Mad River, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mad River
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 Mad River, California
Location in California
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | Trinity |
| Area | |
| • Total | 34.653 sq mi (89.750 km2) |
| • Land | 34.653 sq mi (89.750 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) 0% |
| Elevation | 2,484 ft (757 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 361 |
| • Density | 10.418/sq mi (4.022/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP Code |
95552
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| Area code(s) | 707 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2583071 |
Mad River (which used to be called Kuntz) is a small community in Trinity County, California. It's known as a census-designated place (CDP), which means it's a special area identified by the census bureau. Mad River is located in the southern part of Trinity County.
This community sits high up, at about 2,484 feet (757 m) above sea level. If you're sending mail there, the ZIP Code is 95552. In 2020, about 361 people lived in Mad River. This was a bit less than in 2010, when 420 people lived there.
Mad River is an important stop along California State Route 36. It offers the last services like gas or food for a long stretch until you reach the Platina Store, which is about 44 miles (71 km) away. The local post office in Mad River also serves nearby communities like Dinsmore and Van Duzen. Mad River is home to Southern Trinity High School, which is the only high school in the area, and Van Duzen Elementary School.
Contents
History of Mad River
The name "Mad River" came about in December 1849, given by a group of explorers known as the Gregg Party. The story goes that the leader of the group was frustrated with his companions over their location and how they were measuring latitude. This difficult experience supposedly led him to call the stream "Mad River."
In 2000, Mad River was part of a larger area called a census county division (CCD). At that time, the population of this larger area was 838 people. Much of this former CCD is covered by two large national forests: the Six Rivers National Forest and the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Mad River itself is close to the western edge of Ruth Lake. This lake is a very important source of water for the people living around Humboldt Bay in Humboldt County.
Nearby Communities
Many of the communities that were once part of the larger Mad River CCD are located off main highways. They are also quite far, at least 100 miles (160 km), from any major city. Most of this region uses the 707 area code for phones, as their phone service comes from bigger towns in Humboldt County like Bridgeville or Garberville.
- Ruth: This community is about 18 miles (29 km) south of State Highway 36. It's famous for Ruth Lake, a long, narrow lake. Ruth Lake helps control the water flow in the Mad River. This ensures that the Humboldt Bay area has enough drinking water and water for businesses. The lake is also used for fun activities like boating, for watering crops, and to create electricity. Ruth has two stores, gas stations, and a church.
- Forest Glen: This community is found along State Highway 36, about 23 miles (37 km) southwest of Hayfork. It has a U.S. Forest Service Fire station. While it used to have a store, it is now closed. Mail and phone service for Forest Glen come from Hayfork.
Local Waterways
The Mad River area is home to several lakes, ponds, and creeks. These natural features are important for the local environment and water supply.
- Watts Lake (a small pond)
- Ruth Lake
- Horse Ranch Lake (a small pond)
- Mud Lake (a small pond)
- Antone Lake (a pond)
- Minnie Lake (a pond)
- Henthorne Lake (a pond)
- Turtle Lake (a pond)
- Lily Lake (a pond)
- Yew Wood Creek
- Anada Creek
- Alder Basin Creek
- Lamb Creek
- Littlefield Creek
- Barry Creek
- Minnie Creek
- North Fork/Middle Fork Eel River
- North Fork Mud River
- Maynard Creek
- Olsen Creek
- South Fork Trinity River
Geography and Climate
According to the United States Census Bureau, the Mad River community covers an area of about 34.65 square miles (89.7 km2). All of this area is land.
Climate in Mad River
Mad River experiences hot summers and mild winters. This type of weather is known as a warm-summer Mediterranean climate. On climate maps, this is often shown as "Csb."
Population and People
The 2010 United States Census counted 420 people living in Mad River. The population density was about 12.1 inhabitants per square mile (4.7/km2), meaning there were about 12 people for every square mile.
Most of the people in Mad River were White (91.2%). There were also small numbers of African American (0.2%), Native American (2.6%), and Asian (0.2%) residents. About 5% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
All 420 people lived in homes, not in group living situations or institutions. There were 198 households in total. About 20% of these households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had about 2.12 people.
The population included people of all ages:
- 18.1% were under 18 years old.
- 4.0% were aged 18 to 24.
- 20.2% were aged 25 to 44.
- 41.7% were aged 45 to 64.
- 16.0% were 65 years or older.
The average age in Mad River was 50.0 years. There were more males than females in the community. Out of the total housing units, about 64% were owned by the people living in them, and 36% were rented.
See also
In Spanish: Mad River (California) para niños
