Felton, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Felton
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Downtown Felton
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Location in Santa Cruz County and the state of California
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 Felton, California
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Santa Cruz |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.552 sq mi (11.790 km2) |
| • Land | 4.552 sq mi (11.790 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) 0% |
| Elevation | 285 ft (87 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,489 |
| • Density | 986.16/sq mi (380.75/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
95018
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| Area code(s) | 831 |
| FIPS code | 06-23826 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0277512 |
Felton is a small community in Santa Cruz County, California, in the United States. It's known as a census-designated place (CDP), which means it's an area identified by the census bureau for statistical purposes, but it's not a formally incorporated city or town. In 2020, about 4,489 people lived there. Felton covers an area of about 4.6 square miles (11.9 square kilometers), and all of it is land.
Contents
History of Felton
Early Days and Native People
Long ago, the land where Felton is now was home to the Sayant people. They spoke a language called Awaswas and were part of the larger Ohlone group. Most of the Sayant people were later moved to Mission Santa Cruz. For a while, the San Lorenzo Valley area was mostly empty, with only a few travelers passing through.
In 1833, a large piece of land called Rancho Zayante was created. It was located where the San Lorenzo River and Zayante Creek meet. This land changed hands a few times before Isaac Graham took it over in 1841. Graham started a lumber mill there, using the area's many trees.
Gold Rush and Town Growth
After California became a state in 1850, the California Gold Rush spread. Gold was found near the San Lorenzo River. Miners and lumber workers began to settle in the area, forming a community first known as "San Lorenzo."
After Isaac Graham passed away in 1863, his land was divided up. In 1868, the town was named Felton. It was likely named after John B. Felton, who was a mayor of Oakland and might have invested in the area.
Lumber, Lime, and Railroads
Felton grew because of its lumber, lime, and mining industries. In 1875, it became an important stop for transporting logs. A special flume carried logs from Boulder Creek to Felton. From Felton, a new railroad, the Santa Cruz and Felton Railroad, took the logs to Santa Cruz and then to the wharf.
For a short time, Felton was officially an incorporated town, starting in 1878. This was done to help the town deal with bigger railroad companies. However, this plan didn't work out as hoped. A new train station was built across the river, creating a place locals called "New Felton." In 1917, Felton stopped being an incorporated town and its responsibilities went back to Santa Cruz County.
Modern Attractions and Events
In 1963, the Roaring Camp and Big Trees Narrow Gauge Railroad started offering fun steam train rides for tourists. It's a re-creation of an 1880s logging camp. Today, Roaring Camp has two unique railroads: a steam-powered line that goes up Bear Mountain and another line that goes to Santa Cruz.
Felton is also home to the famous Felton Covered Bridge. This 80-foot-long wooden bridge crosses the San Lorenzo River. It was built in 1892 and is now a historic landmark, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
The Trout Farm Inn, a local spot, burned down in 2016 but reopened in 2022. In 2020, many people in Felton had to leave their homes because of the CZU Lightning Incident fires, which were large wildfires in the area.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 271 | — | |
| 1890 | 259 | −4.4% | |
| 1960 | 1,380 | — | |
| 1970 | 2,062 | 49.4% | |
| 1980 | 4,564 | 121.3% | |
| 1990 | 5,350 | 17.2% | |
| 2000 | 5,273 | −1.4% | |
| 2010 | 4,057 | −23.1% | |
| 2020 | 4,489 | 10.6% | |
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How Many People Live Here?
According to the 2010 United States Census, Felton had a population of 4,057 people. Most of the people living in Felton were White. A small number of people were from other racial backgrounds or identified as Hispanic or Latino.
The census also showed that most people lived in family homes. About 18% of the population was under 18 years old, and about 10% were 65 years or older. The average age in Felton was around 44 years old. Most homes in Felton were owned by the people living in them, while others were rented.
Economy
Felton has a few important businesses that help the local economy. There are quarries operated by Graniterock and Granite Construction. These quarries extract rock and also have an asphalt plant.
See also
In Spanish: Felton (California) para niños
