Jamestown, California

Jamestown is an unincorporated community in Tuolumne County, California, United States. Formerly a California Gold Rush town, Jamestown was designated a California Historical Landmark on March 16, 1949. It is the home of Railtown 1897 State Historic Park and the Sierra Railway, which operates steam passenger trains. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined the community as a census-designated place (CDP). The population was 3,478 at the 2020 census, up from 3,433 at the 2010 census.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , 99.93% of it land and 0.07% of it water.

Demographics

2020

The 2020 United States census reported that Jamestown had a population of 3,478. The population density was . The racial makeup of Jamestown was 78.9% White, 0.7% African American, 2.5% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 4.9% from other races, and 11.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.9% of the population.

The census reported that 98.2% of the population lived in households, 63 people (1.8%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.

There were 1,546 households, out of which 23.0% included children under the age of 18, 35.8% were married-couple households, 9.4% were cohabiting couple households, 35.6% had a female householder with no partner present, and 19.2% had a male householder with no partner present. 37.2% of households were one person, and 23.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.21. There were 828 families (53.6% of all households).

The age distribution was 19.6% under the age of 18, 5.3% aged 18 to 24, 20.6% aged 25 to 44, 25.4% aged 45 to 64, and 29.1% who were 65years of age or older. The median age was 50.4years. For every 100 females, there were 91.5 males.

There were 1,660 housing units at an average density of , of which 1,546 (93.1%) were occupied. Of these, 63.7% were owner-occupied, and 36.3% were occupied by renters.

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $51,886, and the per capita income was $38,507. About 2.4% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line.

2010

At the 2010 census, Jamestown had a population of 3,433. The population density was . The racial makeup of Jamestown was 2,948 (85.9%) White, 20 (0.6%) African American, 96 (2.8%) Native American, 27 (0.8%) Asian, 4 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 135 (3.9%) from other races, and 203 (5.9%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 511 people (14.9%).

The census reported that 3,423 people (99.7% of the population) lived in households, 10 (0.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.

There were 1,501 households, 399 (26.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 592 (39.4%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 209 (13.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 80 (5.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 100 (6.7%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 4 (0.3%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 513 households (34.2%) were one person and 299 (19.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.28. There were 881 families (58.7% of households); the average family size was 2.89.

The age distribution was 752 people (21.9%) under the age of 18, 289 people (8.4%) aged 18 to 24, 686 people (20.0%) aged 25 to 44, 938 people (27.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 768 people (22.4%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 44.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.1 males.

There were 1,645 housing units at an average density of 549.0 per square mile, of the occupied units 885 (59.0%) were owner-occupied and 616 (41.0%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 9.5%. 1,857 people (54.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,566 people (45.6%) lived in rental housing units.

Government

In the California State Legislature, Jamestown is in , and .

In the United States House of Representatives, Jamestown is in .

Jamestown is the headquarters for the Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California, a federally recognized tribe of Miwok people.

In popular culture

Scenes from '' Back to the Future Part III'', the final installment of the ''Back to the Future'' trilogy, were filmed in Jamestown. A scene from the 2004 movie '' Hidalgo'' was also filmed there. Exterior scenes from the TV series '' Petticoat Junction'', '' The Wild Wild West'', and '' Green Acres'' were filmed in and near Jamestown, as well as parts of the ''Little House on the Prairie'' TV series, and the 1985 Clint Eastwood film Pale Rider.

Jamestown was featured by Huell Howser in ''Road Trip'' Episode 153.

References

External links

Website for Jamestown, CA

Railtown 1897 State Historic Park

Jamestown Sanitary District

{{authority control

Census-designated places in California
Census-designated places in Tuolumne County, California
California Historical Landmarks
Mining communities of the California Gold Rush