Eastern California | |
|---|---|
 Downtown San Bernardino, anchor of the largest metro area in East California and 12th in the United States | |
 Counties on California's Eastern Border | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Time zone | Pacific Standard Time |
| • Summer (DST) | Pacific Daylight Time |
| Area codes | 530,442/760,909,951 |
Eastern California is a region defined as either the strip to the east of the crest of theSierra Nevada or as the easternmost counties ofCalifornia.[citation needed]
According to the 2020 census, the population of the eastern border counties of California was 5,575,577. However, 4,599,839 (82.5%) lived in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, which are geographically very large and whose populations are concentrated nearLos Angeles andOrange counties to the southwest.
Eastern California's history differs significantly from that of thecoastal regions and theCentral Valley. Northeastern California is very sparsely populated (except for the area aroundLake Tahoe): the three least-populated counties of California lie in the northeast.[1] The area tends to be politicallyconservative, much like the rest of the ruralWestern United States. However, the counties ofSan Bernardino andRiverside form the 13th-largest metropolitan area of the United States,[2][3] andEl Dorado andPlacer Counties are part of theGreater Sacramento area[2] 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 theMexicali 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.[4] Residents of an area nearSusanville, California tried to break away from the state in 1856, first by declaring themselves part of theNataqua Territory[5] and then through annexation to Nevada. The two states further squabbled over ownership of Susanville in 1863. The town ofAurora, Nevada, was temporarily the county seat of bothMono County, California, andEsmeralda County, Nevada. Finally, the line between the two states was settled by a survey in 1892.[6] Over time,droughts andwildfires have increased in frequency and become less seasonal and more year-round, further straining the region'swater security.[7][8][9]
There are many unique historical aspects of Eastern California including theManzanar internment camp and the historicalCarson and Colorado Railway.[10][11]
The easternmost counties of California are (from north to south):
Major cities within this region (listed by population) includeRiverside,San Bernardino,Ontario,Rancho Cucamonga,Roseville,Corona,Victorville,Temecula,Indio,Hemet,Palm Springs,El Centro,Calexico,Barstow,South Lake Tahoe,Blythe,Susanville,Truckee,Grass Valley,Auburn,Placerville,Mammoth Lakes,Needles,Bishop, andAlturas.
The following incorporated places have a population of 50,000 or greater, according to the 2020 census:[12]
Because Eastern California is generally in the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada or theTransverse Ranges, the climate is extremely dry and can be considered adesert. Indeed, the hottest and lowest area inNorth America lies inDeath Valley, in the heart of Eastern California.
Geologically, Eastern California is mostly part of theBasin and Range Province, marked by crustal extension, withhorsts andgrabens. Volcanism is also evident in this region.
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.[13] The Sierra Nevada's average temperature is around 47 °F (8 °C) and the Imperial Valley is on average 73 °F (23 °C). A record-breaking heat temperature was recorded in Death Valley, at 134 °F (57 °C) on July 10, 1913.[14]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.[13]
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.[15] 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.[16]
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Source:[17]
Eastern California Museum
Eastern California exists, or so I'm told
eastern California shear zone
Eastern California Shear Zone
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