![Kings Beach, Lake Tahoe, 1945](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/Kings_Beach%2C_Lake_Tahoe%2C_1945.jpg)
Kings Beach is a
census-designated place
A census-designated place (CDP) is a concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only.
CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counterparts of incorporated places, such ...
(CDP) in
Placer County
Placer County ( ; Spanish for "sand deposit"), officially the County of Placer, is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 404,739. The county seat is Auburn.
Placer County is included in the Great ...
,
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
, United States, on the north shore of
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe (; was, Dáʔaw, meaning "the lake") is a Fresh water, freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada (U.S.), Sierra Nevada of the United States. Lying at , it straddles the state line between California and Nevada, west of Carson City, Nevad ...
. The population was 3,563 at the 2020 census.
The town's post office was erected in 1937. The area is named after its first postmaster, Joe King.
Geography
Kings Beach is located at (39.241170, -120.023295).
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the CDP has a total area of , all of it land.
Kings Beach sits on the north shore of
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe (; was, Dáʔaw, meaning "the lake") is a Fresh water, freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada (U.S.), Sierra Nevada of the United States. Lying at , it straddles the state line between California and Nevada, west of Carson City, Nevad ...
. It sits on the Nevada
state line and borders
Crystal Bay, Nevada
Crystal Bay is a census-designated place (CDP) on the north shore of Lake Tahoe in Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The population was 305 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Reno− Sparks Metropolitan Statistical Area. Prior to 2010, it ...
, to the east.
California State Route 28
State Route 28 (SR 28) is a state highway in the U.S. state of California that travels along the northern shore of Lake Tahoe, starting at Route 89 in Tahoe City and ending at the Nevada state border, whereupon it becomes Nevada State Rout ...
begins where
Nevada State Route 28
State Route 28 (SR 28) is a state highway in Douglas County, Carson City, and Washoe County in western Nevada, United States, that runs along the northeastern shore of Lake Tahoe. SR 28 connects U.S. Route 50 (US 50) in D ...
ends in Crystal Bay; Route 28 passes through Kings Beach along the Lake Tahoe shore.
California State Route 267
State Route 267 (SR 267), known as North Shore Boulevard, is a state highway in the U.S. state of California. It connects Interstate 80 in Truckee with State Route 28 in Kings Beach on Lake Tahoe's shoreline. It serves as an alternate route ...
meets Route 28 in Kings Beach and connects the town to
Northstar Northstar may refer to:
* Polaris, a star
Arts and entertainment
* Northstar (band), an emo band from Alabama
* Northstar (rap group), a rap group affiliated with the Wu-Tang Clan
* "Northstar", a 2019 song by XXXTentacion from the album ''Bad Vi ...
,
Truckee
Truckee is an incorporated town in Nevada County, California, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 16,180, reflecting an increase of 2,316 from the 13,864 counted in the 2000 Census and having the 316th highes ...
, and
Interstate 80
Interstate 80 (I-80) is an east–west transcontinental freeway that crosses the United States from downtown San Francisco, California, to Teaneck, New Jersey, in the New York metropolitan area. The highway was designated in 1956 as one o ...
.
Demographics
Because of its location on
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe (; was, Dáʔaw, meaning "the lake") is a Fresh water, freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada (U.S.), Sierra Nevada of the United States. Lying at , it straddles the state line between California and Nevada, west of Carson City, Nevad ...
, Kings Beach is one of the top vacation spots in Northern California, and many of its dwellings are vacation homes. Fire officials attribute the community's "very high fire hazard severity zone" designation in part to visitors' desire to light campfires. An illegal campfire caused the nearby
Angora Fire
The Angora Fire was a 2007 wind-driven wildfire in El Dorado County, California. It started near North Upper Truckee Road subdivision near Angora Lakes, Fallen Leaf Lake, Echo Lake and South Lake Tahoe, California around 2:15 PM on Sund ...
in 2007.
2020
At the
2020 census, Kings Beach had a population of 3,563. The population density was . The racial makeup of Kings Beach was 1,899 White, 1,699 Hispanic or Latino, 5 African American, 27 Native American, 68 Asian, 10 Pacific Islander, 804 from other races, and 750 from two or more races.
There were 2,393 housing units with 1,209 total households. 236 included a married-couple family, 57 included a male resident with no spouse present, and 25 included a female resident with no spouse present.
2010
At the
2010 census Kings Beach had a population of 3,796. The population density was . The racial makeup of Kings Beach was 3,216 (84.7%) White, 15 (0.4%) African American, 20 (0.5%) Native American, 14 (0.4%) Asian, 2 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 409 (10.8%) from other races, and 120 (3.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2,115 persons (55.7%).
The census reported that 3,717 people (97.9% of the population) lived in households, 79 (2.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.
There were 1,362 households, 487 (35.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 589 (43.2%) were
opposite-sex married couples living together, 106 (7.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 81 (5.9%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 134 (9.8%)
unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 6 (0.4%)
same-sex married couples or partnerships. 381 households (28.0%) were one person and 72 (5.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.73. There were 776 families (57.0% of households); the average family size was 3.44.
The age distribution was 924 people (24.3%) under the age of 18, 400 people (10.5%) aged 18 to 24, 1,405 people (37.0%) aged 25 to 44, 842 people (22.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 225 people (5.9%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 31.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 125.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 129.8 males.
There were 2,372 housing units at an average density of 689.7 per square mile, of the occupied units 552 (40.5%) were owner-occupied and 810 (59.5%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 5.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 14.4%. 1,379 people (36.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 2,338 people (61.6%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
At the
2000 census, there were 4,037 people, 1,411 households, and 788 families in the CDP. The population density was 1,176.4 inhabitants per square mile (454.4/km). There were 2,284 housing units at an average density of . The
racial makeup
A race is a categorization of humans based on shared physical or social qualities into groups generally viewed as distinct within a given society. The term came into common usage during the 1500s, when it was used to refer to groups of variou ...
of the CDP was 70.03% White, 0.72% Black or African American, 1.88% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 23.61% from other races, and 3.34% from two or more races. 48.43% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 1,411 households 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.4% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.1% were non-families. 28.3% of households were one person and 3.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.69.
The age distribution was 28.0% under the age of 18, 13.3% from 18 to 24, 38.0% from 25 to 44, 17.4% from 45 to 64, and 3.4% 65 or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 122.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 133.2 males.
The median household income was $35,507 and the median family income was $37,837. Males had a median income of $25,880 versus $21,571 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $16,556. About 17.1% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.3% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over.
Historic fire lookout and scenic overlook
The historic Stateline fire lookout and Crystal Bay scenic overlook are in Kings Beach on the hill above downtown, close to the California–Nevada state line, accessible by an easy hiking trail from
Crystal Bay, Nevada
Crystal Bay is a census-designated place (CDP) on the north shore of Lake Tahoe in Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The population was 305 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Reno− Sparks Metropolitan Statistical Area. Prior to 2010, it ...
.
Beaver controversy
In November, 2009, historically endemic
California Golden beavers were caught in snares underwater and exterminated in
Griff Creek
Griff Creek is a southward-flowing stream originating on Martis Peak in Placer County, California, United States. It culminates in north Lake Tahoe at Kings Beach, California.
History
The Washo used the meadow where Griff Creek enters Lake Ta ...
, a stream in Kings Beach, when the Placer County Department of Public Works ordered their removal for fear that the beaver would cause flooding. Although beavers are an invasive species to the area, recent studies of two other Lake Tahoe tributaries, Taylor Creek and Ward Creek, showed that beaver dam removal decreased wetland habitat, increased stream flow, and increased total phosphorus pollutants entering Lake Tahoe – all factors that negatively impact the clarity of the lake's water (United States Geological Survey 2002). Beavers develop wetland areas which trap sediments and improve water quality.
Flow devices such as "Beaver Deceivers" are often used to control water heights in beaver ponds instead of killing beavers, as the latter is typically only a temporary remedy, for beavers recolonize prime habitat quickly. In fact, in October 2010 Placer County officials again exterminated beavers at King's Beach only to have schoolchildren protest and suggest more contemporary management solutions. According to Placer County officials there were four beavers who built three dams on Griff Creek, and they were killed by sharpshooters licensed by the county in a night operation.
The
Tahoe Regional Planning Agency
The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) was formed in 1969 through a bi-state compact between California and Nevada which was ratified by the U.S. Congress. The agency is mandated to protect the environment of the Lake Tahoe basin through land ...
stated that "removing beavers is not uncommon at Lake Tahoe" but "the county could have 'easily' removed the beaver dam in a more conscientious manner, thus preventing sediment naturally filtered by the dam from reaching Lake Tahoe."
Cheryl Millham, executive director of Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care, argued that the culverts on Griff Creek could easily be protected from damming with fencing and that "municipalities all over the United States have learned to peacefully co-exist with these animals." Depredation is likely a temporary solution as the county has had to kill beaver families two years in a row and Peter Kraatz, deputy director of the Placer County Department of Public Works, conceded that the area is "perfect habitat for beavers".
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See also
*Angora Fire
The Angora Fire was a 2007 wind-driven wildfire in El Dorado County, California. It started near North Upper Truckee Road subdivision near Angora Lakes, Fallen Leaf Lake, Echo Lake and South Lake Tahoe, California around 2:15 PM on Sund ...
*Beaver in the Sierra Nevada
The North American beaver (''Castor canadensis'') had a historic range that overlapped the Sierra Nevada in California. Before the European colonization of the Americas, beaver were distributed from the arctic tundra to the deserts of northern ...
*Griff Creek
Griff Creek is a southward-flowing stream originating on Martis Peak in Placer County, California, United States. It culminates in north Lake Tahoe at Kings Beach, California.
History
The Washo used the meadow where Griff Creek enters Lake Ta ...
References
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Census-designated places in Placer County, California
Lake Tahoe
Census-designated places in California