Editing Kirkwood, California

{{about|the place in Alpine County|the place in Glenn County|Kirkwood, Glenn County, California|the former town in Tehama County|Kirkwood, Tehama County, California|other uses|Kirkwood (disambiguation)}}
{{use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Kirkwood
|settlement_type          = [[unincorporated community]]<br />[[census-designated place]]
|image_skyline            = Kirkwood Mountain Resort in the summer.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Kirkwood Mountain Resort
|image_seal               = 
|image_map                = Alpine_County_California_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Kirkwood_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Alpine County, California|Alpine County]] and the state of [[California]]
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
| pushpin_map = USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States 
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[California]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in California|Counties]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Alpine County, California|Alpine]] & [[Amador County, California|Amador]] and [[El Dorado County, California|El Dorado]]
|government_type          = 
|leader_title1            = [[California State Senate|State Senate]]
|leader_name1             = {{Representative|casd|1|fmt=sleader}} and<br/>{{Representative|casd|8|fmt=sleader}}<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=http://senate.ca.gov/senators 
 |title=Senators 
 |access-date=March 18, 2013
 |publisher=State of California}}</ref>
|leader_title2            = [[California's 5th State Assembly district|State&nbsp;Assembly]]
|leader_name2             = {{Representative|caad|5|fmt=sleader}}<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=http://assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers
 |title=Members Assembly
 |access-date=March 18, 2013
 |publisher=State of California}}</ref>
|leader_title3            = [[California's 4th congressional district|U. S. Congress]]
|leader_name3             = {{Representative|cacd|4|fmt=usleader}}<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|4|accessdate=March 1, 2013}}</ref>
|established_date         = 
| unit_pref               = US
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 13.815
|area_total_sq_mi         = 5.334
|area_land_km2            = 11.290
|area_land_sq_mi          = 4.359
|area_water_km2           = 2.525
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.975
| area_water_percent      = 18.28
| area_note               = 
|elevation_ft             = 7690
|elevation_m              = 2344
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="US Census Bureau 2020 Kirkwood, CA Population">{{cite web |title=US Census Bureau |url=https://data.census.gov/all?q=Kirkwood%20CDP,%20California |website=www.census.gov |access-date=13 August 2024}}</ref>
|population_total         = 190
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_km2   = auto
|population_density_sq_mi = auto
|timezone                 = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific (PST)]]
|utc_offset               = -8
|coordinates              = {{coord|38|42|10|N|120|04|22|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
|timezone_DST             = PDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -7
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 95646
|area_code                = [[Area code 209|209]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 06-38646
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature IDs
|blank1_info              = {{GNIS4|262202}}, {{GNIS4|2408489}}
|footnotes                = 
|website                  = 
}}
'''Kirkwood''' (formerly '''Kirk''', '''Kirkwood's''', and '''Roundtop''')<ref name=CGN>{{California's Geographic Names|1175}}</ref> is an [[unincorporated community]] in [[Alpine County, California|Alpine]] and [[Amador County, California|Amador]]<ref>{{gnis|2408489}}</ref> counties, [[California]], United States. Kirkwood's main attraction is the [[Kirkwood Mountain Resort]]. The town is accessible by [[California State Route 88|State Route 88]]. Kirkwood is within the [[Eldorado National Forest]]. The population was 190 at the 2020 census.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kirkwood CDP, California Census Data 2020 |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Kirkwood+CDP,+California&tid=DECENNIALDHC2020.P1 |access-date=March 26, 2025 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Kirkwood as a [[census-designated place]] (CDP).

==History==
[[Zack Kirkwood]], a [[cattle]] rancher who had settled in the area, opened an [[inn]], named Kirkwood's, in 1863 with the opening of the Amador/Nevada Wagon Toll Road, the primary route through the [[Sierra Nevada (U.S.)|Sierra Nevada]] Mountains. The following year, Alpine County was created and the redrawing of the county borders placed the inn at the convergence of Alpine, [[El Dorado County, California|El Dorado]], and [[Amador County, California|Amador]] counties (the borders were later changed so that the inn is no longer in El Dorado County, but the original signpost marking the intersection of the three counties is still in the building). Eventually, the inn became a fashionable summer resort.

After Zack's death, the inn stayed in the family and continued to operate until 1966, when it was sold to an investment group, who then converted it into the present-day Kirkwood Mountain Resort.
<!-- no longer listed. See http://ohp.parks.ca.gov/ListedResources/?view=county&criteria=3
The original building (still standing) is registered as [[California Historical Landmark]] #40.
-->

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|5.3|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|4.4|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|1.0|sqmi|km2}} (18.28%) is water.

===Climate===
Kirkwood has a dry-summer [[subarctic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: ''Dsc''). Summertime is very mild, with little precipitation, while winter is very wet and cold.

{{Weather box
|location = Caples Lake, California, 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1924–2000
|single line = Yes

|Jan record high F = 64
|Feb record high F = 66
|Mar record high F = 70
|Apr record high F = 78
|May record high F = 82
|Jun record high F = 92
|Jul record high F = 95
|Aug record high F = 91
|Sep record high F = 88
|Oct record high F = 83
|Nov record high F = 72
|Dec record high F = 70

|Jan avg record high F = 54.0
|Feb avg record high F = 54.4
|Mar avg record high F = 57.3
|Apr avg record high F = 62.0
|May avg record high F = 69.4
|Jun avg record high F = 76.8
|Jul avg record high F = 80.2
|Aug avg record high F = 80.4
|Sep avg record high F = 77.0
|Oct avg record high F = 69.9
|Nov avg record high F = 61.8
|Dec avg record high F = 55.5
|year avg record high F = 83.4

|Jan high F = 38.1
|Feb high F = 39.2
|Mar high F = 43.0
|Apr high F = 48.2
|May high F = 56.3
|Jun high F = 65.7
|Jul high F = 73.8
|Aug high F = 72.7
|Sep high F = 67.1
|Oct high F = 56.6
|Nov high F = 43.9
|Dec high F = 38.4
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 28.7
|Feb mean F = 28.0
|Mar mean F = 31.2
|Apr mean F = 35.3
|May mean F = 43.2
|Jun mean F = 51.3
|Jul mean F = 58.0
|Aug mean F = 57.3
|Sep mean F = 51.8
|Oct mean F = 42.6
|Nov mean F = 33.8
|Dec mean F = 28.4
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 17.4
|Feb low F = 16.4
|Mar low F = 18.5
|Apr low F = 22.3
|May low F = 29.0
|Jun low F = 37.0
|Jul low F = 42.3
|Aug low F = 42.0
|Sep low F = 36.6
|Oct low F = 28.6
|Nov low F = 21.7
|Dec low F = 16.7
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -8.6
|Feb avg record low F = -8.4
|Mar avg record low F = -3.7
|Apr avg record low F = 5.7
|May avg record low F = 17.3
|Jun avg record low F = 25.9
|Jul avg record low F = 32.2
|Aug avg record low F = 31.5
|Sep avg record low F = 25.4
|Oct avg record low F = 14.9
|Nov avg record low F = 4.1
|Dec avg record low F = -9.3
|year avg record low F = -14.4

|Jan record low F = -26
|Feb record low F = -24
|Mar record low F = -18
|Apr record low F = -14
|May record low F = -4
|Jun record low F = 7
|Jul record low F = 20
|Aug record low F = 20
|Sep record low F = 10
|Oct record low F = 1
|Nov record low F = -9
|Dec record low F = -19

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 7.08
|Feb precipitation inch = 7.84
|Mar precipitation inch = 6.32
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.41
|May precipitation inch = 2.72
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.97
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.44
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.62
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.16
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.93
|Nov precipitation inch = 6.04
|Dec precipitation inch = 7.48
|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 10.7
|Feb precipitation days = 9.9
|Mar precipitation days = 9.7
|Apr precipitation days = 7.1
|May precipitation days = 7.2
|Jun precipitation days = 4.5
|Jul precipitation days = 2.4
|Aug precipitation days = 2.3
|Sep precipitation days = 5.2
|Oct precipitation days = 5.2
|Nov precipitation days = 9.5
|Dec precipitation days = 10.1

|Jan snow inch = 85.7
|Feb snow inch = 81.8
|Mar snow inch = 79.4
|Apr snow inch = 32.5
|May snow inch = 14.0
|Jun snow inch = 1.8
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 2.4
|Oct snow inch = 9.2
|Nov snow inch = 30.4
|Dec snow inch = 73.0
|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 day
|Jan snow days = 10.2
|Feb snow days = 9.0
|Mar snow days = 8.7
|Apr snow days = 5.5
|May snow days = 2.4
|Jun snow days = 0.8
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.9
|Oct snow days = 2.1
|Nov snow days = 7.5
|Dec snow days = 9.4
<!-- Currently freeze days are not weather box parameters
|unit freeze days = 0.1 day
|Jan freeze  days = 10.2
|Feb freeze  days = 9.0
|Mar freeze  days = 8.7
|Apr freeze  days = 5.5
|May freeze  days = 2.4
|Jun freeze  days = 0.8
|Jul freeze  days = 0.0
|Aug freeze  days = 0.0
|Sep freeze  days = 0.9
|Oct freeze  days = 2.1
|Nov freeze  days = 7.5
|Dec freeze  days = 9.4
-->
|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly&stations=USC00049105&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Twin Lakes, CA
|access-date = February 19, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = XMACIS2<ref name = XMACIS2>
{{cite web
|url = https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = xmACIS2
|access-date = February 19, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|2020= 190
|2010= 158
|2000= 96
|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>
}}

The [[2020 United States census]] reported that Kirkwood had a population of 190. The population density was {{convert|43.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Kirkwood was 84.2% [[White Americans|White]], 3.2% [[African Americans|African American]], 3.7% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 2.6% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.0% [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 1.1% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 5.3% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] of any race were 3.7% of the population.

The Census reported that 72.6% of the population lived in households, 26.8% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.5% were institutionalized.

There were 81 households, out of which 8.6% included children under the age of 18, 13.6% were married-couple households, 11.1% were [[cohabitation|cohabiting]] couple households, 18.5% had a female householder with no partner present, and 56.8% had a male householder with no partner present. 56.8% of households were one person, and 7.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 1.7. There were 22 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (27.2% of all households).

The age distribution was 5.8% under the age of 18, 11.1% aged 18 to 24, 33.2% aged 25 to 44, 34.2% aged 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65{{nbsp}}years of age or older. The median age was 45.0{{nbsp}}years. There were 121 males and 69 females.

There were 659 housing units at an average density of {{convert|151.2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}, of which 81 (12.3%) were occupied. Of these, 32.1% were owner-occupied, and 67.9% were occupied by renters.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kirkwood 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=1600000US0638646 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=March 24, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Kirkwood CDP, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDHC2020.P16?g=1600000US0638646 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=March 24, 2025}}</ref>

==Infrastructure==
The Kirkwood Mountain Resort was built with a micro-utility providing electric power [[Off-the-grid|without connecting]] to the state electric grid.  The community was eventually connected when the town of Kirkwood took over the utility.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Penn |first=Ivan |date=2022-09-01 |title=A Solar Firm Plans to Build Off-Grid Neighborhoods in California |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/01/business/energy-environment/sunnova-off-grid-neighborhoods.html |access-date=2022-09-02 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
In episode 4 of season 2 of ''[[The West Wing]]'' entitled "[[In This White House]]", Deputy [[White House Communications Director]] [[Sam Seaborn]] references Kirkwood in a televised debate about school funding, though he mistakenly states that Kirkwood is located in [[Oregon]].  His debate competitor, Ainsley Hayes, corrects him by noting that the town is located in California.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://westwing.bewarne.com/second/26ainsley.html|title=The West Wing: Second Season - "In This White House" exchange|website=westwing.bewarne.com|access-date=24 November 2018}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051219235006/http://kirkwood.com/summer/kwlegacy1.html Pioneer Zack Kirkwood Was First To Tame This Frontier Mountain Wilderness]

==External links==
*[http://www.kirkwood.com Kirkwood Mountain Resort]
{{Commons category| Kirkwood Mountain Resort}}

{{Alpine County, California}}
{{Amador County, California}}

{{authority control}}

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