Editing Colfax, California

{{Short description|City in California, United States}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2016}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Colfax, California
|settlement_type          = [[List of municipalities in California|City]]
|named_for = [[Schuyler Colfax]]
|image_skyline            = Colfax, CA.JPG
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_seal               = Colfax ca seal.png
| image_blank_emblem              = Colfax ca logo.png
| blank_emblem_type               = Logo
|image_map                = File:Placer County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Colfax Highlighted 0614498.svg
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location of Colfax in Placer County, California.
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
| pushpin_map = USA
|pushpin_relief           = yes
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States
|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]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Placer County, California|Placer]]
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = [http://colfax-ca.gov/government/city-council/city-council-members/trinity-burruss-2/ Trinity Burruss]<ref name="Colfax City Council">{{Cite web |url=http://colfax-ca.gov/government/city-council/ |title=Colfax City Council |publisher=The City of Colfax, California |access-date=January 31, 2015}}</ref>
|leader_title1            = [[Mayor Pro Tem]]
|leader_name1             = [https://colfax-ca.gov/government/city-council/city-council-members/kim-a-douglass-councilmember/ Kim Douglas]<ref name="Colfax City Council"/>
|leader_title2            = [[Councilmember]]
|leader_name2             = Larry Hillberg<ref name="Colfax City Council"/>
|leader_title3            = [[Councilmember]]
|leader_name3             = Caroline McCully<ref name="Colfax City Council"/>
|leader_title4            = [[Councilmember]]
|leader_name4             = [https://colfax-ca.gov/government/city-council/city-council-members/sean-lomen/ Sean Lomen]<ref name="Colfax City Council"/>
|established_title        = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date         = February 23, 1910<ref>{{Cite web 
 |url=http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc 
 |title=California Cities by Incorporation Date 
 |format=Word 
 |publisher=California Association of [[Local Agency Formation Commission]]s 
 |access-date=August 25, 2014 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103002921/http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc 
 |archive-date=November 3, 2014 }}</ref>
<!-- 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        = 1.41
| area_land_sq_mi         = 1.41
| area_water_sq_mi        = 0.00
| area_total_km2          = 3.64
| area_land_km2           = 3.64
| area_water_km2          = 0.00
| area_water_percent      = 0
| area_note               = 
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis>{{Cite GNIS|1655912|Colfax|accessdate=November 4, 2014}}</ref>
|elevation_ft             = 2425
|elevation_m              = 739
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 1995
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_km2   = 547.85
|population_density_sq_mi = 1418.92
|timezone                 = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific]]
|utc_offset               = −8
|coordinates              = {{coord|39|5|50|N|120|57|14|W|region:US-CA_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|timezone_DST             = PDT
|utc_offset_DST           = −7
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code              = 95713
|area_code                = [[Area codes 530 and 837|530, 837]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = {{FIPS|06|14498}}
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = {{GNIS 4|1655912}}
|website                  = {{URL|www.colfax-ca.gov}}
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
}}

'''Colfax''' (formerly '''Alden Grove''', '''Alder Grove''', '''Illinoistown''', and '''Upper Corral''') is a city in [[Placer County, California]],<ref name=gnis/> at the crossroads of [[Interstate 80 in California|Interstate 80]] and [[California State Route 174|State Route 174]].  The population was 1,963 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]].  The town is named in honor of [[Vice President of the United States|U.S. Vice President]] [[Schuyler Colfax]] (1869–73), a bronze statue of whom stands at Railroad Street and Grass Valley Street.<ref>[http://cprr.org/Museum/Sierra_Grade_8-2003/Newcastle-Colfax/pictures/c1.html Statue of Schuyler Colfax, Vice President of the US (1869-73), Colfax, CA]</ref> (This is one of two known statues of Schuyler Colfax in the United States,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sierranevadageotourism.org/entries/schuyler-colfax-monument/2b9d666c-d5a4-4722-978e-825ed1544ed8|title=Schuyler Colfax Monument &#124; Sierra Nevada Geotourism|website=sierranevadageotourism.org}}</ref> the other located in Indianapolis, Indiana.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.presidentsusa.net/colfaxstatue.html|title=Schuyler Colfax Statue - Indianapolis, Indiana|website=www.presidentsusa.net}}</ref>)

Some of the town's notable features include the newly restored [[Southern Pacific Transportation Company|Southern Pacific Railroad]] colonnade-style [[train station|depot]] (which houses the Colfax Museum and Chamber of Commerce) built in 1905,<ref>{{Cite book|title=Southern Pacific Lines Standard-Design Depots|last=Bender|first=Henry E. Jr. |publisher=Signature Press|year=2013|isbn=9781930013339|location=Berkeley and Wilton, California|pages=241}}</ref> the downtown shops on Main Street, and [[Colfax High School (California)|Colfax High School]], which serves a large surrounding area.

==History==
Originally inhabited by the [[Maidu]] and [[Miwok]] Native Americans, by the mid-19th century the city site was known as ''Alder Grove''; however, as development increased, the city became known as ''Illinoistown'', a supply hub for gold mining camps.<ref name=rgj>{{cite news|page=1A |date=April 14, 2019 |title=A real life gamble: California races to predict which town could be the next victim | author1=Ryan Sabalow |author2=Phillip Reese |author3=Dale Kasler |agency=The Sacramento Bee | publisher=Reno Gazette Journal |work=Destined to Burn}}</ref> In April 1852, the Reelfoot Williams Gang robbed a [[Nevada City, California|Nevada City]] [[stagecoach]] of $7,000 in gold bullion near Illinoistown. This was the first stagecoach robbery in the gold country.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U2XTDnA74GUC|title=Old Waybills: The Romance of the Express Companies|first=Alvin Fay|last=Harlow|date=January 1, 1976|publisher=Arno Press|isbn=978-0-405-07692-3 |via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lgQNAAAAIAAJ|title=The Diary of a Forty-niner|first=Chauncey L.|last=Canfield|date=July 3, 1906|publisher=M. Shepard Company|via=Google Books}}</ref>

Later it was renamed Colfax after then [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker of the House]] (and later [[Vice President of the United States|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 (California)|U.S. Route 40]] also runs through the city as well as the more modern [[Interstate 80 in California|Interstate 80]].  The city is mentioned in [[Jules Verne]]’s book, ''[[Around the World in Eighty Days]]''.

In July 2015 the [[Lowell Fire]] burned thousands of acres nearby, forcing evacuation in Nevada County.<ref name=rgj />

In March 2020, the COVID-19 Pandemic caused a state wide shelter in place order to be issued. This resulted in the long term closure of many local businesses despite the direct opposition from local officials. {{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}

On August 4, 2021, the [[River Fire (2021)|River Fire]] started in the Bear River Campground, forcing thousands of residents on both the Placer and Nevada county sides of the river to evacuate. The fire was contained nine days later after burning over {{Convert|2600|acre|km2}} and dozens of homes. Acting Mayor Trinity Burruss led the city during the emergency response.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

In December 2021, the city was placed under a state of emergency due to severe snow storms. More than 575,000 metered electric customers in Northern California were without power at some point during the storm, with about 141,000 still without power one month after the first major outage.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hooks |first=Chris Hagan, Ezra David Romero, Nick Miller, Kris |title=Tens Of Thousands Without Power As Winter Storm Pummels Northern California |url=https://www.capradio.org/161903 |access-date=June 27, 2023 |website=www.capradio.org}}</ref> The City was again reliant on the leadership of the Mayor to get supplies and critical support to residents left without a safe heat source.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Newsource |first=C. N. N. |date=December 30, 2021 |title=Colfax Mayor Says City Is in 'Dire' Situation Due to Power Outage |url=https://abc17news.com/cnn-regional/2021/12/30/colfax-mayor-says-city-is-in-dire-situation-due-to-power-outage/ |access-date=June 27, 2023 |website=ABC17NEWS |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Geography==
Colfax is located at {{coord|39|5|50|N|120|57|14|W|type:city}} (39.097260, −120.954017).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>  According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|1.4|sqmi}}, all of it land.

The principal [[geology|geologic]] structures present are [[granite|granitic]] and [[metamorphic rock|metamorphic]] rock formations. Located approximately {{convert|1|mi}} 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 {{convert|1.2|mi}} 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]].

Colfax sits a few miles outside the [[Tahoe National Forest]] as I-80 begins its climb into the Sierras. Because of its location it is considered at high risk of wildfire.<ref name=rgj />
 
===Climate===
Colfax has a [[Mediterranean climate#hot-summer Mediterranean climate|hot-summer Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Csa'') that is characterized by cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers. Summers can be quite hot, especially in the months of July and August where temperatures easily reach {{convert|90|°F}}, with plenty of sunshine. Winters, on the other hand, are quite cool with temperatures in December hovering around {{convert|46|°F}}, and owing to its altitude above sea level, Colfax some years sees snow accumulation.

{{weather box|single line=yes|collapsed=yes|precipitation colour=green|width=auto|location=Colfax, California, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1905–present
|Jan record high F = 84
|Feb record high F = 88
|Mar record high F = 89
|Apr record high F = 91
|May record high F = 100
|Jun record high F = 110
|Jul record high F = 113
|Aug record high F = 110
|Sep record high F = 106
|Oct record high F = 102
|Nov record high F = 86
|Dec record high F = 87
|year record high F= 113
|Jan high F = 54.9
|Feb high F = 56.9
|Mar high F = 60.3
|Apr high F = 65.6
|May high F = 74.2
|Jun high F = 83.4
|Jul high F = 92.1
|Aug high F = 91.4
|Sep high F = 86.4
|Oct high F = 75.0
|Nov high F = 61.1
|Dec high F = 53.5
|year high F= 71.2
|Jan mean F = 45.8
|Feb mean F = 47.1
|Mar mean F = 49.9
|Apr mean F = 54.1
|May mean F = 61.6
|Jun mean F = 69.7
|Jul mean F = 77.3
|Aug mean F = 76.2
|Sep mean F = 71.7
|Oct mean F = 61.9
|Nov mean F = 50.9
|Dec mean F = 44.8
|year mean F= 59.2
|Jan low F = 36.7
|Feb low F = 37.4
|Mar low F = 39.5
|Apr low F = 42.6
|May low F = 49.1
|Jun low F = 56.1
|Jul low F = 62.5
|Aug low F = 61.1
|Sep low F = 57.1
|Oct low F = 48.8
|Nov low F = 40.8
|Dec low F = 36.1
|year low F= 47.3
|Jan record low F = 4
|Feb record low F = 15
|Mar record low F = 12
|Apr record low F = 20
|May record low F = 25
|Jun record low F = 30
|Jul record low F = 40
|Aug record low F = 38
|Sep record low F = 30
|Oct record low F = 24
|Nov record low F = 18
|Dec record low F = 9
|year record low F= 
|Jan precipitation inch = 7.83
|Feb precipitation inch = 8.02
|Mar precipitation inch = 7.24
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.58
|May precipitation inch = 2.27
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.70
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.02
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.11
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.35
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.11
|Nov precipitation inch = 5.15
|Dec precipitation inch = 8.52
|year precipitation inch= 45.90
|Jan snow inch = 0.9
|Feb snow inch = 2.6
|Mar snow inch = 1.2
|Apr snow inch = 0.6
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 0.4
|Dec snow inch = 1.5
|year snow inch =
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 11.1
|Feb precipitation days = 11.5
|Mar precipitation days = 10.9
|Apr precipitation days = 7.7
|May precipitation days = 5.6
|Jun precipitation days = 2.2
|Jul precipitation days = 0.2
|Aug precipitation days = 0.5
|Sep precipitation days = 1.2
|Oct precipitation days = 4.1
|Nov precipitation days = 9.1
|Dec precipitation days = 11.4
|year precipitation days= 75.5
|unit snow days = 0.01 in
|Jan snow days = 0.4
|Feb snow days = 1.0
|Mar snow days = 1.0
|Apr snow days = 0.4
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.2
|Dec snow days = 0.6
|year snow days= 3.6
|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
 |url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=sto
 |title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data
 |publisher= [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
 |access-date = August 26, 2022
}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web
 |url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00041912&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
 |title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020
 |publisher= National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
 |access-date = August 26, 2022
}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align= left
|1880= 591
|1890= 670
|1910= 621
|1920= 573
|1930= 912
|1940= 794
|1950= 820
|1960= 915
|1970= 798
|1980= 981
|1990= 1306
|2000= 1496
|2010= 1963
|2020= 1995
|estimate= 2050
|estyear=2023
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

The [[2010 United States Census]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0614498|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715024201/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0614498|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Colfax city|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref> reported that Colfax had a population of 1,963. The population density was {{convert|1,394.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Colfax was 1,759 (89.6%) [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 4 (0.2%) [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 26 (1.3%) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 29 (1.5%) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 2 (0.1%) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 54 (2.8%) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 89 (4.5%) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|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 [[marriage|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%) [[POSSLQ|unmarried opposite-sex partnerships]], and 3 (0.4%) [[same-sex partnerships|same-sex married couples or partnerships]], while 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 [[family (U.S. Census)|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 {{convert|660.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}, 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.

== Transportation ==
[[Amtrak]], the national passenger rail system, provides service to Colfax. The city's [[Colfax (Amtrak station)|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 11:48&nbsp;a.m. daily with service to Roseville, [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]], Davis, Martinez, and [[Emeryville, California|Emeryville]] across the bay from [[San Francisco]].  Amtrak Train 6, the eastbound ''California Zephyr'', is scheduled to depart Colfax at 12:21&nbsp;p.m. daily with service to Truckee, Reno, Sparks, Winnemucca, Elko, Salt Lake City, Provo, Helper, Green River, Grand Junction, Glenwood Springs, Denver, Omaha, Galesburg, and [[Union Station (Chicago)|Chicago]].<ref>{{cite web|title=California Zephyr Schedule|url=http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/1003/673/California-Zephyr-Schedule-050712,0.pdf |publisher=Amtrak |access-date=December 9, 2012}}</ref> A bronze statue of the town's namesake, Schuyler Colfax, stands near the depot at the Grass Valley Street railroad grade crossing.

[[Amtrak Thruway]] [[Amtrak Thruway#20|20]] provides a daily connection from [[Colfax station|Colfax Depot]] to [[Sacramento Valley Station]] to the west, and [[South Lake Tahoe, California|South Lake Tahoe]] to the east, with a few stops in between.<ref>https://amtraksanjoaquins.com/route20c/ {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref>

[[Placer County Transit]] provides weekday commuter service to/from [[Colfax station|Colfax Depot]] to/from Downtown Sacramento.<ref>https://placercountytransit.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Route60-Placer-Commuter-Express.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=August 2024}}</ref>

<gallery widths="200px" heights="160px">
File:East portal of Tunnel 34, view to south-southwest, 135mm lens with electronic flash fill. Note the shift, in these later tunnels east of Colfax, to concrete portal faces with HAER CAL,31-COLF.V,1-3.tif|East portal of Tunnel 34, Colfax, on the historic [[Central Pacific Railroad]]. 
File:Schuyler Colfax Statue.jpg|A statue of the town's namesake U.S. Vice President Schuyler Colfax stands near the railroad station in historic downtown Colfax.
File:Historic Stevens Trail CA.JPG|The historic Stevens Trail's trailhead is in Colfax
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist|24em}}
* [http://www.citytowninfo.com/places/california/colfax Colfax, California community profile]
* Earth Metrics Inc., "[[Phase I Environmental Site Assessment]], Bunch Creek Shopping Center, Colfax, California", printed in San Mateo, Ca., Document File no. 7928W0, May 16, 1989

== Further reading==
* Moody, C. L. (1917). The breccias of the Mariposa formation in the vicinity of Colfax, California. University of California publications, v. 10, no. 21. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. {{oclc|4875739}}.
* Du Vall, A. H., & Landrith, M. H. (1984). ''A Colfax cemetery recording: Colfax, California, February 29, 1984''. Auburn, CA: The Authors. {{oclc|17348030}}.

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.colfax-ca.gov/ City of Colfax]
* [http://colfaxchamber.com/ Colfax Area Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.colfaxhistory.org/ Colfax History]

{{Cities of Placer County, California}}
{{Greater Sacramento}}
{{Sierra Nevada}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Colfax, California| ]]
[[Category:1910 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Cities in Placer County, California]]
[[Category:Cities in Sacramento metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Schuyler Colfax]]
[[Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1910]]
[[Category:Populated places in the Sierra Nevada (United States)]]