La Porte is a

census-designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), 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 counte ...

(CDP) in

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

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

, United States. The population was 65 at the 2020 census. The town was known as Rabbit Creek until 1857.

Geography

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

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the CDP has a total area of , all of its land.

Little Grass Valley Reservoir

Completed in 1961, the nearby Little Grass Valley Reservoir is a popular summer water sports area. Hiking, equestrian, and OHV trails surround the lake.

Demographics

La Porte first appeared as a

census designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), 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 counte ...

in the 2000 U.S. Census.

2020

At the 2020 census La Porte CDP had a population of 65. There were 18 households, and 135 housing units.

2010

At the 2010 census La Porte had a population of 26. The population density was . 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 . There were 131 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup 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 () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

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 ...

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

Politics

In the

state legislature A state legislature is a Legislature, legislative branch or body of a State (country subdivision), political subdivision in a Federalism, federal system. Two federations literally use the term "state legislature": * The legislative branches of ...

, La Porte is in , and . Federally, La Porte is in .

History

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

Yuba County Yuba County (; Maidu: ''Yubu'') is a county located in north-central Central Valley, California, United States. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, its population was 81,575. Yuba County is included in the Yuba City metropolitan statistical area, ...

, 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 Butte 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. Gold was found in Rabbit Creek in 1850. It was a hub of gold mining activity and commerce in the region during the

California Gold Rush The California gold rush (1848–1855) 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 from the rest of the U ...

. The town was largely destroyed by fires in 1855, 1861, 1868, 1871 and 1905.

Rabbit Creek House

Rabbit Creek Hotel - Rabbit Creek House was built in 1852 by Eli S. Lester. This was the first building in Rabbit Creek. The Rabbit Creek House had a

Hotel A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. Facilities provided inside a hotel room may range from a modest-quality mattress in a small room to large suites with bigger, higher-quality beds, a dresser, a re ...

trading post A trading post, trading station, or trading house, also known as a factory in European and colonial contexts, is an establishment or settlement where goods and services could be traded. Typically a trading post allows people from one geogr ...

and two

barn A barn is an agricultural building usually on farms and used for various purposes. In North America, a barn refers to structures that house livestock, including cattle and horses, as well as equipment and fodder, and often grain.Allen G ...

s for horses. Busy during the Gold Rush, the site of the Rabbit Creek Hotel is a

California Historical Landmark A California Historical Landmark (CHL) is a building, structure, site, or place in the U.S. state of California that has been determined to have statewide historical landmark significance. Criteria Historical significance is determined by meetin ...

No. 213 at the north corner of Main Street and Church Streets.

Civil War era

During the first year of the

Civil War A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...

some residents wanted to show support for the

Rebellion Rebellion is an uprising that resists and is organized against one's government. A rebel is a person who engages in a rebellion. A rebel group is a consciously coordinated group that seeks to gain political control over an entire state or a ...

. They raised a Palmetto Flag near Dockery's Saloon which was described in one source as "A piece of white cotton cloth, ornamented with a charcoal sketch of a palmetto tree and black snake." Soon after it was raised the banner was removed.''Nevada Democrat'', 20 June 1861

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 Hydraulic mining is a form of mining that uses high-pressure jets of water to dislodge rock material or move sediment.Paul W. Thrush, ''A Dictionary of Mining, Mineral, and Related Terms'', US Bureau of Mines, 1968, p.560. In the placer mining of ...

, with a dramatic and barren landscape still remaining. The

ghost town A ghost town, deserted city, extinct town, or abandoned city is an abandoned settlement, usually one that contains substantial visible remaining buildings and infrastructure such as roads. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economi ...

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 (464,000 ha) National forest (United States), United States national forest located in northern California at the northern terminus of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The Forest was named after i ...

. The last-standing structure of Poker Flat, the 1886 Scott House, stood until the winter of 2014–15, when it collapsed. 1874 CA Longboard Racing

Sierra longboard racing

Skiing Skiing is the use of skis to glide on snow for basic transport, a recreational activity, or a competitive winter sport. Many types of competitive skiing events are recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the International S ...

may have been practiced in Rabbit Creek as early as 1851 by Hamilton Ward and James Murray using improvised barrel staves. In 1866 the Alturas Snowshoe Club was formed at La Porte. This longboard racing association was founded by Creed Haymond to arrange the local Norwegian snow-shoe club tournaments at

Onion Valley Onion Valley, California is a former California gold rush mining settlement and supply station in Plumas County, California, United States. Geography Onion Valley was located on Onion Valley Creek northeast of La Porte, California at the foo ...

, Port Wine, St. Louis, Pine Grove, Howland Flat, Newark, Gibsonville, and others. The last annual La Porte tournament was held in 1911, although revivals were held in 1938, 1941, 1951–1952, 1964 and since 1993 at nearby California locations.

s 723 and 724 note La Porte as a Pioneer Ski Area of America. Plumas National Forest Service placed an informational placard atop nearby Lexington Hill, replacing a 1991 Alturas Snowshoe Club marker which commemorated the start of organized downhill ski racing in the western hemisphere.

Education

The school district is

Plumas Unified School District Plumas Unified School District is a public school district in Plumas County, California, United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. ...

.
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Notable people

* Charlotte Ah Tye Chang (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 California Census-designated places in Plumas County, California Populated places in the Sierra Nevada (United States)