Editing Portola, California

{{Short description|City in California, United States}}
{{distinguish|Portola Valley, California}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = City of Portola
|settlement_type          = [[List of municipalities in California|City]]
|image_skyline            = File:A Strange Steam Engine in Portola - 2 Photos (26733443444).jpg
|imagesize                = 250x200px
|image_caption            = [[Union Pacific Railroad|Union Pacific]] trains in Portola
|image_seal               = 
|image_map                = Plumas_County_California_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Portola_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Plumas County, California|Plumas County]] and the state of [[California]]
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
| pushpin_map = USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States
| pushpin_relief = 1
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = {{USA}}
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = {{flag|California}}
|subdivision_type2        = [[County (United States)|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Plumas County, California|Plumas]]
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|established_title        = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date         = May 16, 1946<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc 
 |title=California Cities by Incorporation Date 
 |format=Word 
 |publisher=California Association of [[Local Agency Formation Commission]]s 
 |access-date=August 25, 2014 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103002921/http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc 
 |archive-date=November 3, 2014 }}</ref>
<!-- Area------------------>
|area_magnitude           = 
| unit_pref               = Imperial
| area_footnotes          = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 1, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi        = 5.41
| area_land_sq_mi         = 5.41
| area_water_sq_mi        = 0.00
| area_total_km2          = 14.00
| area_land_km2           = 14.00
| area_water_km2          = 0.00
| area_water_percent      = 0
| area_note               = 
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref>{{Cite GNIS|1659425|Portola|access-date=December 30, 2014}}</ref>
|elevation_ft             = 4856
|elevation_m              = 1480
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="US Census Bureau 2020 Portola, CA Population">{{cite web |title=US Census Bureau |url=https://data.census.gov/all?q=Portola%20city,%20California |website=www.census.gov |access-date=April 12, 2024}}</ref>
|population_total         = 2100
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_km2   = auto
|population_density_sq_mi = auto
|timezone                 = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific (PST)]]
|utc_offset               = -8
|coordinates              = {{coord|39|48|37|N|120|28|11|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
|timezone_DST             = PDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -7
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]s
|postal_code              = 96122, 96129
|area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
|area_code                = [[Area code 530|530]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = {{FIPS|06|58352}}
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature IDs
|blank1_info              = {{GNIS 4|1659425}}, {{GNIS 4|2411473}}
|website                  = {{URL|www.ci.portola.ca.us}}
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|pop_est_footnotes        = 
|population_est           = 
}}

'''Portola''' ({{IPAc-en|p|ɔr|ˈ|t|əʊ|l|ə}} {{respell|por|TOH|lə}}) is the only incorporated city in [[Plumas County, California]], United States. The population was 2,104 at the 2010 census, down from 2,227 at the 2000 census. Portola is located on the Middle Fork of the [[Feather River]] and was named after Spanish explorer [[Gaspar de Portolá]],<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=405lAAAAIBAJ&pg=775%2C5627048 | title=Over the Sierra | work=Indian Valley Record | date=May 30, 1940 | access-date=May 7, 2015 | author=Brown, Thomas P. | pages=3}}</ref> although he did not explore this area.

Portola is a crew change site on the [[Western Pacific Railroad]] (now [[Union Pacific Railroad]]) Feather River Route over the [[Sierra Nevada]]. The city is also home to the [[Western Pacific Railroad Museum]] (formerly Portola Railroad Museum), one of the largest railroad museums in the Western United States. The museum is famous for its Run A Locomotive program, where the public can participate in a "fantasy experience" program allowing them to run a railroad locomotive on the museum grounds. The railroad tradition also extends to a yearly local event called “Railroad Days”.

Portola was in the national media spotlight in 1996&ndash;1997 when a conflict occurred between the local community and the [[California Department of Fish and Wildlife|Department of Fish and Game]] over how to deal with an invasive species of [[northern pike]] in [[Lake Davis]]. The lake was chemically treated in 1997 to eradicate the fish, but they reappeared in 1999. In early September 2007, the California Department of Fish and Game eradicated the pike<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 19, 2007|title=Lake Davis Pike Eradication Project Update|url=http://www.dfg.ca.gov/lakedavis/projectupdate.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030094811/http://www.dfg.ca.gov/lakedavis/projectupdate.html|archive-date=October 30, 2007|access-date=November 17, 2020|website=California Department of Fish and Game}}</ref> using CFT Legumine, a new liquid formulation of [[rotenone]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 2008|title=2007 Lake Davis Pike Eradication Project: Short-Term Impacts on the Local Economy and Real Estate Values|url=http://www.dfg.ca.gov/lakedavis/econ-report/LakeDavisEconomicReport.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411144108/http://www.dfg.ca.gov/lakedavis/econ-report/LakeDavisEconomicReport.pdf|archive-date=April 11, 2009|access-date=November 17, 2020|website=California Department of Fish and Game}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Retrat_Gaspar_de_Portolà_(Lleida).jpg|thumb|left|The city of Portola is named after [[Gaspar de Portolá]], first [[Governor of the Californias]] and leader of the [[Portolá expedition]].]]

The town of Portola sits along both sides of the middle fork of the Feather River, in Plumas County, on the upper eastern part of Northern California. Portola lies off the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada. The local landscape is best described as being part of the Feather River drainage, which flows westward down the Feather River Canyon.

Portola is located at {{coord|39.810151|-120.469843|type:city_region:US|format=dms|display=inline}}.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|5.4|sqmi|km2}}, all of it land.

Portola lies on the [[Middle Fork of the Feather River]] in the [[Sierra Nevada]] mountain range. The headwaters of the Middle Fork of the Feather River originate just east of Portola in [[Sierra Valley]], near [[Beckwourth, California|Beckwourth]].<ref>[http://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/plumas/about-forest/?cid=stelprdb5097323 Plumas National Forest - About the Forest<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

Lake Davis is located approximately {{convert|6|mi|km}} north of Portola, and is a popular fishing and camping location. About {{convert|15|mi|km}} to the west and southwest of Portola, [[Plumas-Eureka State Park]] and Lakes Basin Recreation Area feature granite peaks, glacial lakes, streams, and temperate coniferous forests, which make them popular destinations for outdoor enthusiasts.<ref>[http://www.chamberorganizer.com/easternplumaschamber/mem_plumas-eureka Plumas Eureka State Park Association - Blairsden, CA<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://plumascounty.org/Communities/LakesBasin.htm Communities: Lakes Basin, Plumas County Northern California<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

Being on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada, Portola has a [[continental Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Dsb'') with dry summers characterized by extreme [[diurnal temperature variation|diurnal temperature swings]], and cold (though not severe) and snowy winters. Frosts occur on 218 mornings per year. Extreme cold is rare and temperatures below {{convert|0|F|C|1|}} are observed on only 2.6 mornings per winter in an average year.<ref name="NOAA">[http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/climatenormals/clim20/ca/047085.pdf Climatography of the United States No. 20 – Station: PORTOLA, CA (047085)]</ref> During the summer, daytime temperatures of {{convert|100|F|C|1|}} are reached on average only once every two years.<ref name="NOAA"/>

===Climate===

{{Weather box
 | width       = auto
 | collapsed   = yes
 | single line = yes
 | location    = Portola, California (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1915–present)
 | Jan record high F  = 68
 | Feb record high F  = 72
 | Mar record high F  = 80
 | Apr record high F  = 86
 | May record high F  = 94
 | Jun record high F  = 110
 | Jul record high F  = 110
 | Aug record high F  = 107
 | Sep record high F  = 100
 | Oct record high F  = 92
 | Nov record high F  = 82
 | Dec record high F  = 72
 | year record high F = 
 | Jan high F = 43.0
 | Feb high F = 46.0
 | Mar high F = 51.6
 | Apr high F = 57.7
 | May high F = 67.0
 | Jun high F = 77.2
 | Jul high F = 86.4
 | Aug high F = 85.2
 | Sep high F = 78.8
 | Oct high F = 66.4
 | Nov high F = 52.5
 | Dec high F = 42.1
 | year high F = 62.8
 | Jan mean F = 31.1
 | Feb mean F = 33.7
 | Mar mean F = 38.4
 | Apr mean F = 43.4
 | May mean F = 51.0
 | Jun mean F = 58.7
 | Jul mean F = 65.5
 | Aug mean F = 63.9
 | Sep mean F = 58.0
 | Oct mean F = 48.1
 | Nov mean F = 38.3
 | Dec mean F = 30.7
 | year mean F = 46.7
 | Jan low F = 19.3
 | Feb low F = 21.4
 | Mar low F = 25.3
 | Apr low F = 29.1
 | May low F = 35.1
 | Jun low F = 40.1
 | Jul low F = 44.6
 | Aug low F = 42.6
 | Sep low F = 37.1
 | Oct low F = 29.7
 | Nov low F = 24.1
 | Dec low F = 19.4
 | year low F = 30.7
 | Jan record low F  = -24
 | Feb record low F  = -21
 | Mar record low F  = -12
 | Apr record low F  = 3
 | May record low F  = 13
 | Jun record low F  = 20
 | Jul record low F  = 22
 | Aug record low F  = 19
 | Sep record low F  = 12
 | Oct record low F  = 3
 | Nov record low F  = -6
 | Dec record low F  = -28
 | year record low F = 
 | precipitation colour   = green
 | Jan precipitation inch = 4.16
 | Feb precipitation inch = 3.93
 | Mar precipitation inch = 3.57
 | Apr precipitation inch = 1.55
 | May precipitation inch = 1.15
 | Jun precipitation inch = 0.52
 | Jul precipitation inch = 0.34
 | Aug precipitation inch = 0.30
 | Sep precipitation inch = 0.44
 | Oct precipitation inch = 1.07
 | Nov precipitation inch = 2.03
 | Dec precipitation inch = 4.28
 | year precipitation inch = 23.34
 | unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
 | Jan precipitation days  = 8.7
 | Feb precipitation days  = 8.5
 | Mar precipitation days  = 8.1
 | Apr precipitation days  = 6.0
 | May precipitation days  = 5.7
 | Jun precipitation days  = 2.6
 | Jul precipitation days  = 1.0
 | Aug precipitation days  = 1.2
 | Sep precipitation days  = 1.8
 | Oct precipitation days  = 3.5
 | Nov precipitation days  = 6.2
 | Dec precipitation days  = 8.4
 | year precipitation days = 61.7
 | Jan snow inch = 11.7
 | Feb snow inch = 7.6
 | Mar snow inch = 6.4
 | Apr snow inch = 1.8
 | May snow inch = 0.2
 | Jun snow inch = 0.0
 | Jul snow inch = 0.0
 | Aug snow inch = 0.0
 | Sep snow inch = 0.1
 | Oct snow inch = 0.4
 | Nov snow inch = 2.4
 | Dec snow inch = 7.2
 | year snow inch = 37.8
 | unit snow days = 0.1 in
 | Jan snow days  = 1.9
 | Feb snow days  = 1.7
 | Mar snow days  = 1.5
 | Apr snow days  = 0.7
 | May snow days  = 0.2
 | Jun snow days  = 0.0
 | Jul snow days  = 0.0
 | Aug snow days  = 0.0
 | Sep snow days  = 0.1
 | Oct snow days  = 0.2
 | Nov snow days  = 1.0
 | Dec snow days  = 2.2
 | year snow days = 9.5
 | source = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="NOWData">{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=rev
|title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = December 9, 2023}}</ref><ref name="NCEI">{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00047085&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = December 9, 2023}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1950= 2261
|1960= 1874
|1970= 1625
|1980= 1885
|1990= 2193
|2000= 2227
|2010= 2104
|estyear=2019
|estimate=1930
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2019CenPopScriptOnlyDirtyFixDoNotUse">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2019.html|date=May 24, 2020|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 27, 2020}}</ref>
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2010===
The [[2010 United States Census]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0658352|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715040256/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0658352|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Portola city|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref> reported that Portola had a population of 2,104. The population density was {{convert|389.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Portola was 1,762 (83.7%) [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 13 (0.6%) [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 54 (2.6%) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 12 (0.6%) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1 (0.0%) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 198 (9.4%) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 64 (3.0%) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 342 persons (16.3%).

The Census reported that 2,080 people (98.9% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 24 (1.1%) were institutionalized.

There were 887 households, out of which 278 (31.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 378 (42.6%) were [[marriage|opposite-sex married couples]] living together, 114 (12.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 53 (6.0%) had a male householder with no wife present.  There were 68 (7.7%) [[POSSLQ|unmarried opposite-sex partnerships]], and 4 (0.5%) [[same-sex partnerships|same-sex married couples or partnerships]]. 286 households (32.2%) were made up of individuals, and 113 (12.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34.  There were 545 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (61.4% of all households); the average family size was 2.92.

The population was spread out, with 502 people (23.9%) under the age of 18, 198 people (9.4%) aged 18 to 24, 462 people (22.0%) aged 25 to 44, 638 people (30.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 304 people (14.4%) who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 39.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.4 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.

There were 1,134 housing units at an average density of {{convert|209.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}, of which 482 (54.3%) were owner-occupied, and 405 (45.7%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 6.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 21.0%.  1,156 people (54.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 924 people (43.9%) lived in rental housing units.

===2000===
As of the census<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 2,227 people, 899 households, and 595 families residing in the city.  The population density was {{convert|994.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 1,008 housing units at an average density of {{convert|450.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the city was 86.21% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.45% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 2.65% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.08% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.09% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 5.84% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 3.68% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 11.81% of the population.

There were 899 households, out of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 29.5% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.1 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,103, and the median income for a family was $35,156. Males had a median income of $32,159 versus $21,157 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $14,734.  About 14.5% of families and 20.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 28.7% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
The city is governed by a five-member council.  Council members serve staggered four-year terms. The council chooses the mayor and mayor pro tem.<ref>{{Cite web
 | url = http://www.ci.portola.ca.us/portola-city-council.htm
 | title = Portola City Council
 | publisher = City of Portola
 | access-date = December 30, 2014
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141231031123/http://www.ci.portola.ca.us/portola-city-council.htm
 | archive-date = December 31, 2014
| url-status = dead
 }}</ref>

In the [[California State Legislature]], Portola is in {{Representative|casd|1|fmt=sdistrict}},<ref>{{cite web |url=http://senate.ca.gov/senators |title=Senators |access-date=March 10, 2013 |publisher=State of California}}</ref> and {{Representative|caad|1|fmt=adistrict}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers |title=Members Assembly |access-date=March 2, 2013 |publisher=State of California}}</ref>

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

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

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}
* [http://www.plumasnews.com Portola Reporter - Local newspaper] No longer publishing
* [http://www.wplives.org/ Feather River Rail Society]
* [http://www.wplives.org/ Western Pacific Railroad Museum at Portola]
* [http://www.railroadinfo.com/triprprt/feather_02.html Article about the Portola Railroad Museum]
* http://www.portolarailroaddays.com
* http://www.discoverplumascounty.com
* https://www.easternplumaschamber.com

{{Plumas County, California}}
{{Sierra Nevada}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Plumas County, California|Portola]]
[[Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California|Portola]]
[[Category:Populated places in the Sierra Nevada (United States)]]
[[Category:1946 establishments in California|Portola]]