Penn Valley, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Penn Valley
|
|
|---|---|
Western Gateway Park
|
|
Location in Nevada County and the state of California
|
|
 Penn Valley, California
Location in California
Penn Valley, California
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | Nevada |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.121 sq mi (5.495 km2) |
| • Land | 2.121 sq mi (5.495 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) 0% |
| Elevation | 1,401 ft (427 m) |
| Population
(2010)
|
|
| • Total | 1,621 |
| • Density | 764.3/sq mi (295.00/km2) |
| Demonym(s) | Penn Valleyian |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
95946
|
| Area code(s) | 530 |
| FIPS code | 06-56518 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1867050 |
Penn Valley is a small community in Nevada County, California. It is called a "census-designated place" (CDP) because it's a special area the government uses to collect information about people. In 2010, about 1,621 people lived here. A larger community called Lake Wildwood is nearby and shares Penn Valley's mailing address.
Contents
History of Penn Valley
The name "Penn Valley" might have come from a woman named Madame Penn. She was the first owner of the land where the town is now located.
Geography of Penn Valley
Penn Valley is located in California at these coordinates: 39 degrees 11 minutes 54 seconds North, and 121 degrees 11 minutes 20 seconds West.
The community covers about 2.1 square miles (5.5 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within its official borders.
Who Lives in Penn Valley?
The number of people living in Penn Valley changes over time.
Population in 2020
In 2020, the 2020 United States Census counted 1,593 people living in Penn Valley. There were 665 homes in the area, with 478 households.
Population in 2010
In 2010, the population was 1,621 people. Most people (about 88.5%) were White. There were also people of African American, Native American, and Asian backgrounds. About 8.8% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Most of the people in Penn Valley (99.4%) lived in homes. Only a small number lived in group housing.
There were 628 households in 2010. About 31.1% of these homes had children under 18 living there. Many homes (47.9%) were married couples living together. The average household had about 2.57 people.
The population included people of all ages. About 22.4% were under 18 years old. Many people (31.2%) were between 45 and 64 years old. The average age was 44.5 years.
Most homes (77.2%) were owned by the people living in them. The rest were rented.
Fun Things to Do in Penn Valley
There are several places near Penn Valley where you can enjoy the outdoors:
Yearly Rodeo Event
Penn Valley is famous for its yearly rodeo event, which happens in late Spring. This event can attract as many as 5,000 people! The Penn Valley Community Rodeo Association has organized it since 2005.
History of the Rodeo
The rodeo started in the 1950s to help the Penn Valley Fire Department raise money. A local cowboy named George Alan Smith had the idea. He helped build the rodeo grounds himself with a bulldozer. Friends and family helped him build fences, chutes, and bleachers.
The first rodeos included fun entertainment during breaks. A local rancher named Larry Filer and his horse, Jim, would perform tricks. Jim was known for his funny actions like pulling handkerchiefs and playing dead. The rodeo quickly became a popular summer event for people from all over California.
Famous People from Penn Valley
- Chuck Yeager: A retired General in the United States Air Force who was the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound.
- Tanner Vallejo: An NFL football player.
Images for kids
-
Western Gateway Park
-
Ready Springs School
See also
In Spanish: Penn Valley (California) para niños
