Editing Mendocino County, California

{{Short description|County in the United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
 | name                            = Mendocino County, California
 | official_name                   = County of Mendocino
 | nickname                        = "Mendo"
 | settlement_type                 = [[County (United States)|County]]
 | image_skyline                   = {{Photomontage
                                      | photo1a = Mendocino California.jpg{{!}}
                                      | photo1b = The Sun House.jpg{{!}}
                                      | photo2a = Point Arena Lighthouse.jpg{{!}}
                                      | photo2b = CarRedwoodLeggett01-05.jpg{{!}}
                                      | photo3a = Calif Western June 6th 2010 024xRP - Flickr - drewj1946.jpg
                                      | photo3b = MacKerricher Beach.jpg{{!}}
                                      | spacing = 1
                                      | size = 300
                                      | foot_montage = Images, from top down, left to right: The [[Mendocino, California|community of Mendocino]], the historic [[Grace Hudson Museum|Grace Hudson Sun House]], [[Point Arena Light]]house, the [[Chandelier Tree]], the "[[California Western Railroad|Skunk Train]]", a beach in [[MacKerricher State Park]]
                                     }}
 | image_seal                      = Seal of Mendocino County, California.png
 | seal_size                       = 125px
 | seal_alt                        = The county's official seal, in chief two redwood trees and the numbers '1850', a breaking wave on the Pacific Ocean and a vineyard set in relief, bordered by a dark brown circle with the words 'Mendocino County' appearing within the border in gold block letters
 | named_for                       = [[Antonio de Mendoza]], [[Viceroy]] of [[New Spain]], 1535–42
 | image_map                       = <mapframe frameless align="center" width="300" height="320" zoom="8" latitude="39.395" longitude="-123.475">[{ "type": "ExternalData", "service": "geomask", "ids": "Q108087", "properties": { "fill-opacity":0.4,"stroke":"#808080","stroke-width":2,"fill":"#808080", "title": "Mendocino County, California" } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "title": "Ukiah<br />(County seat)", "description": "[[File:World's Largest Redwood Tree Service Station (1936), angle, Route 101, Ukiah, California LOC 37143730483.jpg|220px]]", "marker-symbol": "town-hall", "marker-size": "large", "marker-color": "#FF0000" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [-123.2086, 39.1489] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "title": "Willits", "description": "[[File:Willits California - panoramio.jpg|220px]]", "marker-symbol": "town", "marker-size": "medium", "marker-color": "#FFE228" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [-123.3556, 39.4097] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "title": "Fort Bragg", "description": "[[File:Fort Bragg City Hall.JPG|220px]]", "marker-symbol": "city", "marker-size": "medium", "marker-color": "#800080" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [-123.8044, 39.4457] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": { "title": "Point Arena", "description": "[[File:Main Street Historic Commercial District-8.jpg|220px]]", "marker-symbol": "village", "marker-size": "small", "marker-color": "#0000FF" }, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [-123.691, 38.91] } }]</mapframe>
 | map_alt                         = A map of the boundaries of Mendocino County with markers indicating the location of Ukiah, the county seat, and its three other incorporated cities: Fort Bragg, Point Arena and Willits
 | map_caption                     = Interactive map of Mendocino County with markers for each of its four incorporated cities: Ukiah (red), Fort Bragg (purple), Point Arena (blue), and Willits (yellow)
 | coordinates                     = {{Coord|39.4692|-123.3942|type:adm2nd_region:US-CA_source:UScensus1990|display=inline, title}}
 | coor_pinpoint                   = Geographic center of Mendocino County
 | subdivision_type                = Country
 | subdivision_name                = United States
 | subdivision_type1               = [[U.S. state|State]]
 | subdivision_name1               = [[California]]
 | subdivision_type2               = [[List of regions of California|Region]]
 | subdivision_name2               = [[North Coast (California)|California North Coast]]
 | seat_type                       = [[County seat]]
 | seat                            = [[Ukiah, California|Ukiah]]
 | seat1_type                      = Largest city
 | seat1                           = Ukiah
 | unit_pref                       = US
 | area_total_sq_mi                = 3878
 | area_land_sq_mi                 = 3506
 | area_water_sq_mi                = 372
 | elevation_max_footnotes         = <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=1169|title=Anthony Peak|website=Peakbagger.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502064430/http://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=1169|archive-date=May 2, 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=March 26, 2015}}</ref>
 | elevation_max_ft                = 6958
 | population_as_of                = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
 | population_footnotes            = <ref name=quif>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/mendocinocountycalifornia|title=QuickFacts - Mendocino County, California|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
 | population_total                = 91601
 | population_density_sq_mi        = 26
|demographics_type2        = GDP
| demographics2_footnotes  = <ref>{{Cite web|title=Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Mendocino County, CA|url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/GDPALL06045|work=[[Federal Reserve Economic Data]] |publisher=[[Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis]]}}</ref>
|demographics2_title1     = Total
|demographics2_info1      = $4.277 billion (2022)
 | established_title               = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
 | established_date                = {{Start date and age|1850|02|18}}<ref name="csac">{{Cite web|url=https://www.counties.org/general-information/chronology|title=Chronology|website=California State Association of Counties|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206223419/http://www.counties.org/general-information/chronology|archive-date=February 6, 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=February 6, 2015}}</ref>
| government_type          = [[Council–manager government|Council–CEO]]
| governing_body           = Mendocino County Board of Supervisors
| leader_title1            = Chair
| leader_name1             = John Haschak
| leader_title2            = Vice Chair 
| leader_name2             = Bernie Norvell
| leader_title3            = Board of Supervisors<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mendocinocounty.gov/government/board-of-supervisors | title=Board of Supervisors &#124; Mendocino County, CA }}</ref>
| leader_name3             = {{Collapsible list
                              | title = Supervisors
                              | frame_style = border:none; padding:0;
                              | list_style  = text-align:left;
                              | 1  = Madeline Cline
                              | 2  = Maureen Mulheren
                              | 3  = John Haschak
                              | 4  = Bernie Norvell
                              | 5  = Ted Williams
                             }}
 | leader_title4           = [[Chief executive officer]]
 | leader_name4            = Darcie Antle
 | timezone                = [[Pacific Time Zone]]
 | utc_offset              = &minus;8
 | timezone_DST            = [[Pacific Daylight Time]]
 | utc_offset_DST          = &minus;7
 | area_code_type          = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
 | area_code               = [[Area code 707|707]]
 | image_map1              = Map of California highlighting Mendocino County.svg
 | mapsize1                = x250px
 | map_caption1            = Mendocino County's location within California
 | blank_name_sec1         = Congressional district
 | blank_info_sec1         = [[California's 2nd congressional district|2nd]]
 | website                 = {{URL|https://www.mendocinocounty.gov/}}
}}

'''Mendocino County''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|m|ɛ|n|d|ə|ˈ|s|iː|n|oʊ|audio=En-us-mendocino.ogg}}; ''Mendocino'', [[Spanish language|Spanish]] for "of [[Antonio de Mendoza|Mendoza]]")<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qxwTAAAAYAAJ&q=mendocino&pg=PA358|title=Spanish and Indian Place Names of California: Their Meaning and Their Romance|first=Nellie Van de Grift|last=Sanchez|date=August 11, 1914|publisher=A.M. Robertson|isbn=9781404750845 |via=Google Books}}</ref> is a [[County (United States)|county]] located on the [[North Coast (California)|North Coast]] of the [[U.S. state]] of [[California]]. As of the [[2020 United States census]], the population was 91,601.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mendocino County, California|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US06045|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=January 30, 2022}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Ukiah, California|Ukiah]].<ref name="naco">{{Cite web |title=NACo County Explorer – Mendocino County, California |url=https://ce.naco.org/?county_info=06045 |access-date=August 22, 2019 |website=National Association of Counties}}</ref>

Mendocino County consists wholly of the Ukiah, California [[Micropolitan Statistical Area|Micropolitan Statistical Area (μSA)]] for the purposes of the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]]. It is located approximately equidistant from the [[San Francisco Bay Area]] and California/[[Oregon]] border, separated from the [[Sacramento Valley]] to the east by the [[California Coast Ranges]]. While smaller areas of redwood forest are found farther south, it is the southernmost California county to be included in the [[World Wide Fund for Nature|World Wildlife Fund's]] [[Pacific temperate rainforests|Pacific temperate rainforests ecoregion]], the largest [[temperate rainforest]] ecoregion on Earth.<ref name="wwf">{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/na0519|title=Northern California coastal forests {{!}} Ecoregions|website=World Wildlife Fund|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822224104/https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/na0519|archive-date=August 22, 2019|url-status=dead|access-date=August 22, 2019}}</ref>

The county is noted for its distinctive [[Pacific Ocean]] coastline, its location along California's "[[Lost Coast]]", [[Sequoia sempervirens|redwood forests]], [[Mendocino County wine|wine production]], [[microbrew]]s, and [[Social Liberalism|liberal]] views about the use of [[Cannabis (drug)|cannabis]] and [[Legality of cannabis|support for its legalization]]. In 2009, it was estimated that roughly one-third of the economy was based on the cultivation of marijuana.<ref>{{cite video | people     = Regan, Trish
| title      = ''Marijuana Inc., Inside America's Pot Industry''
| url        = https://www.cnbc.com/marijuana-inc-inside-americas-pot-industry/
| access-date = March 15, 2009
| medium     = televised documentary
| publisher  = CNBC, Incorporated
| location   = Mendocino County, California, USA
| date       = January 23, 2009}}</ref>

Mendocino is one of three Northern California counties to make up the "[[Emerald Triangle]]", along with Humboldt and Trinity counties.

==History==
[[File:AntonioMendoza (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Antonio de Mendoza]], the namesake of Mendocino County.]]

Mendocino County was one of the original counties of California, created in 1850 at the time of statehood. Due to an initially minor settler American population, it did not have a separate government until 1859 and was under the administration of [[Sonoma County, California|Sonoma County]] prior to that.<ref name=county>{{cite web|title=History of Mendocino County|publisher= County of Mendocino |url=http://www.co.mendocino.ca.us/history.htm |access-date=August 3, 2013}}</ref> Some of the county's land was given to Sonoma County between 1850 and 1860.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.counties.org/general-information/creation-our-58-counties|title=The Creation of Our 58 Counties|website=California State Association of Counties|date=May 26, 2015 |language=en|access-date=March 9, 2019}}</ref>

The county derives its name from [[Cape Mendocino]] (most of which is actually located in adjacent [[Humboldt County, California|Humboldt County]]), which was probably named in honor of either [[Antonio de Mendoza]], [[Viceroy]] of [[New Spain]], 1535–1542 (who sent the [[Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo]] Expedition to this coast in 1542),<ref name=HNC138>https://archive.org/stream/bub_gb_m8FQAQAAIAAJ/bub_gb_m8FQAQAAIAAJ_djvu.txt Cape Mendocino was named in honor of Antonio de Mendoza, the first Viceroy of New Spain. He was appointed by the emperor, and, arriving in the city of Mexico in 1535, ordered a survey of the coast of California, wherein the cape was discovered. The county was named after the cape. ''History of Northern California'', p. 138.</ref> or [[Lorenzo Suárez de Mendoza, 4th conde de la Coruña|Lorenzo Suárez de Mendoza]], Viceroy from 1580 to 1583. ''Mendocino'' is the adjectival form of the [[family name]] of [[Mendoza (given name)|Mendoza]].<ref name=county/>

Neither Spanish nor Mexican influence extended into Mendocino County beyond the establishment of two Mexican land grants in southern Mendocino County: [[Rancho Sanel]] in Hopland, in 1844 and [[Rancho Yokaya]] that forms the majority of the Ukiah Valley, in 1845.<ref name=county/><ref name=HNC138 />

In the 19th century, despite the establishment of the [[Mendocino Indian Reservation]] and [[Round Valley Indian Reservation|Nome Cult Farm]] in 1856, the county witnessed many of the most serious atrocities in the extermination of the Californian [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] tribes who originally lived in the area, like the [[Yuki tribe|Yuki]], the [[Pomo]], the [[Cahto]], and the [[Wintun]]. The systematic occupation of their lands, the reduction of many of their members into slavery and the raids against their settlements led to the [[Mendocino War]] in 1859, where hundreds of Indians were killed. Establishment of the [[Round Valley Indian Reservation]] on March 30, 1870, did not prevent the segregation that continued well into the 20th century. Other tribes from the Sierra Nevada mountains were also relocated to the Round Valley Indian Reservation during the "California Trail Of Tears", where the Natives were forced to march in bad conditions to their new home in Round Valley.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/09/19/18448509.php|title=Native Americans walk the California Trail of Tears|last=Aanestad|first=Christina|date=September 19, 2007|work=indybay.org|access-date=June 5, 2016}}</ref> Many of these tribes thrown together were not on good terms with the other tribes they were forced to live with on the reservation, resulting in tensions still evident today.

===Boundary dispute with Trinity County===
In the first half of the 1850's the [[California State Legislature]] established that the boundaries of Mendocino and [[Trinity County, California|Trinity]] counties was the [[40th parallel north]]. Both county boards of supervisors hired the [[surveyor]] W.H. Fauntleroy to survey the parallel, which he completed on October 30, 1872. The accuracy of the boundary was doubtful, and by 1891 the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors requested the California surveyor-general to survey the line and establish the boundary between the two counties. The new line, as surveyed by Sam H. Rice and approved by the [[California Attorney General]] on December 18, 1891, was found to be two miles north of the common boundary surveyed by  Fauntleroy, thereby resulting in Trinity County exercising jurisdiction two miles south of the 40th parallel north. Between 1891 and 1907, both counties claimed that the two-mile-wide strip of land belonged to themselves and not the other, with both counties attempting to levy and collect [[property tax]]es on land in the strip. In 1907, Trinity County sued Mendocino County in a [[Tehama County, California|Tehama County]] court to settle the dispute. The [[trial court]] in Tehama County ruled in favor of Trinity County, even though the land was situated south of the 40th parallel and state law stated that lands south of that parallel belonged to Mendocino County. The [[appellate court]] upheld the ruling of the trial court since Section 10 of the special act of March 30, 1872 (Stats. 1871-2, p. 766), which concerned this boundary and was the act under which Fauntleroy acted under, authorized the survey of the theretofore unknown location of the 40th parallel north, stated that "the lines run out, marked and defined as required by this act are hereby declared to be the true boundary lines of the counties named herein", thereby making the law in the political code which defined the boundary as the 40th parallel north only a suggestion and not a fact.<ref>{{cite court|litigants=County of Trinity v. County of Mendocino |vol=151 |reporter=Cal. |opinion=279 |pinpoint= |court= |date= |url=https://casetext.com/case/trinity-county-v-mendocino-county}}</ref> The legislature subsequently affirmed this decision, with the modern statute defining the borders of the two counties referencing the survey of Fauntleroy as being the boundary between the two counties instead of the 40th parallel north.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV&sectionNum=23153.|title=California Government Code § 23153|publisher=[[California Office of Legislative Counsel]]|date=1947|access-date=January 11, 2024}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Mendocino vineyard.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A vineyard in Mendocino County]]

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|3878|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|3506|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|372|sqmi}} (9.6%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 28, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Humboldt County, California|Humboldt County]] – north
* [[Trinity County, California|Trinity County]] – north
* [[Tehama County, California|Tehama County]] – northeast
* [[Glenn County, California|Glenn County]] – east
* [[Lake County, California|Lake County]] – east
* [[Sonoma County, California|Sonoma County]] – south

===Rivers===
[[File:Fort Bragg California aerial view.jpg|right|thumb|220px|Aerial view of the mouth of the Noyo River on the Pacific Ocean at Fort Bragg]]

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Albion River]]
* [[Alder Creek (Mendocino County, California)|Alder Creek]]
* [[Bear Haven Creek]]
* [[Bee Branch Creek (California)|Bee Branch Creek]]
* [[Bee Tree Creek]]
* [[Beebe Creek]]
* [[Big River (California)|Big River]]
* [[Big Salmon Creek (California)|Big Salmon Creek]]
* [[Eel River (California)|Eel River]] (inland)
* Elk Creek
* [[Gualala River]]
* [[Garcia River]]
* Little River
* [[Little Salmon Creek]]
* [[Navarro River]]
* [[Noyo River]]
* Pudding Creek
* [[Russian River (California)|Russian River]] (inland)
* [[Ten Mile River (California)|Ten Mile River]]
* [[Virgin Creek]]
* [[Usal Creek]]
{{div col end}}

===Beaches===
[[File:Beach-Elk.jpg|thumb|right|A beach near Elk]]

{{div col}}
* [[Big River Beach (Mendocino)|Big River Beach]]
* [[Caspar Headlands State Beach]]
* [[Van Damme State Park|Van Damme Beach]]
* [[Greenwood State Beach (Elk)|Greenwood State Beach]]
* [[Seaside Beach (Inglenook)|Seaside Beach]]
* [[Westport-Union Landing State Beach]]
* [[Manchester State Beach (Manchester)|Manchester State Beach]]
* [[Navarro Beach (Albion)|Navarro Beach]]
* [[Portuguese Beach (Mendocino)|Portuguese Beach]]
* [[Schooner Gulch State Beach]]
* [[Long Valley Creek (Mendocino)|Long Valley Creek]]
* [[10 Mile Creek (Laytonville)|10 Mile Creek]]
* [[Glass Beach (Fort Bragg, California)|Glass Beach]]
{{div col end|3}}

===National and state protected areas===
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Admiral William Standley State Recreation Area]]
* [[Caspar Headlands State Recreation Area]]
* [[Hendy Woods State Park]]
* [[Jug Handle State Reserve]]
* [[MacKerricher State Park]]
* [[Mailliard Redwoods State Natural Reserve]]
* [[Manchester State Park (California)|Manchester State Park]]
* [[Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens]]
* [[Mendocino Headlands State Park]]
* [[Mendocino National Forest]]
* [[Mendocino Woodlands State Park]]
* [[Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve]]
* [[Navarro River Redwoods State Park]]
* [[Point Arena State Marine Reserve & Point Arena State Marine Conservation Area]]
* [[Point Cabrillo Light Station]]
* [[Reynolds Wayside Campground]]
* [[Round Valley Indian Reservation]]
* [[Russian Gulch State Park]]
* [[Saunders Reef State Marine Conservation Area]]
* [[Sea Lion Cove State Marine Conservation Area]]
* [[Sinkyone Wilderness State Park]]
* [[Smythe Redwoods State Reserve]]
* [[Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area]]
* [[Van Damme State Park]]
{{div col end}}

===Flora and fauna===
{{main|List of species endemic to Mendocino County, California}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 55
|1860= 3967
|1870= 7545
|1880= 12800
|1890= 17612
|1900= 20465
|1910= 23929
|1920= 24116
|1930= 23505
|1940= 27864
|1950= 40854
|1960= 51059
|1970= 51101
|1980= 66738
|1990= 80345
|2000= 86265
|2010= 87841
|2020= 91601
|estyear=2024
|estimate=89175
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 10, 2025}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000|publisher=[[US Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 24, 2022}}</ref>
<br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=September 28, 2015}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ca190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=September 28, 2015}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=September 28, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Mendocino County, California – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Mendocino County, California |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=0500000US06045&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Mendocino County, California|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US06045&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Mendocino County, California|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US06045&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|64,581
|60,249
|style='background: #ffffe6; |56,205
|74.86%
|68.59%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |61.36%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|471
|544
|style='background: #ffffe6; |607
|0.55%
|0.62%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.66%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|3,438
|3,486
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3,528
|3.99%
|3.97%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.85%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|1,006
|1,402
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,730
|1.17%
|1.60%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.89%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|107
|92
|style='background: #ffffe6; |110
|0.12%
|0.10%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.12%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other Race]] alone (NH)
|152
|131
|style='background: #ffffe6; |592
|0.18%
|0.15%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.65%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race or Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|2,297
|2,432
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4,896
|2.66%
|2.77%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5.34%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|14,213
|19,505
|style='background: #ffffe6; |23,933
|16.48%
|22.20%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |26.13%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''86,265'''
|'''87,841'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''91,601'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

=== 2011 ===
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|-
! colspan=6 | Population, race, and income
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | Total population<ref name="US-CB-B02001">U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B02001. [https://www.census.gov U.S. Census website]. Retrieved October 26, 2013.</ref>
| colspan=2 | 87,525
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;White<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/>
| 72,596
| 82.9%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;Black or African American<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/>
| 949
| 1.1%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;American Indian or Alaska Native<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/>
| 4,273
| 4.9%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;Asian<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/>
| 1,554
| 1.8%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/>
| 202
| 0.2%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;Some other race<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/>
| 5,127
| 5.9%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;Two or more races<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/>
| 2,824
| 3.2%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;Hispanic or Latino (of any race)<ref name="US-CB-B03003">U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B03003. [https://www.census.gov U.S. Census website]. Retrieved October 26, 2013.</ref>
| 18,964
| 21.7%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | Per capita income<ref name="US-CB-B19301">U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19301. [https://www.census.gov U.S. Census website]. Retrieved October 21, 2013.</ref>
| colspan=2 | $23,585
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | Median household income<ref name="US-CB-B19013">U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19013. [https://www.census.gov U.S. Census website]. Retrieved October 21, 2013.</ref>
| colspan=2 | $44,527
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | Median family income<ref name="US-CB-B19113">U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19113. [https://www.census.gov U.S. Census website]. Retrieved October 21, 2013.</ref>
| colspan=2 | $54,083
|}

==== Places by population, race, and income ====
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible collapsible collapsed" style="width: 100%;"
|-
! colspan=9 | Places by population and race
|-
! Place
! Type<ref name="US-CB">U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. [https://www.census.gov U.S. Census website]. Retrieved October 21, 2013.</ref>
! data-sort-type="number" | Population<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/>
! data-sort-type="number" | White<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/>
! data-sort-type="number" | Other<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/><br /><ref name="other" group=note>Other = Some other race + Two or more races</ref>
! data-sort-type="number" | Asian<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/>
! data-sort-type="number" | Black or African<br />American<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/>
! data-sort-type="number" | Native American<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/><br /><ref name="na" group=note>Native American = Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander + American Indian or Alaska Native</ref>
! data-sort-type="number" | Hispanic or Latino<br />(of any race)<ref name="US-CB-B03003"/>
|-
| [[Albion, California|Albion]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 254 || 80.0% || 14.5% || 5.5% || 0.0% || 0.0% || 12.2%
|-
| [[Anchor Bay, California|Anchor Bay]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 352 || 97.8% || 2.2% || 0.0% || 0.0% || 0.0% || 0.0%
|-
| [[Boonville, California|Boonville]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 947 || 68.3% || 30.8% || 0.0% || 0.0% || 0.9% || 56.1%
|-
| [[Brooktrails, California|Brooktrails]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 3,800 || 91.8% || 2.9% || 2.7% || 0.0% || 2.7% || 3.8%
|-
| [[Calpella, California|Calpella]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 682 || 79.8% || 9.3% || 2.7% || 5.1% || 3.1% || 6.7%
|-
| [[Caspar, California|Caspar]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 608 || 97.2% || 2.8% || 0.0% || 0.0% || 0.0% || 0.2%
|-
| [[Cleone, California|Cleone]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 968 || 100.0% || 0.0% || 0.0% || 0.0% || 0.0% || 20.5%
|-
| [[Comptche, California|Comptche]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 159 || 100.0% || 0.0% || 0.0% || 0.0% || 0.0% || 33.1%
|-
| [[Covelo, California|Covelo]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 1,140 || 60.8% || 0.2% || 3.4% || 0.5% || 35.1% || 11.3%
|-
| [[Fort Bragg, California|Fort Bragg]] || [[List of cities and towns in California|City]] || 7,123 || 82.2% || 12.8% || 0.9% || 0.5% || 3.6% || 33.1%
|-
| [[Hopland, California|Hopland]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 920 || 91.5% || 7.0% || 0.0% || 0.0% || 1.5% || 44.3%
|-
| [[Laytonville, California|Laytonville]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 1,198 || 81.7% || 1.4% || 0.9% || 0.0% || 16.0% || 11.0%
|-
| [[Leggett, California|Leggett]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 83 || 100.0% || 0.0% || 0.0% || 0.0% || 0.0% || 3.9%
|-
| [[Little River, California|Little River]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 212 || 100.0% || 0.0% || 0.0% || 0.0% || 0.0% || 0.0%
|-
| [[Manchester, California|Manchester]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 218 || 81.6% || 18.4% || 0.0% || 0.0% || 0.0% || 56.4%
|-
| [[Mendocino, California|Mendocino]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 936 || 93.2% || 4.7% || 2.1% || 0.0% || 0.0% || 8.5%
|-
| [[Philo, California|Philo]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 175 || 94.2% || 2.5% || 3.4% || 0.0% || 0.0% || 80.0%
|-
| [[Point Arena, California|Point Arena]] || [[List of cities and towns in California|City]] || 440 || 90.2% || 9.8% || 0.0% || 0.0% || 0.0% || 43.5%
|-
| [[Potter Valley, California|Potter Valley]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 498 || 83.0% || 17.0% || 0.0% || 0.0% || 0.0% || 18.9%
|-
| [[Redwood Valley, California|Redwood Valley]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 1,713 || 100.0% || 0.0% || 0.0% || 0.0% || 0.0% || 2.5%
|-
| [[Talmage, California|Talmage]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 1,003 || 67.1% || 15.4% || 14.6% || 1.2% || 1.6% || 25.7%
|-
| [[Ukiah, California|Ukiah]] || [[List of cities and towns in California|City]] || 16,607 || 81.6% || 9.8% || 2.0% || 2.7% || 3.9% || 27.8%
|-
| [[Willits, California|Willits]] || [[List of cities and towns in California|City]] || 4,785 || 88.9% || 6.9% || 2.0% || 0.2% || 2.1% || 22.1%
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible collapsible collapsed" style="width: 100%;"
|-
! colspan=6 | Places by population and income
|-
! Place
! Type<ref name="US-CB"/>
! Population<ref name="US-CB-B01003">U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B01003. [https://www.census.gov U.S. Census website]. Retrieved October 21, 2013.</ref>
! data-sort-type="currency" | Per capita income<ref name="US-CB-B19301"/>
! data-sort-type="currency" | Median household income<ref name="US-CB-B19013"/>
! data-sort-type="currency" | Median family income<ref name="US-CB-B19113"/>
|-
| [[Albion, California|Albion]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 254 || $16,818 || $30,331 || $80,104
|-
| [[Anchor Bay, California|Anchor Bay]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 352 || $35,296 || $66,544 || $66,765
|-
| [[Boonville, California|Boonville]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 947 || $19,573 || $40,242 || $42,097
|-
| [[Brooktrails, California|Brooktrails]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 3,800 || $25,260 || $46,932 || $52,885
|-
| [[Calpella, California|Calpella]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 682 || $15,354 || $39,265 || $50,740
|-
| [[Caspar, California|Caspar]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 608 || $30,469 || $74,934 || $74,408
|-
| [[Cleone, California|Cleone]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 968 || $25,717 || $43,920 || $68,661
|-
| [[Comptche, California|Comptche]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 159 || $16,162 || $2,499 || $24,554
|-
| [[Covelo, California|Covelo]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 1,140 || $16,471 || $27,656 || $27,022
|-
| [[Fort Bragg, California|Fort Bragg]] || [[List of cities and towns in California|City]] || 7,123 || $20,164 || $35,030 || $40,849
|-
| [[Hopland, California|Hopland]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 920 || $17,281 || $39,883 || $72,607
|-
| [[Laytonville, California|Laytonville]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 1,198 || $16,754 || $32,941 || $43,750
|-
| [[Leggett, California|Leggett]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 83 || $16,857 || $40,625 || $41,563
|-
| [[Little River, California|Little River]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 212 || $64,048 || $52,188 || $250,001
|-
| [[Manchester, California|Manchester]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 218 || $12,548 || $25,972 || $22,625
|-
| [[Mendocino, California|Mendocino]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 936 || $41,653 || $65,395 || $80,278
|-
| [[Philo, California|Philo]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 175 || $11,826 || $40,875 || $42,188
|-
| [[Point Arena, California|Point Arena]] || [[List of cities and towns in California|City]] || 440 || $17,615 || $31,786 || $41,136
|-
| [[Potter Valley, California|Potter Valley]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 498 || $23,445 || $83,036 || $84,205
|-
| [[Redwood Valley, California|Redwood Valley]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 1,713 || $27,334 || $71,719 || $75,313
|-
| [[Talmage, California|Talmage]] || [[Census-designated place|CDP]] || 1,003 || $15,445 || $23,448 || $50,208
|-
| [[Ukiah, California|Ukiah]] || [[List of cities and towns in California|City]] || 16,607 || $21,550 || $45,577 || $51,328
|-
| [[Willits, California|Willits]] || [[List of cities and towns in California|City]] || 4,785 || $20,709 || $41,195 || $51,457
|}

===2010 Census===
The [[2010 United States census]] reported that Mendocino County had a population of 87,841. The racial makeup of Mendocino County was 67,218 (76.5%) [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 622 (0.7%) [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 4,277 (4.9%) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1,450 (1.7%) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 119 (0.1%) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 10,185 (11.6%) from [[Race (United States census)|other races]], and 3,970 (4.5%) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 19,505 persons (22.2%).<ref>{{USCensus2010CA}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
!colspan=10|Population reported at [[2010 United States census]]
|-
|{{center|'''The County'''}} ||{{center|'''Total<br />Population'''}}||{{center|'''[[White (U.S. Census)|White]]'''}} ||{{center|'''[[African American (U.S. Census)|African<br />American]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native<br />American]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific<br />Islander]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Race (United States census)|other<br />races]]'''}} || {{center|'''two or<br />more races'''}} ||{{center|'''[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]]<br />or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]<br />(of any race)'''}}
|-
|''' Mendocino County'''
|align="right"|87,841||align="right"|67,218||align="right"|622||align="right"|4,277||align="right"|1,450||align="right"|119||align="right"|10,185||align="right"|3,970||align="right"|19,505
|-
|{{center|'''[[Incorporated city|Incorporated<br />city]]'''}} ||{{center|'''Total<br />Population'''}}||{{center|'''[[White (U.S. Census)|White]]'''}} ||{{center|'''[[African American (U.S. Census)|African<br />American]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native<br />American]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific<br />Islander]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Race (United States census)|other<br />races]]'''}} || {{center|'''two or<br />more races'''}} ||{{center|'''[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]]<br />or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]<br />(of any race)'''}}
|-
|'''[[Fort Bragg, California|Fort Bragg]]'''
|align="right"|7,273||align="right"|5,439||align="right"|51||align="right"|160||align="right"|108||align="right"|14||align="right"|1,165||align="right"|336||align="right"|2,313
|-
|'''[[Point Arena, California|Point Arena]]'''
|align="right"|449||align="right"|305||align="right"|2||align="right"|1||align="right"|0||align="right"|0||align="right"|118||align="right"|23||align="right"|150
|-
|'''[[Ukiah, California|Ukiah]]'''
|align="right"|16,075||align="right"|11,592||align="right"|174||align="right"|601||align="right"|412||align="right"|34||align="right"|2,385||align="right"|877||align="right"|4,458
|-
|'''[[Willits, California|Willits]]'''
|align="right"|4,888||align="right"|3,862||align="right"|34||align="right"|216||align="right"|68||align="right"|5||align="right"|479||align="right"|224||align="right"|1,008
|-
|{{center|'''[[Census-designated place|Census-designated<br />place]]'''}} ||{{center|'''Total<br />Population'''}}||{{center|'''[[White (U.S. Census)|White]]'''}} ||{{center|'''[[African American (U.S. Census)|African<br />American]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native<br />American]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific<br />Islander]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Race (United States census)|other<br />races]]'''}} || {{center|'''two or<br />more races'''}} ||{{center|'''[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]]<br />or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]<br />(of any race)'''}}
|-
|'''[[Albion, California|Albion]]'''
|align="right"|168||align="right"|150||align="right"|1||align="right"|4||align="right"|5||align="right"|0||align="right"|0||align="right"|8||align="right"|4
|-
|'''[[Anchor Bay, California|Anchor Bay]]'''
|align="right"|340||align="right"|301||align="right"|2||align="right"|5||align="right"|2||align="right"|1||align="right"|12||align="right"|17||align="right"|29
|-
|'''[[Boonville, California|Boonville]]'''
|align="right"|1,035||align="right"|630||align="right"|9||align="right"|18||align="right"|7||align="right"|2||align="right"|340||align="right"|29||align="right"|520
|-
|'''[[Brooktrails, California|Brooktrails]]'''
|align="right"|3,235||align="right"|2,818||align="right"|22||align="right"|87||align="right"|26||align="right"|4||align="right"|109||align="right"|169||align="right"|329
|-
|'''[[Calpella, California|Calpella]]'''
|align="right"|679||align="right"|465||align="right"|3||align="right"|25||align="right"|3||align="right"|0||align="right"|145||align="right"|38||align="right"|256
|-
|'''[[Caspar, California|Caspar]]'''
|align="right"|509||align="right"|474||align="right"|3||align="right"|0||align="right"|8||align="right"|0||align="right"|3||align="right"|21||align="right"|15
|-
|'''[[Cleone, California|Cleone]]'''
|align="right"|618||align="right"|518||align="right"|1||align="right"|3||align="right"|3||align="right"|0||align="right"|79||align="right"|14||align="right"|124
|-
|'''[[Comptche, California|Comptche]]'''
|align="right"|159||align="right"|146||align="right"|0||align="right"|1||align="right"|1||align="right"|0||align="right"|5||align="right"|6||align="right"|10
|-
|'''[[Covelo, California|Covelo]]'''
|align="right"|1,255||align="right"|611||align="right"|14||align="right"|475||align="right"|10||align="right"|0||align="right"|49||align="right"|96||align="right"|163
|-
|'''[[Hopland, California|Hopland]]'''
|align="right"|756||align="right"|521||align="right"|4||align="right"|38||align="right"|10||align="right"|0||align="right"|142||align="right"|41||align="right"|263
|-
|'''[[Laytonville, California|Laytonville]]'''
|align="right"|1,227||align="right"|839||align="right"|16||align="right"|244||align="right"|10||align="right"|1||align="right"|60||align="right"|57||align="right"|141
|-
|'''[[Leggett, California|Leggett]]'''
|align="right"|122||align="right"|101||align="right"|0||align="right"|3||align="right"|0||align="right"|0||align="right"|0||align="right"|18||align="right"|4
|-
|'''[[Little River, California|Little River]]'''
|align="right"|117||align="right"|113||align="right"|0||align="right"|1||align="right"|0||align="right"|0||align="right"|0||align="right"|3||align="right"|2
|-
|'''[[Manchester, California|Manchester]]'''
|align="right"|195||align="right"|151||align="right"|0||align="right"|4||align="right"|1||align="right"|0||align="right"|29||align="right"|10||align="right"|48
|-
|'''[[Mendocino, California|Mendocino]]'''
|align="right"|894||align="right"|834||align="right"|5||align="right"|8||align="right"|13||align="right"|1||align="right"|6||align="right"|27||align="right"|42
|-
|'''[[Philo, California|Philo]]'''
|align="right"|349||align="right"|171||align="right"|2||align="right"|4||align="right"|5||align="right"|0||align="right"|157||align="right"|10||align="right"|204
|-
|'''[[Potter Valley, California|Potter Valley]]'''
|align="right"|646||align="right"|516||align="right"|2||align="right"|13||align="right"|2||align="right"|0||align="right"|97||align="right"|16||align="right"|154
|-
|'''[[Redwood Valley, California|Redwood Valley]]'''
|align="right"|1,729||align="right"|1,432||align="right"|7||align="right"|63||align="right"|10||align="right"|1||align="right"|155||align="right"|61||align="right"|305
|-
|'''[[Talmage, California|Talmage]]'''
|align="right"|1,130||align="right"|503||align="right"|3||align="right"|27||align="right"|273||align="right"|4||align="right"|278||align="right"|42||align="right"|366
|-
|{{center|'''Other<br />[[unincorporated area]]s'''}} ||{{center|'''Total<br />Population'''}}||{{center|'''[[White (U.S. Census)|White]]'''}} ||{{center|'''[[African American (U.S. Census)|African<br />American]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native<br />American]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific<br />Islander]]'''}} || {{center|'''[[Race (United States census)|other<br />races]]'''}} || {{center|'''two or<br />more races'''}} ||{{center|'''[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]]<br />or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]<br />(of any race)'''}}
|-
|All others not CDPs (combined)
|align="right"|48,881||align="right"|38,588||align="right"|301||align="right"|2,492||align="right"|541||align="right"|57||align="right"|4,851||align="right"|2,051||align="right"|9,605
|}

===2000===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 14, 2011|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 86,265 people, 33,266 households, and 21,855 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|25|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 36,937 housing units at an average density of {{convert|10|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 80.8% [[Race (United States census)|White]], 0.6% [[Race (United States census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States census)|African American]], 4.8% [[Race (United States census)|Native American]], 1.2% [[Race (United States census)|Asian]], 0.2% [[Race (United States census)|Pacific Islander]], 8.6% from [[Race (United States census)|other races]], and 3.9% from two or more races. 16.5% of the population were [[Race (United States census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States census)|Latino]] of any race. 12.2% were of [[German people|German]], 10.8% [[English people|English]], 8.6% [[Irish people|Irish]], 6.1% [[Italian people|Italian]] and 5.6% [[United States|American]] ancestry according to [[Census 2000]]. 84.4% spoke [[English language|English]] and 13.2% [[Spanish language|Spanish]] as their first language.

There were 33,266 households, out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.5% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,996, and the median income for a family was $42,168. Males had a median income of $33,128 versus $23,774 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $19,443. About 10.9% of families and 15.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 21.5% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.
{{Clear}}

==Government==
As of 2023, the [[District Attorney]] of Mendocino County is C. David Eyster,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.co.mendocino.ca.us/da/|title=District Attorney|publisher=The County of Mendocino|access-date=March 20, 2015}}</ref> the elected [[Sheriff]]-[[Coroner]] is Matthew C. Kendall <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mendocinosheriff.com/|title=Mendocino County Sheriff's Office|access-date=March 20, 2015}}</ref> and the chief executive officer is Darcie Antle.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.co.mendocino.ca.us/administration/|title=Executive Office : Welcome|publisher=The County of Mendocino|access-date=March 20, 2015}}</ref>

Mendocino County is legislatively governed by a board of five supervisors, each with a separate district.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.co.mendocino.ca.us/bos/boundaries.htm|title= Mendocino County district boundaries|publisher=Mendocino County Government|access-date= August 21, 2010}}</ref> The first district is represented by Glenn McGourty,<ref name=bos>{{Cite web|url=http://www.co.mendocino.ca.us/bos/boardmemphoto.htm|title=Board of Supervisors - Board Members|publisher=Mendocino County|access-date=February 24, 2015}}</ref> and serves the central-eastern region of the county, including [[Potter Valley, California|Potter Valley]], [[Redwood Valley, California|Redwood Valley]], [[Calpella, California|Calpella]], and [[Talmage, California|Talmage]]. The second district, represented by Maureen Mulheren,<ref name=bos/> serves [[Ukiah, California|Ukiah]]. The third district, in the northeastern quadrant of the county from [[Willits, California|Willits]] north to [[Laytonville, California|Laytonville]] and [[Covelo, California|Covelo]], is represented by John Haschak.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Board of Supervisors {{!}} Mendocino County, California |url=https://www.mendocinocounty.gov/government/board-of-supervisors |access-date=March 9, 2019 |website=www.mendocinocounty.gov}}</ref> The fourth district covers the northwestern quadrant of the county, including the coast from [[Caspar, California|Caspar]] northwards through [[Fort Bragg, California|Fort Bragg]]; its supervisor is Dan Gjerde,<ref name=bos/> who previously served on the Fort Bragg City Council. The supervisor for the fifth district is Ted Williams;<ref name=":0" /> his district covers the southern portion of the county, including the coast from [[Mendocino, California|Mendocino]] to [[Gualala, California|Gualala]], the [[Anderson Valley]], the western outskirts of [[Ukiah, California|Ukiah]], and portions of the [[Russian River (California)|Russian River]] valley near [[Hopland, California|Hopland]].

==Politics==
=== Voter registration statistics ===
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|-
! colspan="3" | Population and registered voters
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | Total population<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/>
| colspan="2" | 91,601
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;Registered voters<ref name="CA-SS">California Secretary of State. [http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ror/ror-pages/ror-odd-year-2013/political-sub.pdf February 10, 2013 – Report of Registration], {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727173649/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ror/ror-pages/ror-odd-year-2013/political-sub.pdf|date=July 27, 2013}}. Retrieved October 31, 2013.</ref><ref name="PCT-RV" group=note>Percentage of registered voters with respect to total population. Percentages of party members with respect to registered voters follow.</ref>
| 54,505
| 59.5%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Democratic<ref name="CA-SS"/>
| 26,648
| 48.9%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Republican<ref name="CA-SS"/>
| 11,387
| 20.9%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Democratic&ndash;Republican spread<ref name="CA-SS"/>
| <span style="color: #2b00d6;">'''+15,261'''</span>
| <span style="color: #2b00d6;">'''+28%'''</span>
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;American Independent<ref name="CA-SS"/>
| 2,073
| 3.8%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Green<ref name="CA-SS"/>
| 815
| 1.5%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Libertarian<ref name="CA-SS"/>
| 691
| 1.3%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Peace and Freedom<ref name="CA-SS"/>
| 326
| 0.6%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Americans Elect<ref name="CA-SS"/>
| 1
| 0.0%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Other<ref name="CA-SS"/>
| 114
| 0.2%
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;No party preference<ref name="CA-SS"/>
| 12,082
| 22.8%
|}

==== Cities by population and voter registration ====
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed sortable" style="width: 100%;"
|-
! colspan="8" | Cities by population and voter registration
|-
! City
! data-sort-type="number" | Population<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/>
! data-sort-type="number" | Registered voters<ref name="CA-SS"/><br /><ref name="PCT-RV" group=note/>
! data-sort-type="number" | Democratic<ref name="CA-SS"/>
! data-sort-type="number" | Republican<ref name="CA-SS"/>
! data-sort-type="number" | D&ndash;R spread<ref name="CA-SS"/>
! data-sort-type="number" | Other<ref name="CA-SS"/>
! data-sort-type="number" | No party preference<ref name="CA-SS"/>
|-
| [[Fort Bragg, California|Fort Bragg]] || 7,211 || 45.5% || 51.0% || 17.9% || <span style="color: #0000ff;">'''+33.1%'''</span> || 12.5% || 22.4%
|-
| [[Point Arena, California|Point Arena]] || 439 || 57.2% || 51.8% || 10.4% || <span style="color: #0000ff;">'''+41.4%'''</span> || 17.9% || 24.7%
|-
| [[Ukiah, California|Ukiah]] || 15,979 || 47.8% || 47.0% || 23.6% || <span style="color: #2b00d6;">'''+23.4%'''</span> || 9.9% || 22.5%
|-
| [[Willits, California|Willits]] || 4,896 || 51.9% || 45.9% || 20.7% || <span style="color: #2b00d6;">'''+25.2%'''</span> || 13.4% || 24.1%
|}

=== Overview ===
Mendocino is a strongly [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] county in [[President of the United States|presidential]] and [[United States Congress|congressional]] elections.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/politicalInfo.php?locIndex=10497 |title=Mendocino County, California |website=Epodunk.com |access-date=September 23, 2009 }}</ref> The last Republican to win a majority in the county was Californian [[Ronald Reagan]] in [[United States presidential election in California, 1984|1984]]. However, in the 2016 election, Mendocino County gave Hillary Clinton a reduced margin of victory of any Democrat since Al Gore (though support for third-party candidates more than doubled from 2012). In 2020 the county was won by Joe Biden with an increased margin of victory from the previous election.

{{PresHead|place=Mendocino County, California|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=Uselectionatlas.org|access-date=November 7, 2017}}</ref>|source2=<ref group=note>This total comprised 2,237 votes for [[Progressive Party (United States, 1912)|Progressive]] [[Theodore Roosevelt]] (who was official Republican nominee in California), 752 votes for [[Socialist Party of America|Socialist]] [[Eugene V. Debs]] and 141 votes for [[Prohibition Party]] nominee [[Eugene W. Chafin]].</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|13,528|24,049|1,642|California}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|13,267|28,782|1,291|California}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|10,888|22,079|4,948|California}}  
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|9,658|23,193|2,286|California}}  
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|10,721|27,843|1,620|California}}  
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|12,955|24,385|1,089|California}}  
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|12,272|16,634|5,504|California}}  
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|9,765|14,952|7,975|California}}  
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|7,958|18,344|10,236|California}}  
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|12,979|17,152|816|California}}  
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|16,369|14,407|646|California}}  
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|12,432|10,784|5,008|California}}  
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|9,784|10,653|1,072|California}}  
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|11,128|9,435|1,251|California}}  
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|8,305|7,935|1,664|California}}  
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|6,322|11,869|36|California}}  
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|9,301|9,476|94|California}}  
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|10,327|7,767|43|California}}  
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|10,897|6,813|191|California}}  
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|6,368|5,553|682|California}}  
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|4,655|5,452|36|California}}  
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|5,345|7,055|169|California}}  
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|3,670|6,432|164|California}}  
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|3,365|5,867|319|California}}  
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|4,810|2,628|150|California}}  
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|3,465|739|1,933|California}}  
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|4,443|1,789|517|California}}  
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|3,494|3,371|603|California}}  
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|11|2,507|3,130|California}}  
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|2,746|1,752|444|California}}  
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|2,904|1,489|325|California}}  
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|2,192|1,861|71|California}}  
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|2,093|2,120|65|California}}  
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|1,709|2,023|350|California}}
{{PresRow|1888|Democratic|1,708|2,005|104|California}}
{{PresRow|1884|Democratic|1,317|1,589|107|California}}
{{PresFoot|1880|Democratic|969|1,313|8|California}}

Federally, Mendocino County is in {{Representative|cacd|2|fmt=district}}.<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|2|access-date=March 1, 2013}}</ref>

In the [[California State Legislature|state legislature]] Mendocino is in {{Representative|casd|2|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|2|fmt=adistrict}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers |title=Members Assembly |access-date=March 2, 2013 |publisher=State of California}}</ref>

As of February 2021, the [[California Secretary of State]] reports that Mendocino County has 54,505 registered voters. Of those, 26,648 (48.9%) are registered Democratic; 11,387 (20.9%) are registered Republican; 4,389 (8.1%) are registered with other political parties, and 12,082 (22.1%) declined to state a political party.

In 2000, Mendocino County voters approved Measure G, which calls for the [[Decriminalization of non-medical cannabis in the United States|decriminalization of marijuana]] when used and cultivated for personal use.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.canorml.org/news/mendorelse.html |title=Mendocino County Personal Use of Marijuana Initiative |date=November 8, 2000 |publisher=California [[National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws]] |work=CA NORML News |access-date=September 23, 2009 }}</ref> Measure G passed with a 58% majority vote, making it the first county in the United States to declare prosecution of small-scale marijuana offenses the "lowest priority" for local law enforcement. Measure G does not protect individuals who cultivate, transport or possess marijuana for sale. However, Measure G was passed at the local government level affecting only Mendocino County, and therefore does not affect existing state or federal laws. The city of [[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]] has had a similar law (known as the Berkeley Marijuana Initiative II) since 1979 which has generally been found to be unenforceable.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/article.cfm?archiveDate=03-31-06&storyID=23788 |title=Legal Limbo for Pot Users? |newspaper=Berkeley Daily Planet |date=March 31, 2006 |first=Suzanne |last=La Barre |access-date=September 23, 2009}}</ref>

In 2008, the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors placed Measure B on the June 3 county-wide ballot. After three months of hard-fought campaigning and national attention, voters narrowly approved "B", which repealed the provisions of 2000's Measure G.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Mendocino_County_Measure_B_%28June_2008%29 |title=Measure B on the June 3 ballot|work=Ballotpedia |access-date= August 5, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/ci_9659274?source=most_viewed|title=It's official: Marijuana reform effort passes|last=Burgess|first=Rob|date=June 21, 2008|newspaper=Ukiah Daily Journal|access-date=August 5, 2013}}</ref> However, opponents of Measure B intend to continue the challenge in court, as the wording of Measure B relies heavily on S.B. 420's state limitations which were recently ruled unconstitutional by the California supreme court. On July 3, the Sheriff and District Attorneys offices announced that they would not be enforcing the new regulations for the time being, citing pending legal challenges and conflicts with existing state law.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20080703/NEWS/807030377/1350|title=Mendocino County won't enforce pot measure|last=Geniella|first=Mike|date=July 3, 2008|newspaper=[[The Press Democrat]]|location=Santa Rosa, CA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303095415/http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20080703/NEWS/807030377/1350|archive-date=March 3, 2009|access-date=September 23, 2009}}</ref>

In April 2009, Sheriff Tom Allman issued his department's medical marijuana enforcement policy, which includes the provisions of Measure B and also cites the California Supreme Court Ruling narrowly defining "caregiver" in the state's medical marijuana law.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mendocinosheriff.com/pdfs/2009-04-03-No1_JN.pdf |title=Directive on Medical Marijuana 2009-04-03-NO.1 |publisher=Mendocino County Sheriff's Office |date=April 3, 2009 |access-date=September 23, 2009 }}</ref>

In 2004, [[Mendocino County GMO Ban|Measure H]] was passed in Mendocino County with a 56% majority, making it the first county in the United States to ban the production and cultivation of [[genetically modified organism]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.winespectator.com/articles/mendocino-becomes-first-county-in-nation-to-ban-genetically-modified-crops-21917|title=Mendocino Becomes First County in Nation to Ban Genetically Modified Crops|website=Wine Spectator|date=March 3, 2004|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822225029/https://www.winespectator.com/articles/mendocino-becomes-first-county-in-nation-to-ban-genetically-modified-crops-21917|archive-date=August 22, 2019|url-status=dead|access-date=August 22, 2019}}</ref>

On November 4, 2008, Mendocino County voted 63.1% against Proposition 8 which amended the California Constitution to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 2, 2008 |title=Election Summary Report – COUNTY OF MENDOCINO CONSOLIDATED GENERAL ELECTION – NOVEMBER 4, 2008 |url=https://www.mendocinocounty.gov/home/showdocument?id=256 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822225737/https://www.mendocinocounty.gov/home/showdocument?id=256 |archive-date=August 22, 2019 |access-date=August 22, 2019 |website=Mendocino County, CA – GEMS Election Results |page=8 |language=en-US |format=PDF}}</ref>

== Crime ==
The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense.

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|-
! colspan="3" | Population and crime rates
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | Population<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/>
| colspan="2" | 87,525
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | Violent crime<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11">Office of the Attorney General, Department of Justice, State of California. [http://stats.doj.ca.gov/cjsc_stats/prof09/00/11.pdf Table 11: Crimes &ndash; 2009] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202222315/http://stats.doj.ca.gov/cjsc_stats/prof09/00/11.pdf |date=December 2, 2013 }}. Retrieved November 14, 2013.</ref>
| 520 || 5.94
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;Homicide<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/>
| 5 || 0.06
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;Forcible rape<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/>
| 31 || 0.35
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;Robbery<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/>
| 46 || 0.53
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;Aggravated assault<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/>
| 438 || 5.00
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | Property crime<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/>
| 777 || 8.88
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;Burglary<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/>
| 469 || 5.36
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;Larceny-theft<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/><ref name="LT-note group=note">Only larceny-theft cases involving property over $400 in value are reported as property crimes.</ref>
| 792 || 9.05
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;Motor vehicle theft<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/>
| 99 || 1.13
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | Arson<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/>
| 22 || 0.25
|}

=== Cities by population and crime rates ===
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed sortable" style="width: 100%;"
|-
! colspan="9" | Cities by population and crime rates
|-
! City
! data-sort-type="number" | Population<ref name="FBI-UCR-T8">United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. [https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2012/crime-in-the-u.s.-2012/tables/8tabledatadecpdf/table-8-state-cuts/table_8_offenses_known_to_law_enforcement_by_california_by_city_2012.xls Crime in the United States, 2012, Table 8 (California)]. Retrieved November 14, 2013.</ref>
! data-sort-type="number" | Violent crimes<ref name="FBI-UCR-T8"/>
! data-sort-type="number" | Violent crime rate<br />per 1,000 persons
! data-sort-type="number" | Property crimes<ref name="FBI-UCR-T8"/>
! data-sort-type="number" | Property crime rate<br />per 1,000 persons
|-
| [[Fort Bragg, California|Fort Bragg]] || 7,317 || 34 || 4.65 || 367 || 50.16
|-
| [[Ukiah, California|Ukiah]] || 16,172 || 108 || 6.68 || 481 || 29.74
|-
| [[Willits, California|Willits]] || 4,917 || 32 || 6.51 || 71 || 14.44
|}

A coroner's jury ruled that the 2018 [[Hart family crash]] in Mendocino County was deliberate.<ref name=HolcombeCNNinquest>{{cite web|author=Holcombe, Madeline|author2=Augie Martin|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/06/us/hart-family-crash-inquest-searches/index.html|title=Jennifer Hart drove her six children to their deaths as her wife looked up how much they would suffer, a jury says |work=[[CNN]]|date=April 6, 2019|access-date=January 1, 2020}}</ref>

==Media==
Mendocino County is considered part of the [[San Francisco Bay Area]] television market, and primarily receives the major [[Media in the San Francisco Bay Area|Bay Area TV stations]].

The county is also served by local and regional newspapers as well as a community radio stations. Community radio stations include [[KZYX]], operating out of Philo, and [[KLLG-LP|KLLG]], operating out of the Little Lake [[National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry|Grange]] in Willits. The Humboldt County-based [[KMUD]] is also receivable in large parts of the county. Local independent newspapers include the online news service ''[[The Mendocino Voice]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Mendocino Voice &#124; Mendocino County, California |url=https://mendovoice.com/ |website=The Mendocino Voice &#124; Mendocino County, CA}}</ref> and ''The Laytonville Observer'', the ''[[Anderson Valley Advertiser]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theava.com/|title=Anderson Valley Advertiser – Mendocino County News}}</ref> the Willits Weekly<ref>{{Cite web |title=Willits Weekly – The Local Paper |url=http://www.willitsweekly.com/ |website=www.willitsweekly.com}}</ref> and the ''Independent Coast Observer''. Four formerly independent newspapers are now owned by the national conglomerate media company [[Digital First Media]]; they are: ''The Ukiah Daily Journal'', ''The [[Mendocino Beacon]]'', the ''[[Willits News]]'', and ''The Fort Bragg Advocate''. These four papers have seen a precipitous decline in the size of editorial staff and in coverage over the past several years, in keeping with the nationwide tactics of DFM.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.democracynow.org/2018/5/9/invest_or_sell_digital_first_media|title="Invest or Sell": Digital First Media Workers Protest Outside Alden Global Capital's New York Office|website=[[Democracy Now!]]}}</ref> The Sonoma County-based [[The Press Democrat|Press Democrat]] also covers the area.

== Education ==
=== Community colleges ===
* [[Mendocino College]]:
** Main campus, Ukiah
** North County Center, Willits
** Coast Center, Fort Bragg
* [[Pacific Union College]]'s [[Albion Biological Field Station]]

=== Universities ===
* [[Dharma Realm Buddhist University]]

=== K-12 education ===
{{See also|List of school districts in California#Mendocino_County}}
School districts include:<ref>{{cite web |title=2020 CENSUS – SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Mendocino County, California |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st06_ca/schooldistrict_maps/c06045_mendocino/DC20SD_C06045.pdf |accessdate=July 25, 2022 |publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st06_ca/schooldistrict_maps/c06045_mendocino/DC20SD_C06045_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref><!--Note this list has twelve but the census bureau has thirteen listed. This is because the census bureau counts any school district with any territory in the county, no matter how slight-->

Unified:
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Anderson Valley Unified School District]]
* [[Fort Bragg Unified School District]]
* [[Laytonville Unified School District]]
* [[Leggett Valley Unified School District]]
* [[Mendocino Unified School District]]
* [[Potter Valley Community Unified School District]]
* [[Round Valley Unified School District]]
* [[Southern Humboldt Joint Unified School District]]
* [[Ukiah Unified School District]]
* [[Willits Unified School District]]
{{div col end}}

Secondary:
* [[Point Arena Joint Union High School District]]

Elementary:
* [[Arena Union Elementary School District]]
* [[Manchester Union Elementary School District]]

==Transportation==
[[File:US 101 Mendocino County.jpg|thumb|250px|[[U.S. Route 101 in California|US 101]] in Mendocino County]]

===Major highways===
{{div col}}
* [[File:California 1.svg|20px]] [[California State Route 1|State Route 1]]
* [[File:US 101 (1961 cutout).svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 101 in California|U.S. Route 101]]
* [[File:California 20.svg|20px]] [[California State Route 20|State Route 20]]
* [[File:California 128.svg|25px]] [[California State Route 128|State Route 128]]
* [[File:California 162.svg|25px]] [[California State Route 162|State Route 162]]
* [[File:California 175.svg|25px]] [[California State Route 175|State Route 175]]
* [[File:California 222.svg|25px]] [[California State Route 222|State Route 222]] (unsigned)
* [[File:California 253.svg|25px]] [[California State Route 253|State Route 253]]
* [[File:California 271.svg|25px]] [[California State Route 271|State Route 271]]
{{div col end}}

===Public transportation===
====Bus====
The [[Mendocino Transit Authority]] provides local and intercity bus service within Mendocino County. Limited service also connects with transit in [[Sonoma County, California|Sonoma County]]. [[Greyhound Bus Lines]] currently serves [[Ukiah, California|Ukiah]].

[[Amtrak Thruway]] operates [[Amtrak Thruway|connecting bus]] service to Ukiah, Willits and Laytonville.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/158/578/California-Thruway-Map-2012.pdf|title=amtrak.com Thruway map|website=Amtrak.com|access-date=November 7, 2017}}</ref>

The historic [[California Western Railroad|Skunk Train]] is a [[heritage railway]] (that formerly connected [[Fort Bragg, California]] with [[Willits, California|Willits]]) using steam locomotives.

===Airports===
* [[Ukiah Municipal Airport]] is a general aviation airport owned by the City of Ukiah. It is located south of downtown Ukiah.
* [[Little River Airport]] is a general aviation airport serving the Mendocino coast.
* [[Willits Municipal Airport]] is a general aviation airport serving the Willits / Little Lake Valley area. Located in the Brooktrails subdivision area west of Willits.
* [[Round Valley Airport]] is a general aviation airport serving the Covelo / Round Valley area.
* [[Boonville Airport (California)]] is a general aviation airport serving the Boonville / Anderson Valley area.
* [[Ocean Ridge Airport]] is a privately owned general aviation airport serving the Gualala area.
For commercial service, passengers in Mendocino County need to go to [[Eureka, California|Eureka]], one county to the north in [[Humboldt County, California|Humboldt County]], or to [[Charles M. Schulz - Sonoma County Airport|Sonoma County Airport]] in [[Santa Rosa, California|Santa Rosa]], [[Sonoma County, California|Sonoma County]], one county to the south. More comprehensive service is available from [[Sacramento]] to the east or [[San Francisco]], well to the south.

Emergency services for the largely unincorporated county are coordinated through [[Howard Forest Station]], a local [[Cal Fire]] station just south of Willits.

==Communities==
[[File:Ecological Staircase trail.jpg|thumb|right|210px|Ecological staircase trail in Jug Handle State Nature Reserve]]
[[File:Islands off mendocino.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Islands off the Mendocino coast]]
[[File:Mendocino Grove.jpg|thumb|Mendocino Grove]]

===Cities===
* [[Fort Bragg, California|Fort Bragg]]
* [[Point Arena, California|Point Arena]]
* [[Ukiah, California|Ukiah]] (county seat)
* [[Willits, California|Willits]]

===Census-designated places===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Albion, California|Albion]]
* [[Anchor Bay, California|Anchor Bay]]
* [[Boonville, California|Boonville]]
* [[Brooktrails, California|Brooktrails]]
* [[Calpella, California|Calpella]]
* [[Caspar, California|Caspar]]
* [[Cleone, California|Cleone]]
* [[Comptche, California|Comptche]]
* [[Covelo, California|Covelo]]
* [[Hopland, California|Hopland]] (formerly Sanel)
* [[Laytonville, California|Laytonville]]
* [[Leggett, California|Leggett]]
* [[Little River, California|Little River]]
* [[Manchester, California|Manchester]]
* [[Mendocino, California|Mendocino]]
* [[Philo, California|Philo]]
* [[Potter Valley, California|Potter Valley]]
* [[Redwood Valley, California|Redwood Valley]]
* [[Talmage, California|Talmage]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Branscomb, California|Branscomb]]
* [[Dos Rios, California|Dos Rios]]
* [[Elk, Mendocino County, California|Elk]]
* [[Gualala, California|Gualala]]
* [[Inglenook, California|Inglenook]]
* [[Longvale, California|Longvale]]
* [[Navarro, California|Navarro]]
* [[Noyo, California|Noyo]]
* [[Old Hopland, California|Old Hopland]]
* [[Piercy, California|Piercy]]
* [[Pine Grove, Mendocino County, California|Pine Grove]]
* [[Rockport, California|Rockport]]
* Wanhala
* [[Westport, California|Westport]]
* [[Yorkville, California|Yorkville]]
{{div col end}}

===Indian reservations===
Mendocino County has nine [[Indian reservation]]s lying within its borders, the fourth-most of any county in the United States (after [[San Diego County, California]]; [[Sandoval County, New Mexico]]; and [[Riverside County, California]]).

{{div col}}
* [[Coyote Valley Reservation]]
* [[Guidiville Rancheria]]
* [[Hopland Rancheria]]
* [[Laytonville Rancheria]]
* [[Manchester-Point Arena Rancheria]]
* [[Pinoleville Rancheria]]
* [[Redwood Valley Rancheria]]
* [[Round Valley Reservation]] (partly in [[Trinity County, California|Trinity County]])
* [[Sherwood Valley Rancheria]]
{{div col end}}

===Population ranking===
{{update|section|date=November 2023}}

The population ranking of the following table is based on the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]] of Mendocino County.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.2010.html|title=Census Coverage Measurement|website=Census.gov|access-date=November 7, 2017}}</ref>

'''†''' ''county seat''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Rank
!City/Town/etc.
!Municipal type
!Population (2010 Census)

|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 1
|'''†''' '''[[Ukiah, California|Ukiah]]''' 
| City
| 16,075
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 2
|'''[[Fort Bragg, California|Fort Bragg]]''' 
| City
| 7,273
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 3
|'''[[Willits, California|Willits]]''' 
| City
| 4,888
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 4
|'''[[Brooktrails, California|Brooktrails]]''' 
| CDP
| 3,235
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 5
|'''[[Redwood Valley, California|Redwood Valley]]''' 
| CDP
| 1,729
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 6
|'''[[Covelo, California|Covelo]]''' 
| CDP
| 1,255
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 7
|'''[[Laytonville, California|Laytonville]]''' 
| CDP
| 1,227
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 8
|'''[[Talmage, California|Talmage]]''' 
| CDP
| 1,130
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 9
|'''[[Boonville, California|Boonville]]''' 
| CDP
| 1,035
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 10
|'''[[Mendocino, California|Mendocino]]''' 
| CDP
| 894
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 11
|'''[[Hopland, California|Hopland]]''' 
| CDP
| 756
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 12
|'''[[Calpella, California|Calpella]]''' 
| CDP
| 679
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 13
|'''[[Potter Valley, California|Potter Valley]]''' 
| CDP
| 646
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 14
|'''[[Cleone, California|Cleone]]''' 
| CDP
| 618
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 15
|'''[[Caspar, California|Caspar]]''' 
| CDP
| 509
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 16
|'''[[Point Arena, California|Point Arena]]''' 
| City
| 449
|- style="background-color:#FFFF99;"
| 17
|'''[[Round Valley Indian Tribes of the Round Valley Reservation|Round Valley Reservation]]'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=3250|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search : Round Valley Reservation|website=Census.gov|access-date=November 7, 2017}}</ref> (''partially in [[Trinity County, California|Trinity County]]'')
| [[AIAN (U.S. Census)|AIAN]]
| 401
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 18
|'''[[Philo, California|Philo]]''' 
| CDP
| 349
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 19
|'''[[Anchor Bay, California|Anchor Bay]]''' 
| CDP
| 340
|- style="background-color:#FFFF99;"
| 20
|'''[[Redwood Valley Rancheria]]'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=3115|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search : Redwood Valley Rancheria|website=Census.gov|access-date=November 7, 2017}}</ref>
| AIAN
| 238
|- style="background-color:#FFFF99;"
| t-21
|'''[[Cahto|Laytonville Rancheria]]'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=1925|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search : Laytonville Rancheria|website=Census.gov|access-date=November 7, 2017}}</ref>
| AIAN
| 212
|- style="background-color:#FFFF99;"
| t-21
|'''[[Manchester Band of Pomo Indians of the Manchester Rancheria|Manchester-Point Arena Rancheria]]'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=2100|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search : Manchester-Point Arena Rancheria|website=Census.gov|access-date=November 7, 2017}}</ref>
| AIAN
| 212
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 22
|'''[[Manchester, California|Manchester]]''' 
| CDP
| 195
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| t-23
|'''[[Albion, California|Albion]]''' 
| CDP
| 168
|- style="background-color:#FFFF99;"
| t-23
|'''[[Sherwood Valley Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California|Sherwood Valley Rancheria]]'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=3735|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search : Sherwood Valley Rancheria|website=Census.gov|access-date=November 7, 2017}}</ref>
| AIAN
| 168
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 24
|'''[[Comptche, California|Comptche]]''' 
| CDP
| 159
|- style="background-color:#FFFF99;"
| 25
|'''[[Coyote Valley Reservation]]'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=0825|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search : Coyote Valley Reservation|website=Census.gov|access-date=November 7, 2017}}</ref>
| AIAN
| 144
|- style="background-color:#FFFF99;"
| 26
|'''[[Pinoleville Pomo Nation|Pinoleville Rancheria]]'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=2820|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search : Pinoleville Rancheria|website=Census.gov|access-date=November 7, 2017}}</ref>
| AIAN
| 129
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 27
|'''[[Leggett, California|Leggett]]''' 
| CDP
| 122
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 28
|'''[[Little River, California|Little River]]''' 
| CDP
| 117
|- style="background-color:#FFFF99;"
| 29
|'''[[Guidiville Rancheria of California|Guidiville Rancheria]]'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=1400|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search : Guidiville Rancheria|website=Census.gov|access-date=November 7, 2017}}</ref>
| AIAN
| 52
|- style="background-color:#FFFF99;"
| 30
|'''[[Hopland Band of Pomo Indians of the Hopland Rancheria|Hopland Rancheria (Pomo Indians)]]'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=1515|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search : Hopland Rancheria|website=Census.gov|access-date=November 7, 2017}}</ref>
| AIAN
| 38
|}

==In popular culture==
"Mendocino" by the [[Sir Douglas Quintet]] was released in December 1968 and reached number 27 in the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100 by early 1969, spending 15 weeks on the chart.

[[Kate McGarrigle]]'s song "(Talk to Me of) Mendocino" is one of the songs on the McGarrigles' 1975 debut album; it has been covered by [[Linda Ronstadt]] on her 1982 album ''Get Closer'', by English singer-songwriter John Howard on his 2007 EP, and by [[Bette Midler]] on her 2014 album ''[[It's the Girls]]''.

A song written by Matt Serletic and [[Bernie Taupin]], "[[Mendocino County Line]]", which was released in 2002, is about a love that could not last and cites the Mendocino County Line in the chorus.

Many films and movies have been [[List of films and television shows shot in Northern California#Mendocino County|filmed in and around Mendocino County]], including ''[[Dying Young]]'', ''[[The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming|The Russians Are Coming]]'', ''[[Overboard (1987 film)|Overboard]]'', ''[[The Dunwich Horror (film)|The Dunwich Horror]]'', ''[[The Karate Kid Part III]]'', ''[[Dead & Buried]]'', ''[[Forever Young (1992 film)|Forever Young]]'', ''[[Same Time, Next Year (film)|Same Time Next Year]]'', ''[[Racing with the Moon]]'', ''[[Pontiac Moon]]'', and ''[[The Majestic (film)|The Majestic]]''.

==See also==
{{Portal|California}}
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Mendocino County, California]]
* [[California Historical Landmarks in Mendocino County, California]]
* [[Sequoia County, California]]

== Notes==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* California Legislature, Special Joint Committee on the Mendocino War, ''Majority and Minority Reports of the Special Joint Committee on the Mendocino War.'' Sacramento, California: Charles T. Botts, State Printer, 1860.
* Aurelius O. Carpenter and Percy H. Millberry, [https://archive.org/details/historyofmendoci00carp ''History of Mendocino and Lake Counties, California: With Biographical Sketches of the Leading Men and Women of the Counties Who Have Been Identified with their Growth and Development from the Early Days to the Present.''] Los Angeles, California: Historic Record Company, 1914.
* V.K. Chesnut, ''Plants Used by the Indians of Mendocino County, California.'' Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1902.
* Thomas N. Layton, ''Western Pomo Prehistory: Excavations at Albion Head, Nightbirds' Retreat, and Three Chop Village, Mendocino County, California.'' Los Angeles, California: Institute of Archaeology, University of California, Los Angeles, 1990.
* M.B. Levick, ''Mendocino County, California.'' San Francisco, California: Sunset Magazine Homeseekers' Bureau, n.d. [c. 1912].
* Mendocino County Chamber of Commerce, ''Mendocino County, California.'' Beverly Hills, California: Windsor Publications, 1968.
* Lyman Palmer, [https://archive.org/details/historyofmendoci00palm ''History of Mendocino County, California, Comprising Its Geography, Geology, Topography, Climatography, Springs and Timber.''] San Francisco, CA: Alley, Bowen and Company, 1880.
* John A. Parducci, [https://archive.org/details/sixdecadesofmaki00pardrich ''Six Decades of Making Wine in Mendocino County, California.''] Berkeley, California: Regional Oral History Office, Bancroft Library, University of California, 1992.
* G. Yoell Parkhurst, ''Mendocino County, California.'' San Francisco, California: Sunset Magazine Homeseekers' Bureau, 1909.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Mendocino County, California}}
{{wikivoyage|Mendocino County}}
* {{Official website}}

{{Geographic Location
| Centre    = Mendocino County, California
| North     = [[Humboldt County, California|Humboldt County]] and [[Trinity County, California|Trinity County]]
| Northeast = [[Tehama County, California|Tehama County]]
| East      = [[Lake County, California|Lake County]] and [[Glenn County, California|Glenn County]]
| Southeast =
| South     = [[Sonoma County, California|Sonoma County]]
| Southwest =
| West      = [[Pacific Ocean]]
| Northwest =
}}
{{Cities of Mendocino County, California}}
{{California North Coast}}
{{California}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Mendocino County, California| ]]
[[Category:1850 establishments in California]]
[[Category:California counties]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1850]]