South Lake Tahoe, California | |
|---|---|
| City of South Lake Tahoe | |
 South Lake Tahoe near Heavenly Village | |
 Flag | |
 Location inEl Dorado County and the state ofCalifornia | |
  South Lake Tahoe, California Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates:38°56′24″N119°58′37″W / 38.94000°N 119.97694°W /38.94000; -119.97694[1] | |
| Country | United States |
| State |  California |
| County | El Dorado |
| Incorporated | November 30, 1965[2] |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council |
| • Mayor | Cody Bass[3] |
| • State Senate | Marie Alvarado-Gil (R)[4] |
| • State Assembly | Heather Hadwick (R)[5] |
| • U.S. Congress | Kevin Kiley (R)[6] |
| Area | |
• Total | 16.63 sq mi (43.07 km2) |
| • Land | 10.19 sq mi (26.39 km2) |
| • Water | 6.44 sq mi (16.68 km2) 38.74% |
| Elevation | 6,237 ft (1,901 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 21,330 |
| • Density | 2,093/sq mi (808.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code | 96150 |
| Area codes | 530, 837 |
| FIPS code | 06-73108 |
| GNIS feature IDs | 1659822,2411938 |
| Climate | Dsb |
| Website | www |
South Lake Tahoe is the most populous incorporated city inEl Dorado County, California, United States, in theSierra Nevada mountains. The city's population was 21,330 at the 2020 census, down from 21,403 at the 2010 census. The city, along the southern edge ofLake Tahoe, extends about 5 miles (8 km) west-southwest alongU.S. Route 50, also known as Lake Tahoe Boulevard. The east end of the city, on the California–Nevada state line right next to the town ofStateline, Nevada, is mainly geared towards tourism, restaurants, hotels, andHeavenly Mountain Resort with the Nevada casinos just across the state line in Stateline. The western end of town is mainly residential, and clusters around "The Y", the intersection of US 50,State Route 89, and the continuation of Lake Tahoe Boulevard after it loses its federal highway designation.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.6 square miles (43 km2), of which 10.2 square miles (26 km2) is land and 6.4 square miles (17 km2), or 38.74%, is water. Its elevation is about 6,237 feet (1,901 m) above sea level.[8]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 12,921 | — | |
| 1980 | 20,681 | 60.1% | |
| 1990 | 21,586 | 4.4% | |
| 2000 | 23,609 | 9.4% | |
| 2010 | 21,403 | −9.3% | |
| 2020 | 21,330 | −0.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] | |||
The2020 United States census reported that South Lake Tahoe had a population of 21,330. The population density was 2,093.6 inhabitants per square mile (808.3/km2). The racial makeup of South Lake Tahoe was 61.8%White, 0.7%African American, 1.2%Native American, 5.8%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 16.2% fromother races, and 14.2% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino of any race were 30.7% of the population.[11]
The census reported that 99.0% of the population lived in households, 0.2% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.8% were institutionalized.[11]
There were 9,266 households, out of which 25.0% included children under the age of 18, 33.7% were married-couple households, 11.0% werecohabiting couple households, 27.3% had a female householder with no partner present, and 28.0% had a male householder with no partner present. 33.5% of households were one person, and 11.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.28.[11] There were 4,784families (51.6% of all households).[12]
The age distribution was 18.5% under the age of 18, 7.8% aged 18 to 24, 32.9% aged 25 to 44, 25.8% aged 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.8 males.[11]
There were 15,961 housing units at an average density of 1,566.6 units per square mile (604.9 units/km2), of which 9,266 (58.1%) were occupied. Of these, 39.1% were owner-occupied, and 60.9% were occupied by renters.[11]
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $73,940, and theper capita income was $50,098. About 7.1% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line.[13]
South Lake Tahoe education rate from 2019–2023, of all persons aged 25 or older, 89.0% were high school graduates and 34.0% had a bachelor's degree.[14]
South Lake Tahoe and the surrounding unincorporated communities are serviced byLake Tahoe Unified School District,[15] which is composed of four elementary schools (Bijou Community School, Sierra House Elementary School, Tahoe Valley Elementary School, and the Lake Tahoe Environmental Science Magnet School) a middle school (South Tahoe Middle School) and a high school (South Tahoe High School).[16]
Due to budget cuts, Al Tahoe Elementary School and Meyers Elementary School closed in 2004; however, Meyers Elementary School reopened as Lake Tahoe Environmental Science Magnet School after a year's absence.[17]
South Lake Tahoe also houses a community college,Lake Tahoe Community College.[18]
South Lake Tahoe is the home ofTahoe Prep Hockey Academy.[19]
The city council of South Lake Tahoe is composed of five elected members: three council members, aMayor, and aMayor Pro Tem. The Mayor changes every year and is elected by the City Council.[20]
In thestate legislature, South Lake Tahoe is inthe 4th senatorial district, represented byRepublican Marie Alvarado-Gil,[4] andthe 1st Assembly district, represented byRepublican Heather Hadwick.[5]
Federally, South Lake Tahoe is inCalifornia's 3rd congressional district, represented byRepublican Kevin Kiley.[6]
The city was incorporated in 1965 by combining theunincorporated communities ofAl Tahoe,Bijou,Bijou Park,Stateline,Tahoe Valley, and Tallac Village.[21] A post office was established in 1967.[21]
Gambling arrived at the Lake in 1944 whenHarvey's Wagon Wheel Saloon and Gambling Hall opened in Nevada as one of thearea's first gaming establishments. Competition soon sprang up and so did the need for more permanent accommodations. By the 1950s, roads began to be plowed year-round, enabling access to permanent residences. When the1960 Winter Olympics came to what is nowOlympic Valley, Lake Tahoe was put firmly on the map as the skiing center of the western United States.
On December 8, 1963,Frank Sinatra Jr. waskidnapped byBarry Keenan, Johnny Irwin, and Joe Amsler. Sinatra was released, unharmed, soon after.[22]
Thedisappearance of Donna Lass on September 6, 1970, has been linked to the Zodiac Killer.[23]
Thebombing of Harvey's Lake Tahoe in 1980, took place just outside the city limits inStateline, Nevada.[24]
On May 18, 1987, Herbert James Coddington was arrested for the murder of two women and the kidnapping of two teenagers.[25] He was found guilty of these crimes and sentenced to death in 1988.[26][27]
In 1991,Jaycee Lee Dugard (age 11) was abducted from a bus stop in South Lake Tahoe; she was found alive inAntioch, California, in 2009.
On June 24, 2007, theAngora Fire broke out at the Seneca Pond recreation area nearMeyers, three miles (4.8 km) south of South Lake Tahoe.[28] The Angora Fire, so named for its proximity to Angora Ridge, stands as the worst forest fire in recorded Lake Tahoe history.[29]
The fire spread throughout the Angora region rapidly, destroying dozens of homes and large tracts of forest. Highway closures followed by evacuations put the residents in the direct line of the fire. Hotels in the area responded by opening their doors to the hundreds of evacuees who needed shelter.
On June 25, 2007, a state of emergency was announced by Lt. Gov.John Garamendi acting on behalf of the absent GovernorArnold Schwarzenegger, who was traveling inEurope. There were no deaths, but over 3,000 acres (12 km2) were burned, while more than 275 structures, including 254 homes and 26 other buildings, were damaged or destroyed.[30] On June 27, 2007, Schwarznegger toured the area after he returned to California.[31]
Full containment of the fire was announced on July 2.[32]
In 2012, the Lakeview Commons Park was renamed. As reported in the local media, "TheWashoe Tribe has presented the nameTahnu Leweh (Pronounced Tah-New Lay-Way) which, in thenative language, means 'all the people's place.' It is a name the Tribe would like to gift to El Dorado County and South Lake Tahoe as a symbol of peace, prosperity and goodness."[33]
In August 2021, the entire city was forced to evacuate due to theCaldor Fire.
South Lake Tahoe is served by a major eastwest highway,U.S. 50, which links the area withSacramento, California, andCarson City, Nevada. Highway 50 often faces closures during winter due to bad weather conditions.
TheLake Tahoe Airport serves general aviation, while the closest scheduled passenger airline service is available via theReno–Tahoe International Airport inReno, Nevada.
Local bus service is operated by theTahoe Transportation District.El Dorado Transit operates service between South Lake Tahoe,Placerville, andSacramento.
Amtrak Thruway20C provides a daily connection to/fromSacramento Valley Station to the west, with a few stops in between.[34]
In 2024, The City of South Lake Tahoe began the process of starting a Joint Powers Agreement with El Dorado County, called South Tahoe Area Rapid Transit, which would complement transit services provided by Tahoe Transportation District.[35]
The South Tahoe Airporter serves as an airport shuttle option from the Reno airport to the casinos at Stateline.[36]
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South Lake Tahoe has a snowyhighland climate featuring chilly winters with regular snowfall, and summers that feature warm to hot days and cool nights with very low humidity. The climate is either classified as awarm-summerMediterranean climate (KöppenCsb), using the 27 °F (−3 °C) isotherm of the original Köppen scheme, or a dry-summerhumid continental climate (KöppenDsb), using the 32 °F (0 °C) isotherm preferred by some climatologists. Summertime is also the dry season, with August averaging only 0.36 inches (9.1 mm) of precipitation, in contrast to February's 3.75 inches (95.3 mm). Depending on the year, snowfall can be extremely heavy in winter, with an average of 88 inches (220 cm), while the wettest "rain year" has been from July 2005 to June 2006 with 31.12 inches (790.4 mm) and the driest from July 2002 to June 2003 with 9.26 inches (235.2 mm). December 2005 has been the wettest month with 13.83 inches (351.3 mm) of total water-equivalent precipitation.
South Lake Tahoe averages 1 day per year that reaches 90 °F (32 °C) or higher, most commonly occurring in July and August. Every month of the year averages at least 1 night with a low temperature of 32 °F (0 °C) or lower and overall there are 223 mornings in an average year that fall below freezing, although only 5 fall to 0 °F (−18 °C). High temperatures below 32 °F (0 °C) occur on average 12 days per year. The record high is 99 °F (37.2 °C), set on July 22, 1988, and the record low is −29 °F (−33.9 °C), set on December 29, 1972, and subsequently tied on February 7, 1989.
| Climate data for South Lake Tahoe, California (Lake Tahoe Airport) (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1968–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 66 (19) | 65 (18) | 71 (22) | 76 (24) | 84 (29) | 91 (33) | 99 (37) | 96 (36) | 94 (34) | 84 (29) | 71 (22) | 64 (18) | 99 (37) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 54.4 (12.4) | 55.7 (13.2) | 61.4 (16.3) | 69.1 (20.6) | 76.9 (24.9) | 84.3 (29.1) | 88.8 (31.6) | 87.8 (31.0) | 83.7 (28.7) | 75.9 (24.4) | 64.9 (18.3) | 55.8 (13.2) | 89.7 (32.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 42.8 (6.0) | 43.4 (6.3) | 47.8 (8.8) | 53.2 (11.8) | 62.1 (16.7) | 72.0 (22.2) | 80.4 (26.9) | 79.7 (26.5) | 73.4 (23.0) | 62.2 (16.8) | 50.9 (10.5) | 42.8 (6.0) | 59.2 (15.1) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 30.6 (−0.8) | 31.3 (−0.4) | 35.8 (2.1) | 40.4 (4.7) | 47.6 (8.7) | 55.1 (12.8) | 61.5 (16.4) | 60.4 (15.8) | 54.4 (12.4) | 45.7 (7.6) | 37.1 (2.8) | 30.4 (−0.9) | 44.2 (6.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 18.4 (−7.6) | 19.3 (−7.1) | 23.7 (−4.6) | 27.6 (−2.4) | 33.2 (0.7) | 38.1 (3.4) | 42.5 (5.8) | 41.0 (5.0) | 35.4 (1.9) | 29.2 (−1.6) | 23.3 (−4.8) | 18.0 (−7.8) | 29.1 (−1.6) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −1.3 (−18.5) | 1.7 (−16.8) | 6.5 (−14.2) | 16.4 (−8.7) | 23.9 (−4.5) | 28.4 (−2.0) | 33.8 (1.0) | 31.9 (−0.1) | 27.0 (−2.8) | 18.9 (−7.3) | 7.7 (−13.5) | −0.9 (−18.3) | −7.5 (−21.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −21 (−29) | −29 (−34) | −10 (−23) | −1 (−18) | 7 (−14) | 21 (−6) | 25 (−4) | 24 (−4) | 19 (−7) | 9 (−13) | −9 (−23) | −29 (−34) | −29 (−34) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 2.81 (71) | 3.75 (95) | 2.87 (73) | 1.27 (32) | 1.32 (34) | 0.55 (14) | 0.39 (9.9) | 0.36 (9.1) | 0.28 (7.1) | 1.43 (36) | 1.94 (49) | 3.49 (89) | 20.46 (520) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 26.1 (66) | 26.3 (67) | 20.9 (53) | 10.1 (26) | 2.0 (5.1) | 0.3 (0.76) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.3 (0.76) | 2.0 (5.1) | 9.7 (25) | 24.6 (62) | 122.3 (310.72) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 8.6 | 8.7 | 10.0 | 8.4 | 7.4 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 5.4 | 7.5 | 10.8 | 75.1 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 6.7 | 6.3 | 5.7 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 3.5 | 6.4 | 33.8 |
| Source: NOAA[37][38] | |||||||||||||
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| Footnotes | ‡This CDP also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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