Big Creek, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Big Creek, California
|
|
|---|---|
Location of Big Creek in Fresno County, California.
|
|
 Big Creek, California
Location in California
|
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | Fresno County |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.46 sq mi (1.19 km2) |
| • Land | 0.46 sq mi (1.19 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) 0% |
| Elevation | 4,984 ft (1,519 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 151 |
| • Density | 328.26/sq mi (126.73/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP Code |
93605
|
| GNIS feature ID | 1659696; 2628711 |
Big Creek is a small community in Fresno County, California. It is located in the Sierra Nevada mountains, next to the Big Creek river. The town sits high up, about 4,984 feet (1,519 meters) above sea level. In 2020, about 151 people lived there. The area's ZIP code is 93605.
Contents
History of Big Creek
Big Creek was built where the first dam and power plant of the Southern California Edison's Big Creek Hydroelectric Project were located. This project is one of the largest in the world. It uses water power to create electricity.
The main way to get into or out of Big Creek is by Big Creek Road, which connects to State Route 168. There is also a walkway across the dam, but only employees and some residents can use it.
What Big Creek is Known For
Big Creek is important for two main things:
- Making electricity: It helps generate electric power for many homes and businesses.
- Tourism: Many people visit Big Creek for fun activities.
In the summer, visitors enjoy camping and water sports. When winter comes, people go snow skiing. Nearby, you can find Huntington Lake and Shaver Lake, which are popular spots. China Peak, a ski resort, is also close by.
Early Construction and Changes
The first pipes for the power plants, built in 1912 and 1913, came from Germany. These pipes were special because they could hold very high water pressure. After World War One, all new pipes were made in the United States.
Big Creek got its first post office in 1912. Over the years, the town had different names, including "Big Creek Flats" and "Manzanita Park."
Recent Events
In 2020, a large wildfire called the Creek Fire affected the area. Sadly, about half of the homes in Big Creek were damaged or destroyed.
People of Big Creek
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 151 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2010 |
|||
Big Creek was first counted as a special place for the census in 2010. The 2010 United States Census showed that 175 people lived there.
Most people in Big Creek live in family homes. In 2010, there were 63 households. Many of these had children under 18 living in them. The average household had almost three people.
The population includes people of all ages. In 2010, about a third of the people were under 18. Another third were between 45 and 64 years old.
Climate in Big Creek
| Climate data for Big Creek, California | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 73 (23) |
77 (25) |
76 (24) |
84 (29) |
92 (33) |
96 (36) |
102 (39) |
99 (37) |
101 (38) |
89 (32) |
85 (29) |
75 (24) |
102 (39) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 48.8 (9.3) |
50.4 (10.2) |
53.6 (12.0) |
58.5 (14.7) |
65.8 (18.8) |
74.8 (23.8) |
83.4 (28.6) |
82.5 (28.1) |
77.3 (25.2) |
67.0 (19.4) |
57.9 (14.4) |
50.8 (10.4) |
64.2 (17.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 32.6 (0.3) |
32.9 (0.5) |
34.8 (1.6) |
39.7 (4.3) |
46.1 (7.8) |
54.3 (12.4) |
61.9 (16.6) |
60.8 (16.0) |
59.1 (15.1) |
47.3 (8.5) |
39.5 (4.2) |
34.9 (1.6) |
45.3 (7.4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −1 (−18) |
7 (−14) |
11 (−12) |
18 (−8) |
21 (−6) |
31 (−1) |
41 (5) |
40 (4) |
32 (0) |
22 (−6) |
12 (−11) |
9 (−13) |
−1 (−18) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.75 (121) |
5.86 (149) |
4.44 (113) |
3.10 (79) |
1.65 (42) |
0.46 (12) |
0.18 (4.6) |
0.12 (3.0) |
0.57 (14) |
1.61 (41) |
2.61 (66) |
5.23 (133) |
30.58 (777.6) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 20.8 (53) |
19.9 (51) |
20.8 (53) |
7.8 (20) |
0.4 (1.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.3 (0.76) |
4.9 (12) |
12.5 (32) |
87.4 (222.76) |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Big Creek has a climate with warm summers and cold, snowy winters. The weather box above shows the average temperatures and how much rain and snow the area gets each month.
See also
In Spanish: Big Creek (California) para niños
