Bear Valley, Alpine County, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bear Valley
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A snowbound cabin in Bear Valley
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Location in Alpine County and the state of California
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 Bear Valley, Alpine County, California
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | Alpine |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.18 sq mi (13.41 km2) |
| • Land | 5.16 sq mi (13.35 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2) 0.42% |
| Elevation | 7,100 ft (2,164 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 128 |
| • Density | 24.83/sq mi (9.59/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
95223
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| Area code(s) | 209 |
| FIPS code | 06-04716 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1658018, 2407814 |
Bear Valley is a small community in Alpine County, California. It is best known as the home of the Bear Valley ski area. In 2020, about 128 people lived here.
Contents
Where is Bear Valley Located?
Bear Valley is found within the Stanislaus National Forest. You can reach it by driving on State Route 4. The area covers about 5.2 square miles (13.4 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a very small part being water. Even though it's in Alpine County, the Bear Valley Fire Department works with the California Department of Forestry for help with emergencies.
What is the Climate Like in Bear Valley?
Bear Valley is in the central Sierra Nevada mountains. This gives it a special climate that is mostly warm in summer and cold in winter. It's almost like a subarctic climate, which means it gets very cold.
Weather Patterns in Bear Valley
Bear Valley gets a lot of rain and snow for most of the year. The middle of summer is usually dry, but sometimes there are thunderstorms. Most of the yearly rain and snow falls from late fall to early spring. This often comes as heavy snowfall, making it great for skiing! Summers are warm with cool nights, while winters are long and cold.
| Climate data for Bear Valley, California | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 40.0 (4.4) |
39.8 (4.3) |
43.7 (6.5) |
49.2 (9.6) |
58.3 (14.6) |
67.7 (19.8) |
75.8 (24.3) |
74.7 (23.7) |
69.1 (20.6) |
58.6 (14.8) |
46.9 (8.3) |
39.5 (4.2) |
55.3 (12.9) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 29.8 (−1.2) |
29.4 (−1.4) |
32.0 (0.0) |
36.8 (2.7) |
45.5 (7.5) |
53.4 (11.9) |
60.3 (15.7) |
59.4 (15.2) |
53.4 (11.9) |
44.8 (7.1) |
35.3 (1.8) |
29.2 (−1.6) |
42.4 (5.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 19.6 (−6.9) |
19.7 (−6.8) |
20.4 (−6.4) |
24.5 (−4.2) |
32.7 (0.4) |
39.0 (3.9) |
44.7 (7.1) |
44.0 (6.7) |
38.6 (3.7) |
30.6 (−0.8) |
23.7 (−4.6) |
18.9 (−7.3) |
29.7 (−1.3) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 11.80 (300) |
12.16 (309) |
11.40 (290) |
5.94 (151) |
4.64 (118) |
1.20 (30) |
0.44 (11) |
0.37 (9.4) |
0.91 (23) |
3.50 (89) |
6.48 (165) |
11.70 (297) |
70.54 (1,792.4) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 75.7 (192) |
71.8 (182) |
80.6 (205) |
30.9 (78) |
12.0 (30) |
0.5 (1.3) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
1.0 (2.5) |
8.2 (21) |
22.4 (57) |
73.7 (187) |
376.8 (955.8) |
| Source: PRISM | |||||||||||||
A Brief History of Bear Valley
The Bear Valley post office first opened its doors in 1967. This marked an important step in the community's development.
How Many People Live in Bear Valley?
Bear Valley is a small community. Its population changes a bit over time.
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 128 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850–1870 1880-1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 |
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Population in 2010
In 2010, the 2010 United States Census counted 121 people living in Bear Valley. Most of the residents were White. A very small number of people were of Asian background or from two or more races. Less than 1% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
There were 67 homes in Bear Valley. About 16% of these homes had children under 18 living there. Many homes were made up of individuals living alone. The average household had about 1.8 people.
The people living in Bear Valley were of different ages. About 15% were under 18, and 14% were 65 or older. The median age was about 49 years old. This means half the people were younger than 49, and half were older.
Population in 2000
Back in 2000, the census showed that 133 people lived in Bear Valley. There were 67 households, similar to 2010. Most people were White. A small percentage were Native American or from two or more races.
The average household size was about 2 people. The median age was 42 years old. This means the population was a bit younger in 2000 compared to 2010.
See also
In Spanish: Bear Valley (condado de Alpine) para niños
