Mendocino County, California

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Mendocino County, California
Map
Map of California highlighting Mendocino County
Location in the state of California
Map of the USA highlighting California
California's location in the USA
Statistics
Founded 1850
Seat Ukiah
Largest City Ukiah 15497
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

3,878 sq mi (10,044 km²)
3,509 sq mi (9,088 km²)
369 sq mi (956 km²), 9.52%
Population
 - (2000)
 - Density

86,265
23/sq mi (9/km²)
Website: www.co.mendocino.ca.us

Mendocino County is a county located on the north coast of the U.S. state of California, north of the greater San Francisco Bay Area and west of the Central Valley. As of 2000, the population was 86,265. The county seat is Ukiah.

The county is noted for its distinctive Pacific Ocean coastline and is the location of the Mendocino American Viticultural Area.

Contents

Mendocino County was one of the original counties of California, created in 1850 at the time of statehood. Due to an initially low population, it did not have a separate government until 1859 and was under the administration of Sonoma County prior to that. The county contains several of the original Spanish land grants of Alta California including the Sanel Rancho in Hopland, and the Yokayo Rancho that forms the majority of the Ukiah Valley.

The county derives its name from Cape Mendocino, which was probably named in honor of either Antonio de Mendoza, Viceroy of New Spain, 15351542 (who sent the Juan Cabrillo Expedition to this coast in 1542), or Lorenzo Suárez de Mendoza, Viceroy from 1580 to 1583. Mendocino is the adjectival form of the family name of Mendoza.

In the nineteenth century, the county witnessed many of the most serious atrocities in the extermination of the Californian Native American tribes who originally lived in the area, like the Yuki, the Pomo and the Wintun. The systematical occupation of their lands, the reduction of many of their members into slavery and the raids against their settlements led to the Mendocino War in 1859, where hundreds of Indians were killed. The segregation continued well into the 20th century.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 10,044 km² (3,878 sq mi). 9,088 km² (3,509 sq mi) of it is land and 956 km² (369 sq mi) of it (9.52%) is water.

The Mendocino Transit Authority provides local and intercity bus service within Mendocino County. Limited service also connects with transit in Sonoma County

Mendocino vineyard
Mendocino vineyard

As of the census² of 2000, there were 86,265 people, 33,266 households, and 21,855 families residing in the county. The population density was 9/km² (25/sq mi). There were 36,937 housing units at an average density of 4/km² (10/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 80.76% White, 0.62% Black or African American, 4.76% Native American, 1.20% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 8.61% from other races, and 3.90% from two or more races. 16.48% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 12.2% were of German, 10.8% English, 8.6% Irish, 6.1% Italian and 5.6% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 84.4% spoke English and 13.2% Spanish as their first language.

There were 33,266 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,996, and the median income for a family was $42,168. Males had a median income of $33,128 versus $23,774 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,443. About 10.9% of families and 15.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.5% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.

  • Chief Executive Officer- Albert P. Beltrami
  • Board of Supervisors
    • 1st District-Michael Delbar
    • 2nd District-Jim R. Wattenburger
    • 3rd District-John Pinches
    • 4th District-Kendall Smith
    • 5th District-J. David Colfax

Presidential election results
Year DEM GOP Others
2004 63.5% 24,385 33.7% 12,955 2.8% 1,089
2000 48.3% 16,634 35.7% 12,272 16.0% 5,504
1996 45.7% 14,952 29.9% 9,765 24.4% 7,975
1992 50.2% 18,344 21.8% 7,958 28.0% 10,236
1988 55.4% 17,152 41.9% 12,979 2.6% 816
1984 45.8% 14,407 52.1% 16,369 2.1% 646
1980 38.2% 10,784 44.1% 12,432 17.7% 5,008
1976 49.5% 10,653 45.5% 9,784 5.0% 1,072
1972 43.3% 9,325 51.0% 11,128 5.7% 1,251
1968 44.3% 7,935 46.4% 8,305 9.3% 1,664
1964 65.1% 11,869 34.7% 6,322 0.2% 36
1960 50.2% 9,476 49.3% 9,301 0.5% 94

Mendocino is a strongly Democratic county in Presidential and congressional elections.[1] The last Republican to win a majority in the county was Ronald Reagan in 1984. It is part of California's 1st congressional district, which is held by Democrat Mike Thompson. In the state legislature Mendocino is in the 1st Assembly district, which is held by Democrat Patty Berg, and the 2nd Senate district, which is held by Democrat Pat Wiggins.

In 2000, Mendocino County voters approved Measure G, which calls for the decriminalization of marijuana when used and cultivated for personal use.[2] Measure G passed with a 58% majority vote, making it the first county in the United States to declare prosecution of small-scale marijuana offenses the "lowest priority" for local law enforcement. Measure G does not protect individuals who cultivate, transport or possess marijuana for sale. However, Measure G was passed at the local government level affecting only Mendocino County, and therefore does not affect existing state or federal laws. (The city of Berkeley has had a similar law since 1979 which has generally been found to be unenforceable [3])

In 2004, Measure H was passed in Mendocino County with a 57% majority, making it the first county in the United States to ban the production and cultivation of genetically modified organisms.








from south to north

A Beach Near the Town of Elk
A Beach Near the Town of Elk

Islands off Mendocino
Islands off Mendocino

Coordinates: 39°26′N 123°26′W / 39.43, -123.43

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