California
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California Population News Articles
Population Density
Historic & Projected Growth
Population by County
POPULATION DENSITY
People per square mile, 2010: 239.1
People per square mile, 2020: 253.7
HISTORIC & PROJECTED GROWTH 1790 TO 2040
Year |
Population |
1790 |
0 |
1800 |
0 |
1810 |
0 |
1820 |
0 |
1830 |
0 |
1840 |
0 |
1850 |
92,597 |
1860 |
379,994 |
1870 |
560,247 |
1880 |
864,694 |
1890 |
1,213,398 |
1900 |
1,485,053 |
1910 |
2,377,549 |
1920 |
3,426,861 |
1930 |
5,677,251 |
1940 |
6,907,387 |
1950 |
10,586,223 |
1960 |
15,717,204 |
1970 |
19,971,069 |
1980 |
23,667,764 |
1990 |
29,760,021 |
2000 |
33,871,648 |
2010 |
37,253,956 |
2020 |
39,538,223 |
2030 |
43,751,116 |
2040 |
46,467,001 |
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census & Weldon Cooper Center, Demographics Research Group
(The Census Bureau and Weldon Cooper Center have not yet provided updated State projections to reflect 2020 census numbers.)
Population by County
Census 2020 Population |
Census 2010 Population |
Change from 2010 |
Percent Change |
|
California |
39,538,223 |
37,253,956 |
2,284,267 |
5.78% |
Alameda County |
1,682,353 |
1,510,271 |
172,082 |
10.23% |
Alpine County |
1,204 |
1,175 |
29 |
2.41% |
Amador County |
40,474 |
38,091 |
2,383 |
5.89% |
Butte County |
211,632 |
220,000 |
-8,368 |
-3.95% |
Calaveras County |
45,292 |
45,578 |
-286 |
-0.63% |
Colusa County |
21,839 |
21,419 |
420 |
1.92% |
Contra Costa County |
1,165,927 |
1,049,025 |
116,902 |
10.03% |
Del Norte County |
27,743 |
28,610 |
-867 |
-3.13% |
El Dorado County |
191,185 |
181,058 |
10,127 |
5.30% |
Fresno County |
1,008,654 |
930,450 |
78,204 |
7.75% |
Glenn County |
28,917 |
28,122 |
795 |
2.75% |
Humboldt County |
136,463 |
134,623 |
1,840 |
1.35% |
Imperial County |
179,702 |
174,528 |
5,174 |
2.88% |
Inyo County |
19,016 |
18,546 |
470 |
2.47% |
Kern County |
909,235 |
839,631 |
69,604 |
7.66% |
Kings County |
152,486 |
152,982 |
-496 |
-0.33% |
Lake County |
68,163 |
64,665 |
3,498 |
5.13% |
Lassen County |
32,730 |
34,895 |
-2,165 |
-6.61% |
Los Angeles County |
10,014,009 |
9,818,605 |
195,404 |
1.95% |
Madera County |
156,255 |
150,865 |
5,390 |
3.45% |
Marin County |
262,321 |
252,409 |
9,912 |
3.78% |
Mariposa County |
17,131 |
18,251 |
-1,120 |
-6.54% |
Mendocino County |
91,601 |
87,841 |
3,760 |
4.10% |
Merced County |
281,202 |
255,793 |
25,409 |
9.04% |
Modoc County |
8,700 |
9,686 |
-986 |
-11.33% |
Mono County |
13,195 |
14,202 |
-1,007 |
-7.63% |
Monterey County |
439,035 |
415,057 |
23,978 |
5.46% |
Napa County |
138,019 |
136,484 |
1,535 |
1.11% |
Nevada County |
102,241 |
98,764 |
3,477 |
3.40% |
Orange County |
3,186,989 |
3,010,232 |
176,757 |
5.55% |
Placer County |
404,739 |
348,432 |
56,307 |
13.91% |
Plumas County |
19,790 |
20,007 |
-217 |
-1.10% |
Riverside County |
2,418,185 |
2,189,641 |
228,544 |
9.45% |
Sacramento County |
1,585,055 |
1,418,788 |
166,267 |
10.49% |
San Benito County |
64,209 |
55,269 |
8,940 |
13.92% |
San Bernardino County |
2,181,654 |
2,035,210 |
146,444 |
6.71% |
San Diego County |
3,298,634 |
3,095,313 |
203,321 |
6.16% |
San Francisco County |
873,965 |
805,235 |
68,730 |
7.86% |
San Joaquin County |
779,233 |
685,306 |
93,927 |
12.05% |
San Luis Obispo County |
282,424 |
269,637 |
12,787 |
4.53% |
San Mateo County |
764,442 |
718,451 |
45,991 |
6.02% |
Santa Barbara County |
448,229 |
423,895 |
24,334 |
5.43% |
Santa Clara County |
1,936,259 |
1,781,642 |
154,617 |
7.99% |
Santa Cruz County |
270,861 |
262,382 |
8,479 |
3.13% |
Shasta County |
182,155 |
177,223 |
4,932 |
2.71% |
Sierra County |
3,236 |
3,240 |
-4 |
-0.12% |
Siskiyou County |
44,076 |
44,900 |
-824 |
-1.87% |
Solano County |
453,491 |
413,344 |
40,147 |
8.85% |
Sonoma County |
488,863 |
483,878 |
4,985 |
1.02% |
Stanislaus County |
552,878 |
514,453 |
38,425 |
6.95% |
Sutter County |
99,633 |
94,737 |
4,896 |
4.91% |
Tehama County |
65,829 |
63,463 |
2,366 |
3.59% |
Trinity County |
16,112 |
13,786 |
2,326 |
14.44% |
Tulare County |
473,117 |
442,179 |
30,938 |
6.54% |
Tuolumne County |
55,620 |
55,365 |
255 |
0.46% |
Ventura County |
843,843 |
823,318 |
20,525 |
2.43% |
Yolo County |
216,403 |
200,849 |
15,554 |
7.19% |
Yuba County |
81,575 |
72,155 |
9,420 |
11.55% |
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census
California Population News Articles
Tijuana River Sewage Contamination a ‘Public Health Crisis’ – Feb 15, 2024
New study warns of worsening air pollution in California due to wildfires – Feb 14, 2024
California’s air pollution fight just got tougher: New EPA standards raise the bar on soot – Feb 7, 2024
California Sees Surge in Chinese Migrants – Feb 8, 2024
Why record rain hasn’t washed away California’s water woes – Feb 6, 2024
Recent reports reinforce migration trends out of LA, California – Jan 26, 2024
Sweeping California water conservation rules could force big cuts in some areas – September 7, 2023
Climate change makes wildfires in California more explosive – August 30, 2023
Sustained exposure to wildfire smoke reducing life expectancy in parts of California: report – August 29, 2023
Tropical Storm Hilary and Maui Fires Show Climate Change is Worsening Homelessness – August 24, 2023
How climate change shaped California’s first tropical storm in decades – August 21, 2023
Salmon fishing to be banned in California and part of Oregon after a drought and weakened protections decimated the fish population – Mar 24, 2023
What Does All This Rain Mean for California’s Drought? – Mar 23, 2023
California’s punishing winter storms pummel monarch butterfly population – Mar 17, 2023
2 California cities have worst air pollution in US: study – Mar 13, 2023
Tijuana River sewage may be contaminating air along Southern California coast: study – Mar 2, 2023
As California begins monitoring microplastics in water, experts brace for health impacts – September 23, 2022
California plans to phase out new gas heaters by 2030 – September 23, 2022
Rising homelessness is tearing California cities apart – September 21, 2022
Where Los Angeles ranks among California’s most polluted cities – September 11, 2022
California says the beaver can be superhero in fighting climate change – September 7, 2022
California housing and the super commuter problem – June 10, 2022
Parts of Southern California used 26% more water in April, despite conservation pleas – June 7, 2022
These are the impacts of California’s worst drought on record – Jun 7, 2022
4 Factors Affecting Air Pollution in California – June 2, 2022
Disaster upon disaster: Wildfires are contaminating the West’s depleting water with ashy sludge – May 29, 2022
Environmental Groups Ask California to Stop Subsidizing the Dairy Industry – February 8, 2022
Global warming could cause more California blackouts in the next decade – February 7, 2022
Climate change whiplash could mean more flooding, water-management challenges in California – January 28, 2022
Wealthy California District to Restrict Water for Residents Consistently Overusing Supply – January 19, 2022
Study: Nearly 400,000 Californians lack safe drinking water, often due to ag pollution – January 12, 2022
What is PM2.5 and why is it so bad for you? – November 2, 2021
Study: Toxic fracking waste is leaking into California groundwater – October 26, 2021
Column: California state government is admirably trying to address drought. It’s a tough nut to crack – October 21, 2021
California faces ‘existential’ dilemma in tackling climate change, housing crisis – October 17, 2021
How fires, dry conditions are drastically increasing air pollution across California – October 14, 2021
Top 10 Fastest-Growing Cities in California: See The List – August 20, 2021
New rule requires Southern California warehouses to clean up or pay up – August 18, 2021
Water shortages and drought are California’s biggest environmental concern, new poll shows – July 29, 2021
Warming California rivers are killing fish, imperiling industry – July 26, 2021
Major Measures Underway To Save California Salmon Population From Drought Conditions – Apr 30, 2021
Climate change impact increasingly felt in California – May 17, 2021
California just hit 95% renewable energy. Will other states come along for the ride? – Apr 29, 2021
Toxic algae blooms are killing sea otters in their prime, study finds – February 7, 2021
Monarch butterfly population moves closer to extinction as number wintering in California hits record low – January 19, 2021
California’s Changing Climate Gives New Fuel to Fire Season – January 19, 2021
California wildfires could upend years of progress fighting air pollution – January 15, 2021
Study: California Has Work to Do to Meet Its Emissions Goals – January 15, 2021
California’s Coastal Cleanup Results Show Pandemic Impact – October 28, 2020
One Climate-Change Wildfire Risk Lurks in the Dark – October 27, 2020
Groundbreaking study finds 13.3 quadrillion plastic fibers in California’s environment – October 16, 2020
California Wildfire Smoke Exposes Millions to Hazardous Pollution – October 15, 2020
Column: Is the California we knew and loved up in smoke for good? – September 12, 2020
RO Provides Promising Win in Battle against Water Scarcity – September 14, 2020
Agency OKs $27M to Boost Zero-Emission Vehicles in California – August 17, 2020
‘Unprecedented’: the US west’s wildfire catastrophe explained – September 12, 2020
Is Forest Management or Climate Change to Blame for California Wildfires? – September 15, 2020
Trump can’t weaken California’s climate change carbon market, federal judge rules – July 20, 2020
Trump’s smog decision fails to protect Californians from unhealthy air, experts say – July 14, 2020
California megadrought? Not if you look at precipitation – July 5, 2020
San Mateo County beaches are among most polluted in California, report says – July 1, 2020
Here’s What Climate Change Means for Wildfires in the West – June 23, 2020
California’s critical kelp forests are disappearing in a warming world. Can they be saved? – April 30, 2020
First survey of California’s bees in 50 years will look for effects of habitat destruction – May 14, 2020
Traffic Reduction Impacts Southern California’s Air Quality – May 24, 2020
The most polluted cities in America – May 22, 2020
Changing Snowmelt Threatens Valley Ag, Way of Life – May 12, 2020
California officials need to move faster on sea level rise, legislative study finds – December 10, 2019
California is home to 15 of the 30 places in the US with the worst air pollution – December 9, 2019
Housing versus agriculture: The battle for California’s land – November 26, 2019
Why Is California Approving So Many New Oil Wells? – November 18, 2019
California is becoming unlivable, according to science – November 14, 2019
Wastewater project could create drought-proof drinking water for 500,000 Southern California homes – October 10, 2019
To survive global warming, Mojave Desert birds will need a lot more water — and they probably won’t get it – October 4, 2019
The biggest likely source of microplastics in California coastal waters? Our car tires – October 2, 2019
California farmers face ‘catastrophic’ water restrictions. Can they adapt to survive? – September 27, 2019
The US does not have ‘the world’s cleanest and safest air,’ as Trump has claimed. These are the 8 states with the worst air pollution. – September 23, 2019
Greenhouse gases overall dip in California; and then there’s transportation – August 15, 2019
Rising Sea Levels Leave CA Coastal Cities with Hard Choices – August 12, 2019
WILDFIRES ARE 500% LARGER DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE – August 8, 2019
California 1st to require public notice of 5,000 toxic ‘forever’ chemicals in water – August 1, 2019
California Allocates Up to $1.3 Billion to Improving Access to Clean Water – July 25, 2019
California Taps Clean Air Money to Pay for Drinking Water – June 11, 2019
California National Parks Experience Some Of The Worst Air Pollution In The United States – May 28, 2019
San Diego Ranks Eighth In Population Growth Among Major US Cities – May 23, 2019
LOS ANGELES RANKED HIGHEST IN U.S. FOR DEATHS LINKED TO AIR POLLUTION – May 22, 2019
California’s Infrastructure Gets C- in New Report Card – May 13, 2019
As Trump tries to roll back clean water rules, California seeks stronger protections – March 25, 2019
California is home to 8 of the most polluted cities in the US – March 15, 2019
Amid e-commerce surge, California cities want relief from truck pollution – March 14, 2019
California has a weird new desert. It’s in the Pacific Ocean. – February 1, 2019
Assistance Available for California Producers to Aid Declining Monarch Butterfly – February 1, 2019
A climate problem even California can’t fix: tailpipe pollution – February 1, 2019
‘A crisis of sewage’: California lawmakers seek funding for the polluted New River – January 18, 2019