Mariposa County is one of only three counties in California that does not include any incorporated cities (withAlpine andTrinity counties being the other two). The county does include, however,17 communities that are recognized ascensus-designated places for statistical purposes. It also has the distinction of not having any permanent traffic signals anywhere in the county.
Mariposa County was one of the original 27 counties of California, created at the time ofstatehood in 1850. While it began as the state's largest county, territory that was once part of Mariposa was ceded over time to form all or part of eleven other counties, including all ofMerced,Madera,Fresno,Tulare,Kings, andKern; and parts ofSan Benito,Mono,Inyo,San Bernardino, andLos Angeles. Thus, Mariposa County is known as the "Mother of Counties".[7]
Mariposa County's original seat was a now-nonexistent hamlet known asAgua Fria (Spanish for "cold water"), about 3 miles directly west of Mariposa proper on Agua Fria Road, which runs from Highway 140 to the south, to the community of Mt. Bullion to the northwest. Frémont moved the county seat toMariposa in 1854, resulting in the construction of theMariposa County Courthouse, whose grounds occupy an entire block. The historic structure is fronted by Bullion Street; Jones Street is to the rear, with 9th and 10th Streets on either side. The courthouse's likeness is on the Mariposa County Seal.
The county took its name fromMariposa Creek, which was so named bySpanish explorers in 1806, when they discovered a great cluster ofbutterflies ("mariposas" in Spanish and Portuguese) in thefoothills of theSierra. Each year, the first weekend in May, residents mark the annual arrival of migratingmonarch butterflies with a "Butterfly Days" festival and parade.
Mariposa County is located at the southern end of California'sMother Lode region. During theCalifornia Gold Rush, great quantities of the prizedmineral were found and extracted, first in localstream-beds and later inhard rock mines. One of the most notable beneficiaries of this wealth was the famedexplorer and 1856Republicanpresidential candidate,John Charles Frémont, for whom the local hospital and Charles Street (more commonly known as "Highway 140") are named. Jessie Street, in the town of Mariposa, is named for Frémont's wife,Jessie Benton Frémont, who came to Mariposa with her husband on many extended visits although they never took up permanent residence within the county.
Two small gold mines in Mariposa County, the Mockingbird mine and the Colorado Quartz mine, intermittently produce world-class (and very expensive) specimens of crystalline gold formineral collectors. "Specimens from these occurrences commonly have bright luster and rich color, with well-developed crystals in unusual and attractive arrangements."[8] The best-known example is "The Dragon", now on display at theHouston Museum of Natural Science.[9]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,463 square miles (3,790 km2), of which 1,449 square miles (3,750 km2) is land and 14 square miles (36 km2) (1.0%) is water.[10] The county extends:
A significant portion of theMerced River's course is within the county including its whitewater runs through Yosemite and the Merced River Canyon. Its run through the Merced River Canyon contains the solehabitat for thelimestone salamander, arare speciesendemic to Mariposa County.Becknell Creek is located near the historicBen Hur.
There are a number of lakes within the county including:Lake McClure, Lake McSwain, Merced Lake, andTenaya Lake.
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 17,131. The median age was 52.1 years. 17.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 28.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 100.4 males age 18 and over.[18]
There were 7,372 households in the county, of which 22.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[18]
There were 9,760 housing units, of which 24.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.1% were owner-occupied and 27.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.7%.[18]
Mariposa County, California – Racial and ethnic composition 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.
The largest self-reported ancestry groups in Mariposa County were English (14.5%), German (13.7%), Irish (13.1%), Italian (4.1%), "American" (3.8%), Scottish (3.2%) and Portuguese (3.0%).[26]
As of thecensus[28] of 2000, there were 17,130 people, 6,613 households, and 4,490 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 12 people per square mile (4.6 people/km2). There were 8,826 housing units at an average density of 6 units per square mile (2.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.9%White, 0.7%Black orAfrican American, 3.5%Native American, 0.7%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 2.7% fromother races, and 3.4% from two or more races. 7.8% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 17.8% were ofGerman, 13.4%English, 12.7%Irish and 6.7%American ancestry according toCensus 2000. 96.0% spokeEnglish and 3.5%Spanish as their first language.
There were 6,613 households, out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% weremarried couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.6% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 29.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 104.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.4 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,626, and the median income for a family was $42,655. Males had a median income of $31,194 versus $25,440 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $18,190. About 10.5% of families and 14.8% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.
The Government of Mariposa County is defined and authorized under the California Constitution and law as a general law county. The County government is composed of the Board of Supervisors, which has legislative and executive power. It is composed of five members elected from the five separate districts of the county, on a non-partisan basis, to serve four-year staggered terms.
In its early history Mariposa was one of the most reliable Democratic counties in California. Along withColusa County, it was one of only two counties in thePacific States to supportAlton B. Parkerin 1904.[30] Over time, however, the county has steadily moved away from its Democratic roots, seen demonstrablyin 1948 whenThomas E. Dewey won Mariposa without carrying California, as part of a trend turning theGreat Basin into a rock-solid Republican stronghold.[31] Currently Mariposa is a stronglyRepublican county inPresidential andcongressional elections. The last Democrat to win a majority in the county wasLyndon Johnson in1964 but the last Democrat to win Mariposa wasBill Clinton in1992 who won a plurality by 41 votes.
United States presidential election results for Mariposa County, California[32]
Mariposa County has one hospital, John C. Fremont Hospital.[37]
According to a 2013 study, Mariposa County had the highest rate of child abuse and neglect,[38] and as recently as 2014, had the second highest of rate of unvaccinated children[39] in the state of California.
^abU.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B02001.U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Merced, Stanislaus, Calaveras, Tuolumne and Mariposa, California. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1892.
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