La Porte 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

Plumas County Plumas County () is a county in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 19,790. The county seat is Quincy, and the only incorporated city is Portola. The largest community in the county is ...

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. The population was 26 at the 2010 census, down from 43 at the 2000 census.

Geography

La Porte is located at (39.681908, -120.984732). 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.

Demographics

2010

At the 2010 census La Porte had a population of 26. The population density was 5.8 people per square mile (2.3/km²). The racial makeup of La Porte was 24 (92%) White, 1 (4%) African American, 1 (4%) Native American, 0 (0%) Asian, 0 (0%) Pacific Islander, 0 (0%) from other races, and 0 (0%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0 people (0.0%). The whole population lived in households, no one lived in non-institutionalized group quarters and no one was institutionalized. There were 15 households, 3 (20%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 7 (47%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1 (7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 0 (0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 0 (0%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 0 (0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 7 households (47%) were one person and 3 (20%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 1.7. There were 8 families (53% of households); the average family size was 2.4. The age distribution was 4 people (15%) under the age of 18, 0 people (0%) aged 18 to 24, 3 people (12%) aged 25 to 44, 13 people (50%) aged 45 to 64, and 6 people (23%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 56 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males. There were 145 housing units at an average density of 32.5 per square mile, of the occupied units 10 (67%) were owner-occupied and 5 (33%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 17%; the rental vacancy rate was 0%. 17 people (65% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 9 people (35%) lived in rental housing units.

2000

At the 2000 census there were 43 people, 28 households, and 12 families in the CDP. The population density was 9.6 people per square mile (3.7/km²). There were 131 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 95% White, 2% Native American, and 2% from two or more races. 0% of the population were

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...

or Latino of any race. Of the 28 households 4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39% were married couples living together, and 54% were non-families. 50% of households were one person and 25% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 1.5 and the average family size was 2.1. The age distribution was 5% under the age of 18, 2% from 18 to 24, 2% from 25 to 44, 54% from 45 to 64, and 37% 65 or older. The median age was 60 years. For every 100 females, there were 187 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 173 males. The median household income was $30,781 and the median family income was $11,250. Males had a median income of $12,083 versus $0 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $18,258. There were 100% of families and 65% of the population living below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 100% of under eighteens and none of those over 64.

Little Grass Valley Reservoir

Completed in 1961, the nearby

Little Grass Valley Reservoir Little Grass Valley Reservoir is an artificial lake in Plumas County, California and Plumas National Forest near the Pacific Crest Trail. The lake's waters are impounded by Little Grass Valley Dam (National ID CA00269), which was completed in 196 ...

is a popular summer water sports area. Hiking, equestrian, and OHV trails surround the lake.

History

At the time of statehood in 1850, La Porte was located in

Yuba County Yuba County (; Maidu: ''Yubu'') is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, the population was 81,575. The county seat is Marysville. Yuba County is included in the Yuba City, California Metropolitan Statistical A ...

, one of California's 27 original counties.
In 1852, Sierra County was created from part of Yuba County. After that time, La Porte was located in Sierra County.
In 1854,

was created from part of Yuba County. In 1866, a further realignment placed La Porte in Plumas County, where it has remained ever since.
La Porte was named Rabbit Creek until 1857. It was a hub of commerce in the region during the

California Gold Rush The California Gold Rush (1848–1855) was a gold rush that began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The news of gold brought approximately 300,000 people to California fro ...

Politics

In the state legislature, La Porte is in , and . Federally, La Porte is in .

Howland Flat and Poker Flat

About outside La Porte, via the Port Wine Ridge Road in adjacent Sierra County, lies the remains of the former gold mining town of Howland Flat. Also on Port Wine Ridge Road, and southwest of Mount Fillmore, the ghost town of Grass Flat is located. It is the site of extensive gold rush hydraulic mining, with a dramatic and barren landscape still remaining. The

ghost town Ghost Town(s) or Ghosttown may refer to: * Ghost town, a town that has been abandoned Film and television * Ghost Town (1936 film), ''Ghost Town'' (1936 film), an American Western film by Harry L. Fraser * Ghost Town (1956 film), ''Ghost Town'' ...

of Poker Flat is located on the Poker Flat OHV trail in the

Plumas National Forest Plumas National Forest is a 1,146,000-acre (4,638 km2) United States National Forest located at the northern terminus of the Sierra Nevada, in northern California. The Forest was named after its primary watershed, the Rio de las Plumas, or F ...

. The last-standing structure of Poker Flat, the 1886 Scott House, stood until the winter of 2014–15, when it collapsed.

Notable people

Charlotte Ah Tye Chang Charlotte Ah Tye Chang (July 21, 1873 – January 15, 1972) was an American social worker and community activist in the San Francisco area. As a California-born Chinese-American woman, her citizenship status became complicated after she married a ...

(1873-1972), Chinese-American activist born in La Porte * Claire Cayot O'Rourke, supercentenarian and the first woman to hold public office in the state of California.

References

{{authority control Census-designated places in Plumas County, California Populated places in the Sierra Nevada (United States)