Editing Big Bend, California

{{for-multi|the unincorporated communities|Big Bend, Butte County, California|and|Big Bend, Placer County, California}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Big Bend
|other_name = Madesi Valley
|settlement_type          = [[unincorporated area]]<br/>[[census-designated place]]
|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_seal               = 
|image_map                = Shasta_County_California_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Big_Bend_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Shasta County, California|Shasta County]] and the state of [[California]]
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = {{USA}}
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = {{flag|California}}
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in California|County]]
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|established_date         = 
<!-- Area------------------>
|area_magnitude           = 
| unit_pref               = Imperial
| area_footnotes          = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 30, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi        = 5.82
| area_land_sq_mi         = 5.74
| area_water_sq_mi        = 0.09
| area_total_km2          = 15.08
| area_land_km2           = 14.85
| area_water_km2          = 0.23
| area_water_percent      = 1.53
| area_note               = 
|elevation_ft             = 1701
|elevation_m              = 514
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 79
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_km2   = 5.32
|population_density_sq_mi = 13.78
|timezone                 = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific (PST)]]
|utc_offset               = -8
|coordinates              = {{coord|41|1|11|N|121|54|28|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|timezone_DST             = PDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -7
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 96011
|area_code                = [[Area code 530|530]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 06-06475
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0256886
|footnotes                = 
|website                  = 
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
}}
'''Big Bend''' of the Madesi Valley is the indigenous homeland of the [[Madesi tribe]], located in [[Shasta County, California|Shasta County]], northeastern [[California]]. It is named for a major change in course of the [[Pit River]].

Its population is 79 as of the 2020 census, down from 102 from the 2010 census. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Big Bend as a [[census-designated place]] (CDP).

==History==
===Native Americans===
For several thousand years prior to the 19th century, Big Bend was the heart of the territory of the [[Madesi tribe]] (pronounced Mah-day-see) tribe (or "band") of [[Pit River Tribe|Pit River Native Americans]]. The Madesi is one of nine bands (also called "tribelets") that spoke the [[Achomawi language]]. (Early anthropologists mistakenly called all nine bands in the language group "Achomawi," although only one of the bands was actually called Achomawi.)<ref>Achomawi Geography, (University of California Publications in American Archaeology and Ethnology), Volume 23, Number 5, 1928 By Fred Bowerman Kniffen</ref>

The Madesi band's territorial region included Big Bend and the surrounding area of the Lower [[Pit River]] (''Ah-choo'-mah'' in the Madesi dialect, which has few or no speakers still living), and several of its tributaries, such as Kosk Creek (''An-noo-che'che'') and Nelson Creek (''Ah-lis'choo'-chah''). The main village of the Madesi was on the north bank of the Pit River, east of Kosk Creek, and was called ''Mah-dess','' or ''Mah-dess' Atjwam'' (Madesi Valley), and was directly across the river from the smaller villages that surrounded the hot springs on the river's south bank, which were called ''Oo-le'-moo-me, Lah'-lah-pis'-mah,'' and ''Al-loo-satch-ha.''<ref>THE CLASSIFICATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE PIT RIVER INDIAN TRIBES OF CALIFORNIA. Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, Volume 78, Number 3. E. H. Harriman Fund. Publication 2874. By G. Hart. Merriam</ref>

The Madesi people enjoyed great abundance of food sources, which mainly consisted of [[acorn]]s, deer, [[salmon]], and other fish from the river.

===Euro-American settlers===
The Big Bend area is so remote and isolated that the Madesi was one of the last [[indigenous peoples of California]] to be invaded and pushed out of their ancestral homeland.

As white settlers began to come to Big Bend in the 1860s, few Madesi were left in the area, and the newcomers began to claim the conquered land as their own. By the 1890s, Big Bend was becoming a small quiet town of white settlers, centered around the hot springs. It was originally called '''Elena''' (1890) by the Euro-Americans settlers, and then changed to '''Henderson''', (1906) before they began calling it "Big Bend" (1922).

Early white settlers built a log hotel with a post office and a saloon just above the main hot springs. Many visitors around the turn of the 20th-century came to Big Bend to soak in the hot springs, seeking the reputed healing qualities of the hot mineral water baths.

Big Bend grew slowly until the late 1930s, when [[Pacific Gas and Electric Company]] began construction on the {{C|Dams on the Pit River|Pit Five Hydroelectric Dam}} and Pit Five Power House.<ref>120 FERC ¶ 62,001 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION Pacific Gas and Electric Company Project No. 233-081 Shasta County, California ORDER ISSUING NEW LICENSE (July 2, 2007) Issued by FERC OSEC 07/02/2007 in Docket#: P-233-081</ref> The dam construction brought thousands of jobs and people to Big Bend. This included engineers, builders, tunnel diggers (around 2000 hard-rock miners), and service workers to the area.  Big Bend saw a "boom and bust" cycle, and the population was declining by the late 1940s, after the dam work was completed. Although the maintenance of the hydroelectric facilities and a large commercial logging industry still require numerous employees, almost all of the people working in such jobs live outside of Big Bend, contributing further to the population decline.

The population of Big Bend was only 102 people in the 2010 census, apparently the lowest number of residents since the 1860s.<ref>Big Bend, California</ref>

==Geography==
Big Bend is located at {{coord|41|1|11|N|121|54|28|W|type:city}} (41.019803, -121.907881).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

The community is situated on a long bend in the [[Pit River]] which is the longest tributary to the [[Sacramento River]]. The Pit River (traditionally called Achoma) is one of only three rivers that crosses the Cascades mountain range and drains into the Pacific Ocean.  Before the dams were built, the Pit River hosted the third largest Salmon run on the west coast of the US.  From Big Bend is a striking view of Chalk Mountain (called Too-le-pah-ah-te Ah-ko by the Madesi tribe) which has a natural exposed slide feature of [[diatomaceous earth]].  The slide is locally called the "White Buffalo," since it resembles a white bison.  Another prominent mountain hovering over the town of Big Bend is called Bald Peak (called Ma-how-mah-day Ah-ko by the Madesi tribe), which has dozens of cold water springs, creating numerous creeks that feed into the Pit River, a spring-fed, or a "free stone" river.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|5.8|sqmi|km2}}, 98.47% of it land and 1.53% of it water.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|2000= 149
|2010= 102
|2020= 79
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census by Decade|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=}}</ref><br>1850–1870<ref name=1870CensusCA1>{{Cite web|title= 1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-12.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><ref name=1870CensusCA2>{{Cite web|title= 1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County  |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-13.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1880-1890<ref name=1890CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1890 Census of Population - Population of California by Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1890/bulletins/demographics/134-population-of-ca.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1900<ref name=1900CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1900/bulletins/demographic/10-population-ca.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1910<ref name=1910CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-ca.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1920<ref name=1920CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1920/bulletins/demographics/population-ca-number-of-inhabitants.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1930<ref name=1930CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1930/population-volume-1/03815512v1ch03.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1940<ref name=1940CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch03.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1950<ref name=1950CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-1/vol-01-08.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1960<ref name=1960CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/vol-01-06-d.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1970<ref name=1970CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1970a_ca1-01.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1980<ref name=1980CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_caAB-01.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1990<ref name=1990CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-6.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
2000<ref name=2000CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2003/dec/phc-3-6.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-6.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
}}

The [[2020 United States census]] reported that Big Bend had a population of 79. The population density was {{convert|13.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Big Bend was 56 (70.9%) [[White Americans|White]], 0 (0.0%) [[African Americans|African American]], 10 (12.7%) [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0 (0.0%) [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0 (0.0%) [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 2 (2.5%) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 11 (13.9%) from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] of any race were 5 persons (6.3%).<ref name=DP1>{{cite web |title=Big Bend CDP, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?g=1600000US0606475 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=May 18, 2025}}</ref>

The whole population lived in households. There were 43 households, out of which 8 (18.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 17 (39.5%) were married-couple households, 6 (14.0%) were [[cohabitation|cohabiting]] couple households, 10 (23.3%) had a female householder with no partner present, and 10 (23.3%) had a male householder with no partner present. 6 households (14.0%) were one person, and 3 (7.0%) were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 1.84.<ref name=DP1/> There were 29 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (67.4% of all households).<ref>{{cite web |title=Big Bend CDP, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDHC2020.P16?g=1600000US0606475 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=May 18, 2025}}</ref>

The age distribution was 11 people (13.9%) under the age of 18, 5 people (6.3%) aged 18 to 24, 14 people (17.7%) aged 25 to 44, 29 people (36.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 20 people (25.3%) who were 65{{nbsp}}years of age or older. The median age was 52.8{{nbsp}}years. There were 40 males and 39 females.<ref name=DP1/>

There were 67 housing units at an average density of {{convert|11.7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}, of which 43 (64.2%) were occupied. Of these, 39 (90.7%) were owner-occupied, and 4 (9.3%) were occupied by renters.<ref name=DP1/>

==Politics==
In the [[California State Legislature|state legislature]] Big Bend is located in {{Representative|casd|1|fmt=sdistrict}},<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://senate.ca.gov/senators |title=Senators |accessdate=March 10, 2013  |publisher=State of California}}</ref> and {{Representative|caad|1|fmt=adistrict}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers |title=Members Assembly |accessdate=March 2, 2013 |publisher=State of California}}</ref>

Federally, Big Bend is in {{Representative|cacd|1|fmt=district}}.<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|1|accessdate=March 1, 2013}}</ref>

==Natural attractions==
===Hot springs===
Big Bend is known in the Northern California region for its geothermal [[hot springs]]. There are several hot spring sources on the Big Bend Hot Springs property along the [[Pit River]]. Privately owned land containing hot springs is expected to open for public tourism.

===Pit River===
The [[Pit River]] is a "free stone river" and provides excellent fishing for [[McCloud River redband trout]].

The Pit River has had occasional white water level releases from the dams to provide white water rafting with Class 4 and Class 5 rapids.

A highly scenic gravel road follows the Pit River upstream from Big Bend to [[California State Route 89|Highway 89]] near [[McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park]].

===Iron Canyon Reservoir===
[[Iron Canyon Reservoir]], located near Big Bend, impounds water diverted from the [[McCloud River]] and contains Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout. This reservoir provides an opportunity for canoeing and float tubing.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ironcanyon.org/ |title=Ironcanyon.org website |access-date=2007-09-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070814115147/http://www.ironcanyon.org/ |archive-date=2007-08-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The reservoir is in the [[Shasta-Trinity National Forest]] and has two campgrounds, one administered by the [[US Forest Service]] and one by [[Pacific Gas and Electric Company]].

==References==
{{reflist|25em}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130116194209/http://pitrivertribe.org/history Pit River Tribe]
*[http://www.bigbendhotsprings.org/ Big Bend Hot Springs]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070814115147/http://www.ironcanyon.org/ Iron Canyon Reservoir]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071012123647/http://indianspringstelecom.org/ Indian Springs Telecom]

{{Shasta County, California}}
{{Shasta Cascade}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in Shasta County, California]]
[[Category:Pit River]]
[[Category:Pit River tribes]]
[[Category:Bodies of water of Shasta County, California]]
[[Category:Hot springs of California]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in California]]