Auburn, California

Auburn, California
City
City of Auburn
Auburn
Auburn
Location of Auburn in Placer County, California
Location of Auburn in Placer County, California
Auburn is located in California
Auburn
Auburn
Location in California
Auburn is located in the United States
Auburn
Auburn
Auburn (the United States)
Auburn is located in North America
Auburn
Auburn
Auburn (North America)
Coordinates: 38°53′55″N 121°4′28″W / 38.89861°N 121.07444°W / 38.89861; -121.07444
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountyPlacer
IncorporatedMay 2, 1888[1]
Government
 • TypeCouncil–manager[2]
 • MayorAlice Dowdin Calvillo[3]
 • State SenateBrian Dahle (R) and
Roger Niello (R)[4]
 • State AssemblyJoe Patterson (R)[5]
 • House of RepresentativesKevin Kiley (R)[6]
Area
[7]
 • City
7.20 sq mi (18.66 km2)
 • Land7.18 sq mi (18.59 km2)
 • Water0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2)  0.38%
Elevation
[8]
1,227 ft (374 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • City
13,776
 • Density1,919.46/sq mi (741.10/km2)
 • Metro
est. ~19,500 (including Foresthill Applegate and Meadow Vista)
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific Time Zone)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP codes
95602-95604
Area code530
FIPS code06-03204
GNIS feature IDs1657964, 2409754
Websiteauburn.ca.gov
U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Auburn, California

Auburn is a city in and the county seat of Placer County, California, United States.[9] Its population was 13,776 during the 2020 census. Auburn is known for its California Gold Rush history and is registered as a California Historical Landmark.[10]

Auburn is part of the Sacramento metropolitan area.

History

[edit]
See also: Old Auburn Historic District
Placer County Courthouse was constructed between 1894 and 1898.

Archaeological finds place the southwestern border for the prehistoric Martis people in the Auburn area.[11] The indigenous Nisenan, an offshoot of the Maidu, were the first to establish a permanent settlement in the Auburn area.

In the spring of 1848, a group of French gold miners arrived and camped in what would later be known as the Auburn Ravine. This group was on its way to the gold fields in Coloma, California, and it included Francois Gendron, Philibert Courteau, and Claude Chana. The young Chana discovered gold on May 16, 1848. After finding the gold deposits in the soil, the trio decided to stay for more prospecting and mining.

Placer mining in the Auburn area was very good, with the camp first becoming known as the North Fork Dry Diggings. This name was changed to the Woods Dry Diggings, after John S. Wood settled down, built a cabin, and started to mine in the ravine. The area soon developed into a mining camp, and it was officially named Auburn in August 1849, by miners from Auburn, New York.[12] By 1850, the town's population had grown to about 1,500 people, and in 1851, Auburn was chosen as the seat of Placer County. Gold mining operations moved up the ravine to the site of present-day Auburn. In 1865, the Central Pacific Railroad, the western leg of the First transcontinental railroad, reached Auburn, as it was being built east from Sacramento toward Ogden, Utah.

The restored Old Town has houses and retail buildings from the middle of the 19th century. The oldest fire station and the Post Office date from the Gold Rush years. Casual gold-mining accessories, as well as American Indian and Chinese artifacts, can also be viewed by visitors at the Placer County Museum. Auburn was the home and birthplace of noted science fiction and fantasy poet and writer Clark Ashton Smith. A memorial to him is located near Old Town.

Geography

[edit]
Rolling hills of Auburn, taken near Indian Hill Road

Auburn is located at 38°53′55″N 121°04′28″W / 38.898671°N 121.074399°W / 38.898671; -121.074399.[13]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.2 square miles (19 km2), of which 0.03 square miles (0.078 km2), or 0.38%, is water.

Auburn is situated in the Northern California foothills of the Sierra Nevada range, approximately 800 vertical feet (240 m) above the confluence of the North Fork and Middle Fork of the American River. It is located between Sacramento and Reno, Nevada, along Interstate 80. Mountainous wilderness canyons and the western slope of the Sierra Nevada lie adjacent eastward, while gentle rolling foothills well-suited for agriculture lie to the west. The crest of the Sierra Nevada lies approximately 45 miles (72 km) eastward, and the Central Valley lies approximately 10 miles (16 km) to the west.

Climate

[edit]

Auburn has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csa) that is characterized by cool, moist winters and hot, dry summers. Average December temperatures are a maximum of 55.8 °F (13.2 °C) and a minimum of 37.2 °F (2.9 °C). Average July temperatures are a maximum of 92.7 °F (33.7 °C) and a minimum of 63.4 °F (17.4 °C). Annually, there are an average of 62.9 days with highs of 90 °F (32 °C) or higher, an average of 7.3 days with 100 °F (38 °C) or higher, and an average of 19.6 days with 32 °F (0 °C) or lower.[14] The record high temperature was 113 °F (45 °C) on July 15, 1972. The record low temperature was 5 °F (−15 °C) on December 9, 2013.[15]

Average annual precipitation is 36.12 inches (917 mm). There are an average of 67 days with measurable precipitation. The wettest year was 1983 with 64.87 inches (1,648 mm) and the driest year was 1976 with 11.76 inches (299 mm). The most precipitation in one month was 23.08 inches (586 mm) in January 1909. The most precipitation in 24 hours was 5.41 inches (137 mm) on October 13, 1962,[15] during the Columbus Day Storm. Snow rarely falls in Auburn; the most snowfall in one year was 10.7 inches (27 cm) in 1972, including 6.5 inches (17 cm) in January of that year.[16]

Auburn's Köppen classification and climate similarities to locations such as Napa and parts of Italy make it a suitable region for growing wine grapes. Auburn and the surrounding areas of Placer County are home to over 20 wineries.[17]

Climate data for Auburn, California, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1905–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 81
(27) 		78
(26) 		93
(34) 		92
(33) 		102
(39) 		110
(43) 		113
(45) 		111
(44) 		109
(43) 		104
(40) 		89
(32) 		80
(27) 		113
(45)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 65.3
(18.5) 		69.5
(20.8) 		75.3
(24.1) 		82.0
(27.8) 		89.8
(32.1) 		97.8
(36.6) 		100.9
(38.3) 		100.7
(38.2) 		96.4
(35.8) 		88.2
(31.2) 		75.8
(24.3) 		65.0
(18.3) 		102.8
(39.3)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 55.1
(12.8) 		57.8
(14.3) 		61.9
(16.6) 		67.5
(19.7) 		75.9
(24.4) 		85.0
(29.4) 		91.7
(33.2) 		91.0
(32.8) 		86.8
(30.4) 		75.5
(24.2) 		62.8
(17.1) 		54.4
(12.4) 		72.1
(22.3)
Daily mean °F (°C) 46.3
(7.9) 		48.1
(8.9) 		51.7
(10.9) 		55.7
(13.2) 		63.3
(17.4) 		71.2
(21.8) 		77.6
(25.3) 		76.9
(24.9) 		72.8
(22.7) 		63.6
(17.6) 		52.9
(11.6) 		45.4
(7.4) 		60.5
(15.8)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 37.5
(3.1) 		38.7
(3.7) 		41.5
(5.3) 		44.0
(6.7) 		51.0
(10.6) 		57.5
(14.2) 		63.4
(17.4) 		62.8
(17.1) 		58.7
(14.8) 		51.6
(10.9) 		43.1
(6.2) 		36.8
(2.7) 		48.9
(9.4)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 28.7
(−1.8) 		31.6
(−0.2) 		33.9
(1.1) 		35.8
(2.1) 		42.1
(5.6) 		47.4
(8.6) 		53.8
(12.1) 		53.7
(12.1) 		49.0
(9.4) 		41.4
(5.2) 		33.9
(1.1) 		27.4
(−2.6) 		25.6
(−3.6)
Record low °F (°C) 17
(−8) 		20
(−7) 		20
(−7) 		24
(−4) 		25
(−4) 		30
(−1) 		36
(2) 		41
(5) 		34
(1) 		26
(−3) 		25
(−4) 		5
(−15) 		5
(−15)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 7.01
(178) 		6.50
(165) 		6.12
(155) 		2.84
(72) 		1.65
(42) 		0.41
(10) 		0.01
(0.25) 		0.07
(1.8) 		0.24
(6.1) 		1.42
(36) 		3.05
(77) 		6.80
(173) 		36.12
(917)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 0.4
(1.0) 		0.2
(0.51) 		0.2
(0.51) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.1
(0.25) 		0.2
(0.51) 		1.1
(2.78)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 10.7 10.3 9.2 6.6 5.0 2.0 0.2 0.4 1.4 3.2 7.0 11.0 67.0
Source: NOAA[15][14]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1860814—
1870800−1.7%
18801,22953.6%
18901,59529.8%
19002,05028.5%
19102,37615.9%
19202,289−3.7%
19302,66116.3%
19405,01388.4%
19504,653−7.2%
19605,58620.1%
19706,57017.6%
19807,54014.8%
199010,59240.5%
200012,46217.7%
201013,3307.0%
202013,7763.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[18]

The 2010 United States Census[19] reported that Auburn had a population of 13,330. The population density was 1,860.2 inhabitants per square mile (718.2/km2). The racial makeup of Auburn was 11,863 (89.0%) White, 100 (0.8%) African American, 129 (1.0%) Native American, 240 (1.8%) Asian, 9 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 405 (3.0%) from other races, and 584 (4.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,331 persons (10.0%).

The Census reported that 13,052 people (97.9% of the population) lived in households, 145 (1.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 133 (1.0%) were institutionalized.

There were 5,759 households, out of which 1,502 (26.1%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 2,613 (45.4%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 604 (10.5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 257 (4.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 352 (6.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 33 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,845 households (32.0%) were made up of individuals, and 801 (13.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27. There were 3,474 families (60.3% of all households); the average family size was 2.85.

The population was spread out, with 2,645 people (19.8%) under the age of 18, 1,031 people (7.7%) aged 18 to 24, 2,898 people (21.7%) aged 25 to 44, 4,224 people (31.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,532 people (19.0%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.

There were 6,139 housing units at an average density of 856.7 units per square mile (330.8 units/km2), of which 3,388 (58.8%) were owner-occupied, and 2,371 (41.2%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.5%. 8,017 people (60.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 5,035 people (37.8%) lived in rental housing units.

Arts and culture

[edit]

Landmarks

[edit]

Auburn is home to Placer High School, which is one of the oldest high schools in California.[20]

Colossal sculptures are located throughout the town; the statues chronicle Auburn's history, such as a middle-aged Claude Chana gold panning in the nearby American River, and a Chinese laborer building the Transcontinental Railroad.

Hidden Falls Regional Park is located in nearby woodlands and contains 30 miles (48 km) of multi-use trails.[21]

Infrastructure

[edit]

Transportation

[edit]

Auburn is served by Amtrak passenger rail service a few times a day, and its railroad station is the eastern terminus of AMTRAK's Californian Capitol Corridor train. Interstate 80 is the main east–west highway through this area, connecting Sacramento to the west and the Lake Tahoe/Reno areas to the east. This town can be reached through several interchanges on Interstate 80, three of which (exits 118, 119 A through C, and 120) are somewhat within the town limits. California Highway 49 is the main north–south highway through this area. Highway 49 connects Auburn with the towns of Grass Valley and Nevada City to its north, and Placerville to the south.

The Auburn Municipal Airport is located three miles (5 km) north of town, and it is solely a general aviation airport. Auburn owns and operates this airport and an industrial site. The airport site covers 285 acres (1.15 km2) including an 80-acre (320,000 m2) industrial site. This airport has a single 3,700 ft (1,128 m)-long runway.[22][23] General aviation services are available.[24]

Notable people

[edit]
See also: Category:People from Auburn, California
[edit]
The Queen Anne-style Old Town Firehouse is a landmark. It originally adjoined a row of commercial buildings (now demolished). It was home to the Auburn Volunteer Fire Department.[34]

Literature

[edit]

Film and television

[edit]

The following films were, at least in part, shot in Auburn:


See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "California Cities by Incorporation Date". California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions. Archived from the original (Word) on November 3, 2014. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  2. ^ "City Council - Auburn, CA". City of Auburn, CA. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  3. ^ [1] "City Council Auburn, CA". Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  4. ^ "Senators". California State Senate. Archived from the original on July 21, 2024. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  5. ^ "Members". California State Assembly. Archived from the original on July 22, 2024. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  6. ^ "Directory of Representatives". United States House of Representatives. Archived from the original on July 30, 2024. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  7. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  8. ^ "Auburn". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  9. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  10. ^ "Auburn". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
  11. ^ Brauman, Sharon K. (October 6, 2004). "NORTH FORK PETROGLYPHS". ucnrs.org. Archived from the original on July 24, 2008. Retrieved August 15, 2008.
  12. ^ Bright, William (1998). 1500 California Place Names: Their Origin and Meaning. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
  13. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  14. ^ a b "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 26, 2022.
  15. ^ a b c "NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 26, 2022.
  16. ^ "AUBURN, CALIFORNIA - Climate Summary". Wrcc.dri.edu. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  17. ^ "Wineries and Tours in Gold Country". www.visitplacer.com. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  18. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  19. ^ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Auburn city". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  20. ^ "Our History - Placer High: Home of the Hillmen". placer.puhsd.k12.ca.us. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  21. ^ "Hidden Falls Regional Park | Placer County, CA". www.placer.ca.gov. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  22. ^ City of Auburn. "City of Auburn: Airport and Industrial Park". Archived from the original on September 9, 2009.
  23. ^ City of Auburn. "City of Auburn: About the Airport". Archived from the original on September 9, 2009.
  24. ^ City of Auburn. "City of Auburn: Airport Services". Archived from the original on September 9, 2009.
  25. ^ "Death of a California Pioneer". The Placer herald. Auburn, California. July 7, 1866. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  26. ^ "Auburn Police Officer alleged serial killer". May 3, 2018.
  27. ^ History of Placer County, California, page 320, 1887, Thompson & West, Placer County, California
  28. ^ Miller, Hope (September 13, 2021). "Meet the Sacramento native joining President Biden on his California trip". KCRA. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  29. ^ Blake, Janet (2012). ""In Love with Painting": The Life and Art of Clarence Hinkle". www.tfaoi.com. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  30. ^ "Brothers". Auburn Journal. December 27, 1987. pp. 19, C1. Retrieved July 24, 2020. George, a native of Los Angeles, lived with his family in Auburn intermittently between 1971 and 1975.
  31. ^ "Kings Sign Isaiah Pineiro". NBA. July 30, 2019. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  32. ^ Thomson, Gus (February 1, 2019). "New film for Auburn's "Poet Smith'". Gold Country Media. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  33. ^ Ikeda, Tom (March 16, 2011). "Paul Takagi Interview". Densho Digital Archive, Densho Visual History Collection. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  34. ^ Old Town Firehouse, Auburn Chamber of Commerce, Accessed August 1, 2009. Archived August 22, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  35. ^ Heavilin, Barbara A. (2005). John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men: A Reference Guide. Praeger Publishers. p. 15. ISBN 978-0-313-33056-8.
  36. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Placer Tahoe Film Office - Shot in Placer County". Archived from the original on February 25, 2011. Retrieved February 14, 2009.
  37. ^ Staff (January 6, 2019). "Movies Filmed in Placer County". Rocklin and Roseville Today. Retrieved May 10, 2019.

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Auburn, California.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Auburn, California.
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