Editing Graeagle, California

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!--See the table at Template:Infobox settlement for all fields and descriptions of their usage.-->
|official_name            = Graeagle
|settlement_type          = [[Census-designated place]]
|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_seal               = 
|image_map                = Plumas_County_California_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Graeagle_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Plumas County, California|Plumas County]] and the state of [[California]]
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
| pushpin_map = USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States
<!-- Location ------------------>
|coordinates              = {{coord|39|45|52|N|120|37|24|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|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        = [[Plumas County, California|Plumas]]
<!-- Politics ----------------->
|established_date         = 
<!-- Area------------------------------->
| unit_pref               = US
| area_footnotes          = <ref>{{Cite US Gazetteer|2010|places|CA}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi        = 11.124
| area_total_km2          = 28.812
| area_land_sq_mi         = 11.067
| area_land_km2           = 28.664
| area_water_sq_mi        = 0.057
| area_water_km2          = 0.148
| area_water_percent      = 0.51
<!-- Elevation   ----------------------->
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref>{{Cite GNIS|1659728|Graeagle|access-date=February 11, 2015}}</ref>
|elevation_ft             = 4373
|elevation_m              = 1333
<!-- Population   ---------------------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="US Census Bureau 2020 Graeagle, CA Population">{{cite web |title=US Census Bureau |url=https://data.census.gov/all?q=Graeagle%20CDP,%20California |website=www.census.gov |access-date=April 13, 2024}}</ref>
|population_total         = 724
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_sq_mi = auto
<!-- Zones and codes ------------------->
|timezone                 = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific]]
|utc_offset               = -8
|timezone_DST             = [[Pacific Daylight Time|PDT]]
|utc_offset_DST           = -7
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 96103
|area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
|area_code                = [[Area code 530|530]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS]] code
|blank_info               = {{FIPS|06|30560}}
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature IDs
|blank1_info              = {{GNIS 4|1659728}}, {{GNIS 4|2408311}}
}}
'''Graeagle''' is a town and [[census-designated place]] in eastern [[Plumas County, California|Plumas County]], [[California]], [[United States]], located along the [[Middle Fork Feather River]] in the Northern [[Sierra Nevada]]. The population was 737 as of 2010.

==History==

The town was founded in 1916<ref name="WalpoleCarrigan1999">{{cite book|author1=Jeanne Lauf Walpole|author2=Michael Carrigan|author3=Mike Carrigan|title=The Insider's Guide to Reno & Lake Tahoe|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KJbZRIu6tj4C|date=November 1999|publisher=Globe Pequot Pr|isbn=978-1-57380-104-1}}</ref> as a lumber town.<ref name="HooverKyle2002">{{cite book|author1=Mildred Brooke Hoover|author2=Douglas E. Kyle|title=Historic Spots in California|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AYMPR6xAj50C&pg=PA288|year=2002|publisher=Stanford University Press|isbn=978-0-8047-7817-6|pages=288–}}</ref> A post office was established in 1919 with the moniker of Davies Mill.<ref name=CPN>{{cite book|last1=Gudde|first1=Erwin G.|title=California place names : the origin and etymology of current geographical names|date=1998|publisher=University of California Press|location=Berkeley|isbn=0520213165|page=[https://archive.org/details/californiaplacen00gudd/page/150 150]|edition=4th ed., rev. and enl.|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/californiaplacen00gudd/page/150}}</ref>  When the mill changed ownership in the 1920s, a naming contest was held. Belle Byrne contracted the name of nearby Gray Eagle Creek to Graeagle, winning the contest and its $5 prize.<ref name="DanielssonDanielsson2006">{{cite book|author1=Matt Danielsson|author2=Krissi Danielsson|title=Waterfall Lover's Guide Northern California: More Than 300 Waterfalls from the North Coast to the Southern Sierra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dVG9eZOHiPQC&pg=PA91|year=2006|publisher=The Mountaineers Books|isbn=978-1-59485-222-0|pages=91–}}</ref>

The name of the creek may have had some connection with Edward D Baker, the "Gray Eagle of Republicanism," who was in the mining region in 1856 while stumping the state for Frémont.<ref name="CPN" />

Graeagle Lumber Company was owned by the California Fruit Exchange which employed hundreds in logging, lumber production and the manufacturing of box shook (boxes for picking and shipping fruit and vegetables) from the 1920s to the 1950s. Modernization closed the mill in 1956 and the box factory in 1957. The town was acquired by the West family in 1959.<ref>History of the California Fruit Exchange, 1947, pages 24 and 25</ref><ref>{{Cite news | pages = 26 | title = Days of Graeagle Numbered As Lumber Mill Is Closed With Box Factory Next | work = Reno Evening Gazette | access-date = February 14, 2015 | date = November 29, 1956 | url = https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/nevada/reno/reno-evening-gazette/1956/11-29/page-26?tag=westwood+fruit+growers+supply&rtserp=tags/westwood?pep=fruit-growers-supply&psb=date&page=3&ndt=by&py=1950&pey=1959 }}</ref><ref name="Young2003">{{cite book|author=Jim Young|title=Plumas County: History of the Feather River Region|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ptBv9l5uSPwC&pg=PA141|year=2003|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=978-0-7385-2409-2|pages=141–}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|11.1|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|11.04|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.06|sqmi|km2}} (0.51%) is water.

==Economy==
Much of the economy is seasonal, catering to summer tourism, primarily second homes.

Several golf courses are in the area.

The brewery "The Brewing Lair of the Lost Sierra", is located in nearby [[Blairsden, California|Blairsden]], as is the [[Plumas National Forest]] [[Beckwourth Ranger District]] headquarters.

About {{convert|6|mi|km}} west of Graeagle is the [[Plumas-Eureka State Park]] which includes the local [[ghost towns]] where mining in began in 1851.<ref name="Edition">{{cite book|author=Historic Spots in California, Third Edition|title=Historic Spots in California, Third Edition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wYGaAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA284|publisher=Stanford University Press|isbn=978-0-8047-4020-3|pages=284–}}</ref> As was common throughout this area of California, mining was initially done by individuals, then companies and finally by corporations whose owners often lived far away from the mines themselves.  For the mines in the Graeagle area, investors were from as far away as London.<ref name="Edition" />

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|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, 2016}}</ref>
}}

===2010===
The [[2010 United States Census]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0630560|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715025202/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0630560|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Graeagle CDP|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref> reported that Graeagle had a population of 737. The population density was {{convert|66.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Graeagle was 718 (97.4%) [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1 (0.1%) [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 5 (0.7%) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0 (0.0%) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0 (0.0%) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3 (0.4%) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 10 (1.4%) from two or more races.  [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 27 persons (3.7%).

The Census reported that 737 people (100% of the population) lived in households.

There were 392 households, out of which 41 (10.5%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 217 (55.4%) were [[marriage|opposite-sex married couples]] living together, 20 (5.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 10 (2.6%) had a male householder with no wife present.  There were 17 (4.3%) [[POSSLQ|unmarried opposite-sex partnerships]], and 1 (0.3%) [[same-sex partnerships|same-sex married couples or partnerships]]. 128 households (32.7%) were made up of individuals, and 85 (21.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.88.  There were 247 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (63.0% of all households); the average family size was 2.30.

The population was spread out, with 70 people (9.5%) under the age of 18, 20 people (2.7%) aged 18 to 24, 61 people (8.3%) aged 25 to 44, 269 people (36.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 317 people (43.0%) who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 62.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.5 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.5 males.

There were 904 housing units at an average density of {{convert|81.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}, of which 330 (84.2%) were owner-occupied, and 62 (15.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 6.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 28.1%.  603 people (81.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 134 people (18.2%) lived in rental housing units.

===2000===
At the 2000 [[census]],<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> there were 831 people, 412 households and 280 families residing in the CDP. The population density was {{convert|74.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 693 housing units at an average density of {{convert|62.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.95% White, 0.48% Native American], 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.12% from other races, and 1.32% from two or more races. 2.17% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 412 households, of which 13.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were married couples living together, 3.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.0% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.02 and the average family size was 2.40.

Age distribution was 11.6% under the age of 18, 2.8% from 18 to 24, 15.9% from 25 to 44, 35.1% from 45 to 64, and 34.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 57 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.

The [[median household income]] was $55,385, and the median family income was $59,327. Males had a median income of $39,219 versus $24,028 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $25,199. About 4.7% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including none of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.

==Media==
Formerly, the primary local news source was the ''Portola Reporter,'' published every Wednesday.<ref>[http://www.plumasnews.com/ Plumas County Reporter], weekly newspaper</ref> Now it appears in online form only as the ''Plumas News''.

==Government==
In the [[California State Legislature]], Graeagle is in {{Representative|casd|1|fmt=sdistrict}},<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://senate.ca.gov/senators |title=Senators |access-date=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 |access-date=March 2, 2013 |publisher=State of California}}</ref>

In the [[United States House of Representatives]], Graeagle formerly was in {{Representative|cacd|1|fmt=district}}.<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|1|access-date=March 3, 2013}}</ref>

==Education==
The school district is [[Plumas Unified School District]].<ref>{{cite map|author=Geography Division|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st06_ca/schooldistrict_maps/c06063_plumas/DC20SD_C06063.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Plumas County, CA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|date= December 18, 2020|access-date=2025-03-22}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st06_ca/schooldistrict_maps/c06063_plumas/DC20SD_C06063_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

==See also==

* [[The Lost Sierra]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.plumascounty.org/places%20to%20camp/Graeagle.htm Graeagle camping], Plumas County hospitality site
*[https://playgraeagle.com PlayGraeagle.com] Official website for the town of Graeagle.
*{{cite book|author=Michele Bigley|title=Explorer's Guide Northern California|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3c0eSeAoJV0C&pg=PA517|date=June 1, 2009|publisher=Countryman Press|isbn=978-0-88150-832-1|pages=517–}}
*{{cite book|author1=Scott J. Lawson|author2=Daniel R. Elliott|title=Logging in Plumas County|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VGaA1ddhR5EC&pg=PA80|date=August 2008|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=978-0-7385-5929-2|pages=80–}}

{{Plumas County, California}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in Plumas County, California]]
[[Category:Populated places in the Sierra Nevada (United States)]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in California]]
[[Category:Company towns in California]]