Alturas (Spanish for "Heights"; Achumawi: Kasalektawi) is the only incorporated city in Modoc County, California, United States, of which it is also the county seat. Located in the Shasta Cascade region of Northern California, the city had a population of 2,715 at the 2020 census. Alturas is located at the confluence of the south and north forks of the Pit River, east of the center of Modoc County, at an elevation of 4,370 feet (1,330 m). Alturas is one of the largest cities in the region and a local economic hub.
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History
Alturas occupies what was initially an Achumawi (Pit River) village known as Kosealekte or Kasalektawi. The city was initially known as Dorris Bridge or Dorris' Bridge, named after Pressley and James Dorris, who built a bridge across the Pit River at this location.
The Dorris Bridge post office opened in 1871. The town was renamed Dorrisville in 1874 and Alturas in 1876, the latter meaning "heights" in Spanish. The census of 1880 showed a population of 148. However, settlement continued over the next two decades, until the city was incorporated on September 16, 1901. Because of its central location, Alturas became the county seat when Modoc County formed in 1874, even though both Adin and Cedarville were then larger towns.
Geography
Alturas straddles the North Fork of the Pit River, near its confluence with the South Fork in the north end of South Fork Valley, in the extreme northeastern corner of California at 41°29′14″N 120°32′33″W. The tall Warner Mountains lie to the east, the wetlands and wild rice fields of South Fork Valley to the south, and the extensive Modoc Plateau to the north.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.4 km2), of which 0.63% is water.
Climate
The climate in Alturas is cold semi-arid (Köppen: BSk), bordering humid continental (Dsb). The average January temperatures are a high of 43.0 °F (6.1 °C) and a low of 20.6 °F (−6.3 °C). The average July temperatures are a high of 89.1 °F (31.7 °C) and a low of 47.2 °F (8.4 °C). There are an average of 39.8 days with highs of 90 °F (32.2 °C) or higher and an average of 195.5 days with lows of 32 °F (0 °C) or lower. The record high was 107 °F (41.7 °C) on July 19, 1960, and July 10–11, 2002, and the record low was −34 °F (−36.7 °C) on December 9, 1972. Freezing temperatures have occurred in every month of the year; cool nights are common even on the hottest summer days.
Precipitation averages 11.68 inches (297 mm) annually. There are an average of 90.8 days with measurable precipitation. The wettest year was 1952 with 20.80 in (528 mm) and the driest year was 2013 with 6.29 in (160 mm). The most precipitation in one month was 6.17 in (156.7 mm) in October 1962, and the most in 24 hours was 3.51 in (89.2 mm) on December 11, 1937. Snowfall averages 30.9 in (78 cm) per season. The most snowfall in a season was 85.5 in (217 cm) in 1952.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Alturas had a population of 2,715. The population density was 957.3 inhabitants per square mile (369.6/km2). The census reported that 99.2% of the population lived in households, 0.3% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.6% were institutionalized. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 1,199 households, out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18. Of all households, 35.2% were married-couple households, 7.9% were cohabiting couple households, 35.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present, and 21.9% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. About 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25. There were 702 families (58.5% of all households).
The age distribution was 24.8% under the age of 18, 6.4% aged 18 to 24, 24.5% aged 25 to 44, 24.6% aged 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.4 males age 18 and over.
There were 1,393 housing units at an average density of 491.2 units per square mile (189.7 units/km2). Of these units, 1,199 (86.1%) were occupied and 194 (13.9%) were vacant. Of occupied units, 55.6% were owner-occupied and 44.4% were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.0%.
Income and poverty
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $54,634, and the per capita income was $31,725.
Economy
Alturas is the headquarters to the Modoc National Forest, the Applegate Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management, the Modoc National Wildlife Refuge and other recreation areas, and is the trade center for the agricultural region, which produces beef, sheep, potatoes, alfalfa and lumber. Despite its abundance of wilderness, recreational opportunities, hunting and fishing resources, and natural environment, tourism is not a major sector of the local economy – largely due to the city's remote location.
Local, State, Federal, and Tribal governments are the largest employers in Alturas. A vibrant timber industry collapsed in the early 1980s due to increased production costs and low market prices for softwood lumber.
The Modoc Joint Unified School District is headquartered in Alturas.
The Alturas Rancheria, a band of Pit River Indians, operates a small casino just outside the city limits.
Government
In the California State Legislature, Alturas is in the 1st senatorial district, represented by Republican Megan Dahle, and the 1st Assembly district, represented by Republican Heather Hadwick.
In the United States House of Representatives, Alturas is in California's 1st congressional district, represented by Republican James Gallagher.
Transportation
Alturas is served by U.S. Route 395 and California State Route 299. U.S. 395 comes in from the south from Susanville and Reno. State Route 299 comes in from the west from Redding. Both highways merge in Alturas and head out of the city as a concurrency northeast toward Lakeview, Oregon; and Cedarville, respectively.
Sage Stage offers intercity bus service and a local dial-a-ride bus within the town.
The Modoc Subdivision track of the Union Pacific Railroad and the Lake County Railroad (of Lake County, Oregon) serve the area. Alturas Municipal Airport is a public-use, general aviation facility located one nautical mile (1.2 mi; 1.9 km) west of the city's central business district.
Education
Modoc Joint Unified School District is the local school district.
Notable people
Kayte Christensen, WNBA basketball player
Ernest S. Brown, former United States Senator from Nevada
John E. Raker (1863–1926), Congressman from California (served 1911–1926) and author of the Raker Act
Robert "Top Gun" Hight, NHRA drag racer John Force Racing