Yuba County (; Maidu: Yubu) is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, the population was 81,575. The county seat is Marysville. Yuba County is included in the Yuba City, California Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Sacramento–Roseville, California Combined Statistical Area. The county is in the Central Valley region along the Feather River.
Despite its name and proximity, Yuba City is in neighboring Sutter County, not Yuba County.
History
Yuba County was one of California's original counties, formed in 1850 at the time of statehood. Parts of the county's territory were given to Placer County in 1851, to Nevada County in 1851 and to Sierra County in 1852.
The county was named after the Yuba River by Captain John Sutter for the Maidu village Yubu, Yupu or Juba near the confluence of the Yuba and Feather rivers. General Mariano Vallejo said the river was named Uba by an exploring expedition in 1824 because of the quantities of wild grapes (uvas silvestres in Spanish) which they found growing on its banks.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of , of which is land and (1.9%) is water. It is California's fifth-smallest county by area. The county lies along the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, the steep slopes making it prime territory for the siting of hydroelectric power plants.
Part of the county, where Marysville (the county seat) and most of the population lives, is west of the mountains on the valley floor. There is a great deal of agriculture business in this part of the county, especially fruit orchards, rice fields, and cattle grazing.
Ecology
Studies by the Biota of North America Program suggest Yuba is the most biodiverse county in the contiguous United States, with 1,968 native vascular plant species per , a figure that shades the most species-rich parts of Florida. The county exhibits a considerable diversity of flowering plant species, among them the yellow mariposa lily, Calochortus luteus.
National protected areas in Yuba County include parts of the Plumas National Forest and the Tahoe National Forest. The county also has extensive natural areas consisting of forestation, grassland, riparian area, grassland and other habitats.
Adjacent counties
Butte County to the north
Sierra County to the northeast
Nevada County to the east
Placer County to the southeast
Sutter County to the southwest
Crime
The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense.
Cities by population and crime rates
Politics
Voter registration statistics
Cities by population and voter registration
Overview
Yuba is a strongly Republican county in presidential and congressional elections. The last Democratic presidential nominee to win a majority in the county was Jimmy Carter in 1976.
In the United States House of Representatives, Yuba County is in .
In the California State Legislature, the county is in , and .
Transportation
Major highways
State Route 20
State Route 49
State Route 65
State Route 70
Public transportation
Yuba Sutter Transit operates local bus service, as well as commuter runs to Downtown Sacramento. Greyhound buses stop in Marysville.
Airports
Yuba County Airport is three miles (5 km) south of Marysville. It is a general aviation airport.
Brownsville Aero Pines Airport is off La Porte Rd in Brownsville.
Demographics
2020 census
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
2011
Places by population, race, and income
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Yuba County had a population of 72,155. The racial makeup of Yuba County was 49,332 (68.4%) White, 2,361 (3.3%) African American, 1,675 (2.3%) Native American, 4,862 (6.7%) Asian, 293 (0.4%) Pacific Islander, 8,545 (11.8%) from other races, and 5,087 (7.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18,051 persons (25.0%).
2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 60,219 people, 20,535 households, and 14,805 families residing in the county. The population density was 96 people per square mile (37/km2). There were 22,636 housing units at an average density of 36 per square mile (14/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 70.6% White, 3.2% Black or African American, 2.6% Native American, 7.5% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 10.0% from other races, and 5.9% from two or more races. 17.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 11.2% were of German, 10.4% American, 7.6% Irish and 7.5% English ancestry according to Census 2000. 78.8% spoke English, 13.2% Spanish and 4.7% Hmong as their first language.
There were 20,535 households, out of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.34.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 31.0% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.4 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,460, and the median income for a family was $34,103. Males had a median income of $27,845 versus $21,301 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,124. About 16.3% of families and 20.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.6% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Higher education is available at Yuba Community College. The county also has a Yuba County Library system with one branch in Marysville.
Yuba County schools have a 16% suspension rate, with 2,257 students receiving suspensions out of 14,027 students enrolled in Yuba County schools.
Communities
Cities
Marysville (county seat)
Wheatland
Census-designated places
Beale Air Force Base
Camptonville
Challenge-Brownsville
Dobbins
Linda
Loma Rica
Olivehurst
Plumas Lake
Smartsville
Other unincorporated communities
Arboga
Binney Junction
Browns Valley
Eagleville
East Arboga
Frenchtown
Greenville
Hammonton
Horstville
Oak Valley
Oregon House
Rackerby
Sicard Flat
Strawberry Valley
Timbuctoo
Waldo Junction
Woodleaf
Ghost towns
Condemned Bar
Plumas Landing
Round Tent
Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Yuba County.
† county seat