (0.36 km2) of it (1.55%) is water.

In 2010, the area of the CDP was 33.2 square miles (86 km2), of which, 33.0 square miles (85 km2) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) of it (0.47%) is water.

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

2000| 549| | —
2010| 475| | −13.5%
2020| 316| | −33.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1860–1870[6][7] 1880-1890[8]
1900[9] 1910[10] 1920[11]
1930[12] 1940[13] 1950[14]
1960[15] 1970[16] 1980[17]
1990[18] 2000[19] 2010[20]

Rail Road Flat first appeared as a census designated place in the 2000 U.S. Census.[19]

### 2020

[edit]

The 2020 United States census reported that Rail Road Flat had a population of 316. The population density was 34.8 inhabitants per square mile (13.4/km2). The racial makeup of Rail Road Flat was 267 (84.5%) White, 1 (0.3%) African American, 4 (1.3%) Native American, 1 (0.3%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 7 (2.2%) from other races, and 36 (11.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 28 persons (8.9%).[21]

The whole population lived in households. There were 146 households, out of which 27 (18.5%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 71 (48.6%) were married-couple households, 11 (7.5%) were cohabiting couple households, 41 (28.1%) had a female householder with no partner present, and 23 (15.8%) had a male householder with no partner present. 33 households (22.6%) were one person, and 21 (14.4%) were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.16.[21] There were 96 families (65.8% of all households).[22]

The age distribution was 41 people (13.0%) under the age of 18, 16 people (5.1%) aged 18 to 24, 54 people (17.1%) aged 25 to 44, 97 people (30.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 108 people (34.2%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 58.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.8 males.[21]

There were 227 housing units at an average density of 25.0 units per square mile (9.7 units/km2), of which 146 (64.3%) were occupied. Of these, 105 (71.9%) were owner-occupied, and 41 (28.1%) were occupied by renters.[21]

### 2010

[edit]

The 2010 United States Census[23] reported that Rail Road Flat had a population of 475. The population density was 14.3 people per square mile (5.5/km2). The racial makeup of Rail Road Flat was 411 (86.5%) White, 0 (0.0%) African American, 15 (3.2%) Native American, 4 (0.8%) Asian, 2 (0.4%) Pacific Islander, 9 (1.9%) from other races, and 34 (7.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 41 persons (8.6%).

The Census reported that 475 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 220 households, out of which 41 (18.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 101 (45.9%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 15 (6.8%) had a female householder with no spouse present, 7 (3.2%) had a male householder with no spouse present. There were 18 (8.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 0 (0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 72 households (32.7%) were made up of individuals, and 38 (17.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16. There were 123 families (55.9% of all households); the average family size was 2.79.

The population was spread out, with 77 people (16.2%) under the age of 18, 20 people (4.2%) aged 18 to 24, 70 people (14.7%) aged 25 to 44, 186 people (39.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 122 people (25.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.1 males.

There were 340 housing units at an average density of 10.3 per square mile (4.0/km2), of which 220 were occupied, of which 169 (76.8%) were owner-occupied, and 51 (23.2%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 10.5%. 363 people (76.4% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 112 people (23.6%) lived in rental housing units.

### 2000

[edit]

As of the census[24] of 2000, the median income for a household in the CDP was $35,938, and the median income for a family was $35,278. Males had a median income of $32,083 versus $28,750 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $18,454. About 6.7% of families and 18.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.7% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.

## Politics

[edit]

In the state legislature, Rail Road Flat is in the 8th senatorial district, represented by Democrat Angelique Ashby,[25] and the 5th Assembly district, represented by Republican Joe Patterson.[26] Federally, Rail Road Flat is in California's 4th congressional district, represented by Democrat Mike Thompson.[27]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
2. ^ "US Census Bureau". www.census.gov. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
3. ^ a b Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, California: Word Dancer Press. p. 818\. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
4. ^ "Rail Road Flat". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
5. ^ "Decennial Census by Decade". United States Census Bureau.
6. ^ "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
7. ^ "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
8. ^ "1890 Census of Population - Population of California by Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
9. ^ "1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
10. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 23, 2024. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
11. ^ "1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
12. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
13. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
14. ^ "1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
15. ^ "1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
16. ^ "1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
17. ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
18. ^ "1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
19. ^ a b "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
20. ^ "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
21. ^ a b c d "Rail Road Flat CDP, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
22. ^ "Rail Road Flat CDP, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
23. ^ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Rail Road Flat CDP". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
24. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
25. ^ "Senators". State of California. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
26. ^ "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
27. ^ "California's 4th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved March 2, 2013.

## External links

[edit]

* U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Rail Road Flat, California

* v
* t
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Municipalities and communities of Calaveras County, California, United States

County seat: San Andreas

City|

* Angels Camp

Calaveras County map

CDPs|

* Arnold
* Avery
* Campo Seco
* Copperopolis
* Dorrington
* Douglas Flat
* Forest Meadows
* Glencoe
* Hathaway Pines
* Mokelumne Hill
* Mountain Ranch
* Murphys
* Paloma
* Rail Road Flat
* Rancho Calaveras
* San Andreas
* Sheep Ranch
* Vallecito
* Valley Springs
* Wallace
* West Point
* Wilseyville

Unincorporated
communities|

* Big Trees
* Bummerville
* Burson
* Calaveritas
* Camp Pardee
* Cave City
* Cottage Springs
* Douglas Flat
* Felix
* Fourth Crossing
* Ganns
* Happy Valley
* Jenny Lind
* Jesus Maria
* Milton
* Rich Gulch
* Sandy Gulch
* Tamarack
* White Pines

Former
settlements|

* Altaville
* Blue Mountain
* Camanche
* Carson Hill
* Glencoe
* Greasertown
* Lost City
* Melones
* Poverty Bar
* Telegraph City

* California portal
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* v
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California Historical Landmarks in Calaveras County, California

* Altaville
* Angels Camp
* Angels Hotel
* Birthplace of Archie Stevenot
* Old mining camp of Brownsville
* Calaveritas
* Camanche
* Campo Seco
* California Caverns
* Carson Hill
* Chili Gulch
* Congressional Church
* Copperopolis
* Courthouse of Calaveras County and the Léger Hotel
* Double Springs
* Douglass Flat
* El Dorado
* Fourth Crossing
* Glencoe
* I.O.O.F. Hall
* Jenny Lind
* Jesus Maria
* Milton
* Mokelumne Hill
* Murphys
* Murphys Hotel
* O'Byrne Ferry
* Paloma
* Peter L. Traver Building
* Pioneer Cemetery
* Prince-Garibaldi Building
* Rail Road Flat
* Red Brick Grammar School
* Robinson's Ferry
* San Andreas
* Sandy Gulch
* Stone Corral
* Vallecito
* Vallecito Bell Monument
* Valley Springs
* West Point

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

Other|

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