Rail Road Flat, California

Rail Road Flat is a census-designated place located in Calaveras County, California. As of the 2000 census, the CDP had a total population of 549.

History

This historic mining town, elevation 2,600 feet, was named after primitive mule-drawn ore cars used here. There was never actually a railroad here. The town was established in 1849. It was the site of an Indian council as well as the center of rich placer and quartz mining. Its largest producer was the Petticoat Mine. The post office was established in 1857, and the Edwin Taylor store built in 1867. The town's population was decimated in 1880 by black fever.

The Clark Reservoir was created when an engineer named W.V. Clark constructed a ditch from the Mokelumne River, as there was not much water to work the placers. The reservoir, located on his property, supplied water to the mines and to the town.

The town is registered as California Historical Landmark #286.

Geography

Location of Rail Road Flat, California

Rail Road Flat is located at 38°19'27" North, 120°30'29" West (38.324115, -120.507930)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 85.5 km² (33.0 mi²). 85.1 km² (32.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.4 km² (0.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.48% water.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 549 people, 240 households, and 150 families residing in the CDP. The population density is 6.5/km² (16.7/mi²). There are 326 housing units at an average density of 3.8/km² (9.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP is 92.17% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 1.46% Native American, 0.91% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 1.82% from other races, and 3.28% from two or more races. 5.28% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 240 households out of which 20.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% are married couples living together, 9.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% are non-families. 26.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.29 and the average family size is 2.72.

In the CDP the population is spread out with 19.5% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 21.1% from 25 to 44, 35.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 47 years. For every 100 females there are 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 94.7 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP is $35,938, and the median income for a family is $35,278. Males have a median income of $32,083 versus $28,750 for females. The per capita income for the CDP is $18,454. 18.4% of the population and 6.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 24.7% of those under the age of 18 and 6.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.