Colfax, California

Colfax, California
City

The historic Stevens Trail's trailhead is in Colfax

Location in Placer County and the state of California
Colfax, California

Location in the United States

Coordinates: 39°5′50″N 120°57′14″W / 39.09722°N 120.95389°W / 39.09722; -120.95389Coordinates: 39°5′50″N 120°57′14″W / 39.09722°N 120.95389°W / 39.09722; -120.95389
Country  United States
State  California
County Placer
Incorporated February 23, 1910[1]
Government
 • Mayor Kim Douglass[2]
 • State senator Ted Gaines (R)[3]
 • Assemblymember Brian Dahle (R)[3]
 • U. S. rep. Doug LaMalfa (R)[4]
Area[5]
 • Total 1.407 sq mi (3.645 km2)
 • Land 1.407 sq mi (3.645 km2)
 • Water 0 sq mi (0 km2)  0%
Elevation[6] 2,425 ft (739 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 1,963
 • Density 1,400/sq mi (540/km2)
Time zone Pacific (UTC-8)
 • Summer (DST) PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP code 95713
Area code(s) 530
FIPS code 06-14498
GNIS feature ID 1655912
Website www.colfax-ca.gov

Colfax (formerly, Alden Grove, Alder Grove, Illinoistown, and Upper Corral) is a city in Placer County, California,[6] at the crossroads of Interstate 80 and State Route 174. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,963 at the 2010 census. The town is named in honor of U.S. Vice President Schuyler Colfax (1869–73), a bronze statue of whom stands at Railroad Street and Grass Valley Street.[7] (This is the only known statue of Schuyler Colfax in the United States[8]). Some of the town's notable features include the newly restored Southern Pacific Railroad colonnade-style depot (which houses the Colfax Museum and Chamber of Commerce) built in 1905,[9] the downtown shops on Main Street, and Colfax High School, which serves a large surrounding area.

History

Originally inhabited by the Maidu and Miwok Indians, by the mid-19th century the city site was known as Alder Grove; however, as development increased, the city became known as Illinoistown. In April 1852, the Reelfoot Williams Gang robbed a Nevada City stagecoach of $7,000 in gold bullion near Illinoistown. This was the first stagecoach robbery in the gold country.[10][11]

Later it was renamed Colfax after then Speaker of the House (and later Vice President) Schuyler Colfax who visited the town in 1865 while inspecting progress of construction of the Central Pacific Railroad, the western portion of the first transcontinental railroad. The city was the southern terminus of the Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad from 1876 until the railroad’s removal in 1942. Historic U.S. Route 40 also runs through the city as well as the more modern Interstate 80. The city is mentioned in Jules Verne’s book, Around the World in Eighty Days.

Geography

Colfax is located at 39°5′50″N 120°57′14″W / 39.09722°N 120.95389°W / 39.09722; -120.95389 (39.097260, -120.954017).[12] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km2), all of it land.

The principal geologic structures present are granitic and metamorphic rock formations. Located approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) west of Colfax is a branch of the Melones Fault, running in north to south direction. The fault runs through the old grammar school baseball field so they closed the school. (Earth Metrics, 1989) Another branch of the same fault is located about 1.2 miles (1.9 km) to the east, also aligned in a north-south orientation. No movement has been recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey, and the faults are considered inactive. Bunch Creek is an active water source flowing south to eventually reach a confluence with the North Fork of the American River.

Climate

Colfax has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csa) that is characterized by cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers. Summers can be quite hot, especially in the months of July/August where temperatures easily reach 90 °F (32 °C) with plenty of sunshine. Winters on the other hand are quite cool with temperatures in December hovering around 46 °F (8 °C), and owing to its altitude above sea level, Colfax some years sees snow accumulation.

Climate data for Colfax, California
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 77
(25)		 80
(27)		 85
(29)		 91
(33)		 102
(39)		 111
(44)		 113
(45)		 112
(44)		 106
(41)		 101
(38)		 87
(31)		 75
(24)		 113
(45)
Average high °F (°C) 53
(12)		 60
(16)		 64
(18)		 70
(21)		 80
(27)		 89
(32)		 94
(34)		 92
(33)		 87
(31)		 77
(25)		 62
(17)		 53
(12)		 73.4
(23.2)
Daily mean °F (°C) 46
(8)		 51
(11)		 54
(12)		 59
(15)		 67
(19)		 74
(23)		 79
(26)		 77
(25)		 73
(23)		 64
(18)		 53
(12)		 46
(8)		 61.9
(16.7)
Average low °F (°C) 38
(3)		 42
(6)		 44
(7)		 47
(8)		 53
(12)		 60
(16)		 63
(17)		 62
(17)		 58
(14)		 51
(11)		 44
(7)		 39
(4)		 50.1
(10.2)
Record low °F (°C) 22
(−6)		 21
(−6)		 26
(−3)		 34
(1)		 37
(3)		 46
(8)		 50
(10)		 49
(9)		 42
(6)		 35
(2)		 27
(−3)		 20
(−7)		 20
(−7)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 4.10
(104.1)		 3.35
(85.1)		 3.21
(81.5)		 1.70
(43.2)		 0.50
(12.7)		 0.21
(5.3)		 0.07
(1.8)		 0.10
(2.5)		 0.46
(11.7)		 1.37
(34.8)		 3.93
(99.8)		 3.03
(77)		 22.03
(559.5)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 1.00
(2.54)		 2.00
(5.08)		 2.00
(5.08)		 0.00
(0)		 0.00
(0)		 0.00
(0)		 0.00
(0)		 0.00
(0)		 0.00
(0)		 0.00
(0)		 1.00
(2.54)		 2.00
(5.08)		 8
(20.32)
Source #1: http://www.myforecast.com/bin/climate.m?city=11624&metric=false
Source #2: http://www.usclimatedata.com/climate/colfax/california/united-states/usca0239/2015/1

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1880591—
189067013.4%
1910621—
1920573−7.7%
193091259.2%
1940794−12.9%
19508203.3%
196091511.6%
1970798−12.8%
198098122.9%
19901,30633.1%
20001,49614.5%
20101,96331.2%
Est. 20152,005[13]2.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]

2010

The 2010 United States Census[15] reported that Colfax had a population of 1,963. The population density was 1,394.7 people per square mile (538.5/km²). The racial makeup of Colfax was 1,759 (89.6%) White, 4 (0.2%) African American, 26 (1.3%) Native American, 29 (1.5%) Asian, 2 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 54 (2.8%) from other races, and 89 (4.5%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 178 persons (9.1%).

The Census reported that 1,958 people (99.7% of the population) lived in households, 5 (0.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 823 households, out of which 286 (34.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 334 (40.6%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 131 (15.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 40 (4.9%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 67 (8.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 3 (0.4%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 259 households (31.5%) were made up of individuals and 90 (10.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38. There were 505 families (61.4% of all households); the average family size was 2.98.

The population was spread out with 499 people (25.4%) under the age of 18, 159 people (8.1%) aged 18 to 24, 501 people (25.5%) aged 25 to 44, 580 people (29.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 224 people (11.4%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.9 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.3 males.

There were 929 housing units at an average density of 660.1 per square mile (254.9/km²), of which 386 (46.9%) were owner-occupied, and 437 (53.1%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 12.5%. 895 people (45.6% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,063 people (54.2%) lived in rental housing units.

2000

As of the census[16] of 2000, there were 1,496 people, 614 households, and 394 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,141.0 people per square mile (440.9/km²). There were 636 housing units at an average density of 485.1 per square mile (187.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.18% White, 0.60% Black or African American, 0.60% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 2.34% from other races, and 3.14% from two or more races. 8.29% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 614 households out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were married couples living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.7% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.97.

East portal of Tunnel 34, Colfax, on the historic Central Pacific Railroad.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.5% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,391, and the median income for a family was $43,125. Males had a median income of $37,500 versus $27,708 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,440. About 8.5% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.1% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those over 64.

Transportation

Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Colfax. The city's passenger rail station is located at 99 Railroad Street in the heart of town. Amtrak Train 5, the westbound California Zephyr, is scheduled to depart Colfax at 11:48am daily with service to Roseville, Sacramento, Davis, Martinez, and Emeryville across the bay from San Francisco. Amtrak Train 6, the eastbound California Zephyr, is scheduled to depart Colfax at 12:21pm daily with service to Truckee, Reno, Sparks, Winnemucca, Elko, Salt Lake City, Provo, Helper, Green River, Grand Junction, Glenwood Springs, Denver, Omaha, Galesburg, and Chicago.[17] A bronze statue of the town's namesake, Schuyler Colfax, stands near the depot at the Grass Valley Street railroad grade crossing.

Books

Notes

  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. ↑ "Colfax City Council". The City of Colfax, California. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Statewide Database". UC Regents. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  4. ↑ "California's 1st Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  5. ↑ "2010 Census U.S. Gazetteer Files – Places – California". United States Census Bureau.
  6. 1 2 "Colfax". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  7. ↑ Statue of Schuyler Colfax, Vice President of the US (1869-73), Colfax, CA
  8. ↑ Sierra Nevada Geotourism MapGuide
  9. ↑ Bender, Henry E., Jr. (2013). Southern Pacific Lines Standard-Design Depots. Berkeley and Wilton, California: Signature Press. p. 241. ISBN 9781930013339.
  10. ↑ Alvin Fay Harlow, Old Waybills: the romance of the express companies, Arno Press,Inc., 1976,(reprint edition of the original 1934 edition), p.184
  11. ↑ Chauncey L. Canfield, The diary of a forty-niner, M. Shepard Co., 1906 pp. 184-185, 192-194
  12. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  13. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  15. ↑ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Colfax city". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  16. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  17. ↑ "California Zephyr Schedule" (PDF). Amtrak. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
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