Mendocino County, California

Mendocino County is a County located on the north coast of the U.S. State of California , north of the San Francisco Bay Area and Sonoma County and west of the Central Valley . As of 2000 , the population was 86,265. The County Seat is Ukiah .

The county is noted for its wild Pacific Ocean coast and the independent nature of its population.

The county is part of the Emerald Triangle .

HISTORY

Mendocino County was one of the original counties of California, created in 1850 at the time of statehood.

The county derives its name from Cape Mendocino , which was probably named in honor of either Antonio De Mendoza , Viceroy of New Spain , 1535 – 1542 (who sent the Juan Cabrillo Expedition to this coast in 1542 ), or Lorenzo Suarez De Mendoza , Viceroy from 1580 to 1583 . ''Mendocino'' is the adjectival form of the Family Name of Mendoza.

In the 19th Century , the county witnessed many of the most serious atrocities in the extermination of the Californian Native American tribes who originally lived in the area, like the Yuki , the Pomo and the Wintun . The systematical occupation of their lands, the reduction of many of their members into slavery and the raids against their settlements led to the Mendocino War in 1859 , where hundreds of Indians were killed. Later, the segregation continued well into the 20th Century .

GEOGRAPHY

According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 10,044 Km&² (3,878 Mi&² ). 9,088 km&² (3,509 mi&²) of it is land and 956 km&² (369 mi&²) of it is water. The total area is 9.52% water.

Adjacent Counties

DEMOGRAPHICS

As of the Census ² of 2000, there were 86,265 people, 33,266 households, and 21,855 families residing in the county. The Population Density was 9/km&² (25/mi&²). There were 36,937 housing units at an average density of 4/km&² (10/mi&²). The racial makeup of the county was 80.76% White , 0.62% Black or African American , 4.76% Native American , 1.20% Asian , 0.15% Pacific Islander , 8.61% from Other Races , and 3.90% from two or more races. 16.48% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 33,266 households out of which 31.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.90% were Married Couples living together, 11.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.30% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.50% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 25.60% from 25 to 44, 27.10% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,996, and the median income for a family was $42,168. Males had a median income of $33,128 versus $23,774 for females. The Per Capita Income for the county was $19,443. 15.90% of the population and 10.90% of families were below the Poverty Line . 21.50% of those under the age of 18 and 7.70% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

CITIES AND TOWNS

Information About

Mendocino County, California