Eastern California is a region defined as either the strip to the east of the crest of the Sierra Nevada or as the easternmost counties of California.
Eastern California | |
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![]() Downtown San Bernardino, anchor of the largest metro area in East California and 12th in the United States. | |
![]() Counties on California's Eastern Border | |
Land | Vereinigte Staaten |
State | California |
Time zone | Pacific Standard Time |
• Summer (DST) | Pacific Daylight Time |
Area code(s) | 530, 442/760, 909, 951 |
Demographics
According to the 2010 census, the population of the eastern border counties of California was 5,129,384. However, 4,224,851 (82.4%) lived in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, which are very large and whose populations are concentrated near Los Angeles and Orange counties to the southwest.
Culture and history
This section possibly contains original research. (February 2020) |
Eastern California's history differs significantly from that of the coastal regions and the Central Valley. Northeastern California is very sparsely populated (except for the area around Lake Tahoe): the three least-population counties of California lie in the northeast.[1] The area tends to be politically conservative, much like the rest of the rural Western United States. However, the counties of San Bernardino and Riverside form the 13th-largest metropolitan area of the United States,[2][3] and El Dorado and Placer Counties are part of the Greater Sacramento area[2] and are culturally influenced by their respective metropolitan areas. Imperial County in the Southeast, though rural and agrarian, is heavily Democratic and has ties with the Mexicali Valley to the south.
Northeastern California has had strong ties to Nevada, with the exact boundary between the two states having once been a matter of dispute.[4] Residents of an area near Susanville, California tried to break away from the state in 1856, first by declaring themselves part of the Nataqua Territory[5] and then through annexation to Nevada. The two states further squabbled over ownership of Susanville in 1863. The town of Aurora, Nevada, was temporarily the county seat of both Mono County, California, and Esmeralda County, Nevada. Finally, the line between the two states was settled by a survey in 1872.
Geography
The easternmost counties of California are (from north to south):
Cities within this region include San Bernardino, Riverside, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Roseville, Victorville, Temecula, Palm Springs, Lincoln, El Centro, Barstow, South Lake Tahoe, Susanville, Truckee, Grass Valley, Placerville, and Alturas.
Cities larger than 50,000 population
The following incorporated places have a population of 50,000 or greater, according to the most recent population estimates:[6]
Placer County
- Roseville: 139,117
- Rocklin: 67,221
San Bernardino County
- Apple Valley: 73,508
- Chino: 91,583
- Chino Hills: 83,447
- Colton: 54,741
- Fontana: 213,739
- Hesperia: 95,274
- Highland: 55,406
- Ontario: 181,107
- Rancho Cucamonga: 177,751
- Redlands: 71,586
- Rialto: 103,440
- San Bernardino: 215,941
- Upland: 77,000
- Victorville: 122,312
- Yucaipa: 53,682
Riverside County
- Cathedral City: 54,902
- Corona: 168,819
- Eastvale: 64,822
- Hemet: 85,275
- Indio: 91,240
- Jurupa Valley: 108,393
- Lake Elsinore: 68,183
- Menifee: 92,595
- Moreno Valley: 209,050
- Murrieta: 114,985
- Palm Desert: 53,185
- Perris: 79,133
- Riverside: 330,063
- Temecula: 114,742
Geology
Because Eastern California is generally in the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada or the Transverse Ranges, the climate is extremely dry and can be considered a desert. Indeed, the hottest and lowest area in North America lies in Death Valley, in the heart of Eastern California.
Geologically, Eastern California is mostly part of the Basin and Range Province, marked by crustal extension, with horsts and grabens. Volcanism is also evident in this region.
Climate
The majority of Eastern California experiences two seasons, a long, dry summer and a milder winter in which the rain is concentrated. Most higher elevations experience four distinct seasons. There are some areas where the weather is very diverse. The Sierra Nevada mountain range has larger amounts of snowfall, while the Imperial Valley has more arid conditions.[7] The Sierra Nevada's average temperature is around 47 degrees Fahrenheit and the Imperial Valley is on average 73 degrees Fahrenheit. A record-breaking heat temperature was recorded in Death Valley, at a scorching 134 degrees Fahrenheit on July 10, 1913.[8] With its low and often sporadic rainfall, California is susceptible to drought, and in many parts of the state including Eastern California, there is very high fire danger and there have been several devastating wildfires.[9]
Economy
The northern counties of Eastern California are heavily timbered areas. The timber industry is a major contributor to the economy from sale of timber and forest products and the number of jobs that it provides. These timbered areas not only provide valuable income, but are also the main growing sector for the economy for recreation and tourism. In the Sierra Nevada National Forests they experience 50 million recreational visitor days per year.[10] When California became a state, it was one of the leading producers of these timber and forest products. Since then, it has held the third place for the top producer of softwoods since the 1940s. In California there were five counties that contributed to 55 percent of the wood harvested for the state. One of those counties, Plumas, is located in Eastern California.[11]
Transport
Major highways
Modoc County
Lassen County
Plumas County
Sierra County
Nevada County
Placer County
- Interstate 80
- State Route 28
- State Route 49
- State Route 65
- State Route 89
- State Route 174
- State Route 267
El Dorado County
Alpine County
Mono County
- U.S. Route 6
- U.S. Route 395
- State Route 108
- State Route 120
- State Route 167
- State Route 182
- State Route 270
Inyo County
- U.S. Route 6
- U.S. Route 395
- State Route 127
- State Route 136
- State Route 168
- State Route 178
- State Route 190
San Bernardino County
Riverside County
Educational Institutions
Private institutions
- William Jessup University
- Brandman University
- National University (campuses in Ontario and San Bernardino)
- Deep Springs College
- Loma Linda University
- University of Redlands
Community Colleges
- Lassen Community College
- Feather River College
- Sierra College
- Folsom Lake College
- Lake Tahoe Community College
- Cerro Coso Community College
- Palo Verde Community College
- Barstow Community College
- Chaffey College
- Copper Mountain College
- Crafton Hills College
- San Bernardino Valley College
- University of La Verne
- Victor Valley College
- Mt. San Jacinto College
Public Institutions
National Parks[12]
Mount Lassen - Lassen National Park
- Lava Beds National Monument
- Devils Postpile
- Manzanar
- Mojave National Preserve
- Old Spanish National Historic Trail
- Tule Lake Unit, World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument
- Joshua Tree National Park
See also
References
- ^ "Data and Research". California State Association of Counties. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- ^ a b "Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas" (PDF). Office of Management and Budget. OMB Bulletin 20-01. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- ^ "Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas Population Totals and Components of Change: 2010-2019". United States Census Bureau, Population Division. April 2019. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
- ^ Bruce A. Metcalfe. "A Moving Monument". Archived from the original on 2012-11-03. Retrieved 2006-03-28.
- ^ "US395:Lassen County (Susanville to Modoc County Line)". Floodgap Roadgap. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2006-04-01.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- ^ Worldmark Encyclopedia of U.S. and Canadian Environmental Issues. Ed. Susan Bevan Gall and Margaret K. Antone. Detroit, MI: Gale, 2012. p61-72.
- ^ "Climate - California". City-data.com. Retrieved 2018-10-20.
- ^ Worldmark Encyclopedia of U.S. and Canadian Environmental Issues. Ed. Susan Bevan Gall and Margaret K. Antone. Detroit, MI: Gale, 2012. p61-72.
- ^ "Forest Economics". Sierra Forest Legacy. Retrieved 2018-10-20.
- ^ "California's Forest Products Industry: A Descriptive Analysis" (PDF). USDA.
- ^ "California (U.S. National Park Service)". NPS.gov. Retrieved 2018-10-20.
Further reading
- Cragen, Dorothy C. (July 19, 1964). "Looking for Yesterday". Independent Star-News. Pasadena. image 80.
Eastern California Museum
- McFarland, Randy (July 26, 1984). "My Column". The Selma Enterprise. image 8.
Eastern California exists, or so I'm told
- Siegel, Lee (May 18, 1993). "Jolt May Have Widened State an Inch, Associated Press". The Hanford Sentinel. image 16.
eastern California shear zone
- Timko, Steve (July 9, 1992). "New Fault Might Get Reno Rocking". Reno Gazette-Journal. image 1.
Eastern California Shear Zone