Ukiah, California

Ukiah is the county seat of Mendocino County, California. The population was 15,497 at the 2000 census. It is the governing body and most populated part of Ukiah Valley.

Geography

Ukiah is located at (39.148761, -123.208612).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.3 km² (4.7 mi²), all land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 15,497 people, 5,985 households, and 3,656 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,265.0/km² (3,274.9/mi²). There were 6,137 housing units at an average density of 501.0/km² (1,296.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 79.53% White, 0.96% African American, 3.79% Native American, 1.68% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 9.67% from other races, and 4.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 19.31% of the population.

There were 5,985 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.2% were married couples living together, 15.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,707, and the median income for a family was $39,524. Males had a median income of $31,608 versus $24,673 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,601. About 13.2% of families and 18.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.4% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.

Exports

Ukiah, like many areas of California, is known for wine production. In 1769, Franciscan missionary Father Junipero Serra planted the first California vineyard at Mission San Diego. Father Serra continued to establish eight more missions and vineyards until his death in 1784 and has been called the "Father of California Wine". However, Charles Krug is credited with establishing Northern California's first commercial winery in 1861 in the Napa Valley, and by 1889 there were more than 140 wineries in operation.

Ukiah is also a major producer of pears. The Alex R. Thomas Company owns hundreds of acres of Bartlett pear orchards on the east side of the Ukiah Valley. Many local residents and migrant workers are employed packing the pears for export around the United States and the world. Other, smaller orchards are owned by local families.

Other important Ukiah products include grapes (wine and non-wine use) and lumber. The Ukiah area is at the headwaters of the Russian River (California) and its rich bottomland supports many small and mostly organic farms that grow fruits, vegetables, sheep and cattle, and of course, marijuana.

Arts and Culture

Home to the Ukiah Players Theatre
Home to The Mendocino Ballet

Trivia And Facts

Ukiah, with its relatively accessible location on Highway 101, is the city center for the populations of Mendocino County and neighboring Lake County, California.

Ukiah is the county seat and largest town in Mendocino County, California, which is one of the three counties in the Emerald Triangle, the largest producer of marijuana in the United States. In 2000, Mendocino County led the way for medical marijuana use by being the first place in the United States to legalize it on a local level. Measure G passed with a 51% majority vote, legalizing the use of medical cannabis for the first time since 1937.

Mendocino County was the first county in the United States to ban the cultivation of genetically modified organisms in 2004, with the passage of Measure H.

The Ukiah area suffers from there being a great deal of Naturally Occurring Asbestos (NOA) in the soil, as do many parts of California. For more information, see the Air Quality District's page on NOA.

Just east of Ukiah is the 488-acre City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, one of the largest Buddhist temples in the Western Hemisphere.

Ukiah is ranked the #1 best small town to live within California and the sixth best place to live in the United States according to The 100 Best Small Towns in America, by Norman Crampton.

The Ukiah Brewing Company is America's first certified organic brewery, and the nation's second organic restaurant.

Ukiah is home to the world famous Vichy Springs, known for their champagne baths. Many celebrities have stayed here - it is historically known as Jack London's 'favorite hot spot'.

Ukiah is the largest producer of Bartlett Pears in the world.

The Ukiah vicinity is home to some of the most prestigious wine labels in the nation, including Fetzer, Parducci, Frey, and Bonterra. Ukiah vintners are known for revolutionizing wine cultivation with organic and sustainable practices.

Ukiah is the home of the punk rock band AFI.

Ukiah is featured prominently in C.D. Payne's novel "Youth In Revolt".

Ukiah was the home of Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple during the late 1960s and early 1970s, before subsequent organizational moves to San Francisco and later Guyana.

External links

Cities in California | Mendocino County, California | Micropolitan areas of California