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Eastern California is a region defined as either the strip to the east of the crest of the
Because Eastern California is generally in the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada or the Transverse Ranges, the climate is extremely dry and can be considered a
*Modoc County
** U.S. Route 395
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State Route 139
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State Route 299
*Lassen County
** U.S. Route 395
** State Route 36
** State Route 44
** State Route 139
** State Route 299
*Plumas County
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State Route 36
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State Route 49
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State Route 70
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State Route 89
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State Route 284
*Sierra County
** U.S. Route 395
** Interstate 80
** State Route 49
** State Route 89
*Nevada County
** Interstate 80
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State Route 20
** State Route 49
** State Route 89
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State Route 174
*Placer County
** Interstate 80
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State Route 28
** State Route 49
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State Route 65
** State Route 89
** State Route 174
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State Route 267
*El Dorado County
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State Route 108
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State Route 120
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State Route 158
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State Route 167
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State Route 182
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State Route 270
*Inyo County
** U.S. Route 6
** U.S. Route 395
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State Route 127
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State Route 136
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State Route 168
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State Route 178
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State Route 190
*San Bernardino County
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*Riverside County
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** U.S. Route 95
** Historic U.S. Route 99
** Historic U.S. Route 395
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State Route 60
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State Route 62
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State Route 71
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State Route 74
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State Route 78
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State Route 79
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State Route 86
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State Route 91
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State Route 111
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State Route 177
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State Route 243
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State Route 371
Sierra Nevada
The Sierra Nevada ( ) is a mountain range in the Western United States, between the Central Valley of California and the Great Basin. The vast majority of the range lies in the state of California, although the Carson Range spur lies primari ...
or as the easternmost counties of California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
.
Demographics
According to the 2010 census, the population of the eastern border counties of California was 5,129,384. However, 4,224,851 (82.4%) lived in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, which are very large and whose populations are concentrated nearLos Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
and Orange counties to the southwest.
Culture and history
Eastern California's history differs significantly from that of the coastal regions and the Central Valley. Northeastern California is very sparsely populated (except for the area aroundLake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe (; Washo language, Washo: ''dáʔaw'') is a Fresh water, freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the Western United States, straddling the border between California and Nevada. Lying at above sea level, Lake Tahoe is the largest a ...
): the three least-populated counties of California lie in the northeast. The area tends to be politically conservative
Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...
, much like the rest of the rural Western United States
The Western United States (also called the American West, the Western States, the Far West, the Western territories, and the West) is List of regions of the United States, census regions United States Census Bureau.
As American settlement i ...
. However, the counties of San Bernardino and Riverside form the 13th-largest metropolitan area of the United States, and El Dorado and Placer Counties are part of the Greater Sacramento area and are culturally influenced by their respective metropolitan areas. Imperial County in the Southeast, though rural and agrarian, is heavily Democratic and has ties with the Mexicali Valley to the south.
Northeastern California has had strong ties to Nevada, with the exact boundary between the two states having once been a matter of dispute. Residents of an area near Susanville, California tried to break away from the state in 1856, first by declaring themselves part of the Nataqua Territory and then through annexation to Nevada. The two states further squabbled over ownership of Susanville in 1863. The town of Aurora, Nevada, was temporarily the county seat of both Mono County, California
Mono County ( ) is a county (United States), county located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 13,195, making it the fourth-least populous county in California. T ...
, and Esmeralda County, Nevada. Finally, the line between the two states was settled by a survey in 1892. Over time, droughts and wildfires
A wildfire, forest fire, or a bushfire is an unplanned and uncontrolled fire in an area of Combustibility and flammability, combustible vegetation. Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire may be more specifically identified as a ...
have increased in frequency and become less seasonal and more year-round, further straining the region's water security.
There are many unique historical aspects of Eastern California including the Manzanar internment camp and the historical Carson and Colorado Railway.
Geography
The easternmost counties of California are (from north to south): * Modoc County * Lassen County * Plumas County * Sierra County * Nevada County * Placer County *El Dorado County
El Dorado County (; ''El Dorado'', Spanish language, Spanish for "The Golden ne), officially the County of El Dorado, is a List of counties in California, county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 United States census, ...
* Alpine County
* Mono County
* Inyo County
* San Bernardino County
* Riverside County
* Imperial County
Cities within this region include San Bernardino, Riverside, Ontario
Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...
, Corona, Rancho Cucamonga, Roseville, Victorville, Temecula, Palm Springs, Lincoln, El Centro, Barstow, South Lake Tahoe, Susanville, Truckee, Grass Valley, Placerville, and Alturas.
Cities larger than 50,000 population
The following incorporated places have a population of 50,000 or greater, according to the 2020 census:Placer County
* Roseville: 147,773 * Rocklin: 71,601San Bernardino County
* Apple Valley: 75,791 * Chino: 91,403 * Chino Hills: 78,411 * Colton: 53,909 * Fontana: 208,393 * Hesperia: 99,818 *Highland
Highlands or uplands are areas of high elevation such as a mountainous region, elevated mountainous plateau or high hills. Generally, ''upland'' refers to a range of hills, typically from up to , while ''highland'' is usually reserved for range ...
: 56,999
*Ontario
Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...
: 175,265
* Rancho Cucamonga: 174,453
* Redlands: 73,168
* Rialto: 104,026
* San Bernardino: 222,101
* Upland: 79,040
* Victorville: 134,810
* Yucaipa: 54,542
Riverside County
* Beaumont: 53,036 *Cathedral City
City status in the United Kingdom is granted by the the Crown, monarch of the United Kingdom to specific centres of population, which might or might not meet the generally accepted definition of city, cities. , there are List of cities in the Un ...
: 51,493
* Corona: 157,136
* Eastvale: 69,757
* Hemet: 89,833
* Indio: 89,137
* Jurupa Valley: 105,053
* Lake Elsinore: 70,265
* Menifee: 102,527
* Moreno Valley: 208,634
* Murrieta: 110,949
* Palm Desert: 51,163
* Perris: 78,700
* Riverside: 314,998
* San Jacinto: 53,898
* Temecula: 110,003
Geology
Because Eastern California is generally in the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada or the Transverse Ranges, the climate is extremely dry and can be considered a desert
A desert is a landscape where little precipitation occurs and, consequently, living conditions create unique biomes and ecosystems. The lack of vegetation exposes the unprotected surface of the ground to denudation. About one-third of the la ...
. Indeed, the hottest and lowest area in North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...
lies in Death Valley
Death Valley is a desert valley in Eastern California, in the northern Mojave Desert, bordering the Great Basin Desert. It is thought to be the Highest temperature recorded on Earth, hottest place on Earth during summer.
Death Valley's Badwat ...
, in the heart of Eastern California.
Geologically, Eastern California is mostly part of the Basin and Range Province, marked by crustal extension, with horsts and graben
In geology, a graben () is a depression (geology), depressed block of the Crust (geology), crust of a planet or moon, bordered by parallel normal faults.
Etymology
''Graben'' is a loan word from German language, German, meaning 'ditch' or 't ...
s. Volcanism is also evident in this region.
Climate
The majority of Eastern California experiences two seasons, a long, dry summer and a milder winter in which the rain is concentrated. Most higher elevations experience four distinct seasons. There are some areas where the weather is very diverse. The Sierra Nevada mountain range has larger amounts of snowfall, while the Imperial Valley has more arid conditions.Worldmark Encyclopedia of U.S. and Canadian Environmental Issues. Ed. Susan Bevan Gall and Margaret K. Antone. Detroit, MI: Gale, 2012. p61-72. The Sierra Nevada's average temperature is around and the Imperial Valley is on average . A record-breaking heat temperature was recorded in Death Valley, at on July 10, 1913. With its low and often sporadic rainfall, California is susceptible to drought, and in many parts of the state including Eastern California, there is very high fire danger and there have been several devastating wildfires.Economy
The northern counties of Eastern California are heavily timbered areas. The timber industry is a major contributor to the economy from sale of timber and forest products and the number of jobs that it provides. These timbered areas not only provide valuable income, but are also the main growing sector for the economy for recreation and tourism. In the Sierra Nevada National Forests they experience 50 million recreational visitor days per year. When California became a state, it was one of the leading producers of these timber and forest products. Since then, it has held the third place for the top producer of softwoods since the 1940s. In California there were five counties that contributed to 55 percent of the wood harvested for the state. One of those counties, Plumas, is located in Eastern California.Transportation
Major highways
*Modoc County
** U.S. Route 395
** State Route 139
** State Route 299
*Lassen County
** U.S. Route 395
** State Route 36
** State Route 44
** State Route 139
** State Route 299
*Plumas County
** State Route 36
** State Route 49
** State Route 70
** State Route 89
** State Route 284
*Sierra County
** U.S. Route 395
** Interstate 80
** State Route 49
** State Route 89
*Nevada County
** Interstate 80
** State Route 20
** State Route 49
** State Route 89
** State Route 174
*Placer County
** Interstate 80
** State Route 28
** State Route 49
** State Route 65
** State Route 89
** State Route 174
** State Route 267
*El Dorado County
** U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 50 or U.S. Highway 50 (US 50) is a major east–west route of the U.S. Highway system, stretching from Interstate 80 (I-80) in West Sacramento, California, to Maryland Route 528 (MD 528) in Ocean City, Maryland, on the Atlantic ...
** State Route 49
** State Route 89
** State Route 193
** Luther Pass
*Alpine County
** State Route 4
** State Route 88
** State Route 89
*Mono County
** U.S. Route 6
** U.S. Route 395
** State Route 108
** State Route 120
** State Route 158
** State Route 167
** State Route 182
** State Route 270
*Inyo County
** U.S. Route 6
** U.S. Route 395
** State Route 127
** State Route 136
** State Route 168
** State Route 178
** State Route 190
*San Bernardino County
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*Riverside County
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** U.S. Route 95
** Historic U.S. Route 99
** Historic U.S. Route 395
** State Route 60
** State Route 62
** State Route 71
** State Route 74
** State Route 78
** State Route 79
** State Route 86
** State Route 91
** State Route 111
** State Route 177
** State Route 243
** State Route 371
Educational institutions
Private institutions
* William Jessup University * Brandman University *National University
A national university is mainly a university created or managed by a government, but which may also at the same time operate autonomously without direct control by the state. In the United States, the term "national university" connotes the highe ...
(campuses in Ontario and San Bernardino)
* Deep Springs College
* Loma Linda University
* University of Redlands
Community colleges
* Lassen Community College * Feather River College * Sierra College * Folsom Lake College * Lake Tahoe Community College * Cerro Coso Community College * Palo Verde Community College * Barstow Community College * Chaffey College * Copper Mountain College * Crafton Hills College * San Bernardino Valley College * University of La Verne * Victor Valley College * Mt. San Jacinto College * College of the DesertPublic institutions
* California State University, San Bernardino *University of California, Riverside
The University of California, Riverside (UCR or UC Riverside) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Riverside, California, United States. It is one of the ten campuses of the University of Cali ...
National Parks
Source: *Death Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park is a national park of the United States that straddles the California–Nevada border, east of the Sierra Nevada. The park boundaries include Death Valley, the northern section of Panamint Valley, the southern sect ...
* Lassen National Park
* Lava Beds National Monument
* Devils Postpile
* Manzanar
* Mojave National Preserve
* Old Spanish National Historic Trail
* Tule Lake Unit, World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument
*Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park is a List of national parks of the United States, US National Park located in southeastern California, straddling north-central Riverside County, California, Riverside County and part of southern San Bernardino County, ...
See also
* Deserts of CaliforniaReferences
Further reading
* * * * {{California, collapsed Deserts of California Regions of California