La Porte is a census-designated place (CDP) in Plumas County, California, United States. The population was 65 at the 2020 census. The town was known as Rabbit Creek until 1857.
Geography La Porte is located at (39.681908, -120.984732).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , all land.
Little Grass Valley Reservoir
Completed in 1961, the nearby Little Grass Valley Reservoir is a popular summer water sports area. Hiking, equestrian, and OHV trails surround the lake.
Demographics
La Porte first appeared as a census designated place in the 2000 U.S. census.
2020 +La Porte CDP, California – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)41245695.35%92.31%86.15%Black or African American alone (NH)0100.00%3.85%0.00%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)1112.33%3.85%1.54%Asian alone (NH)0000.00%0.00%0.00%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)0000.00%0.00%0.00%Other race alone (NH)0000.00%0.00%0.00%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)1062.33%0.00%9.23%Hispanic or Latino (any race)0020.00%0.00%3.08%Total432665 100.00%100.00%100.00%
At the 2020 census La Porte CDP had a population of 65. There were 18 households, and 135 housing units.
2010 At the 2010 census La Porte had a population of 26. The population density was . The racial makeup of La Porte was 24 (92%) White, 1 (4%) African American, 1 (4%) Native American, 0 (0%) Asian, 0 (0%) Pacific Islander, 0 (0%) from other races, and 0 (0%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0 people (0.0%).
The whole population lived in households, no one lived in non-institutionalized group quarters and no one was institutionalized.
There were 15 households, 3 (20%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 7 (47%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1 (7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 0 (0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 0 (0%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 0 (0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 7 households (47%) were one person and 3 (20%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 1.7. There were 8 families (53% of households); the average family size was 2.4.
The age distribution was 4 people (15%) under the age of 18, 0 people (0%) aged 18 to 24, 3 people (12%) aged 25 to 44, 13 people (50%) aged 45 to 64, and 6 people (23%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 56 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.
There were 145 housing units at an average density of 32.5 per square mile, of the occupied units 10 (67%) were owner-occupied and 5 (33%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 17%; the rental vacancy rate was 0%. 17 people (65% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 9 people (35%) lived in rental housing units.
2000 At the 2000 census there were 43 people, 28 households, and 12 families in the CDP. The population density was . There were 131 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the CDP was 95% White, 2% Native American, and 2% from two or more races. 0% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 28 households 4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39% were married couples living together, and 54% were non-families. 50% of households were one person and 25% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 1.5 and the average family size was 2.1.
The age distribution was 5% under the age of 18, 2% from 18 to 24, 2% from 25 to 44, 54% from 45 to 64, and 37% 65 or older. The median age was 60 years. For every 100 females, there were 187 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 173 males.
The median household income was $30,781 and the median family income was $11,250. Males had a median income of $12,083 versus $0 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $18,258. There were 100% of families and 65% of the population living below the poverty line, including 100% of under eighteens and none of those over 64.
Politics In the state legislature, La Porte is in , and .
Federally, La Porte is in .
History At the time of statehood in 1850, La Porte was located in Yuba County, one of California's 27 original counties.
In 1852, Sierra County was created from part of Yuba County. After that time, La Porte was located in Sierra County.
In 1854, Plumas County was created from part of Butte County. In 1866, a further realignment placed La Porte in Plumas County,Coy, Owen Cochran (1923) The Genesis of California Counties California Historical Survey Commission where it has remained ever since.
La Porte was named Rabbit Creek until 1857.Everts Historical Marker hmdb.org Gold was found in Rabbit Creek in 1850. It was a hub of gold miningClark, W. B. (1970) La Porte Gold Districts of California California Department of Conservation/Division of Mines and Geology, Bulletin 193 activity and commerce in the region during the California Gold Rush. The town was largely destroyed by fires in 1855, 1861, 1868, 1871 and 1905.Gould, Helen Weaver (1972) La Porte Scrapbook pages 122-126
Rabbit Creek House Rabbit Creek Hotel - Rabbit Creek House was built in 1852 by Eli S. Lester. This was the first building in Rabbit Creek. The Rabbit Creek House had a Hotel, trading post and two barns for horses. Busy during the Gold Rush, the site of the Rabbit Creek Hotel is a California Historical Landmark No. 213 at the north corner of Main Street and Church Streets.Historical Landmark California State ParksRabbit Creek House hmdb.org
Civil War era
During the first year of the Civil War some residents wanted to show support for the Rebellion. They raised a Palmetto Flag near Dockery's Saloon which was described in one source as "A piece of white cotton cloth, ornamented with a charcoal sketch of a palmetto tree and black snake." Soon after it was raised the banner was removed.Nevada Democrat, 20 June 1861The weekly Butte record, June 22, 1861, page 3 The local militia known as the Sierra Greys would joined the 1st California Infantry and later became company F. On July 4, 1862, the people of the town celebrate the departure of their men to the east by raising a unique American flag with red, white and blue stripes.Malheur enterprise, February 15, 1913, p.6
Howland Flat and Poker Flat
About outside La Porte, via the Port Wine Ridge Road in adjacent Sierra County, lies the remains of the former gold mining town of Howland Flat.Howland Flat Passport In Time USFS
Also on Port Wine Ridge Road, and southwest of Mount Fillmore, the ghost town of Grass Flat is located. It is the site of extensive gold rush hydraulic mining, with a dramatic and barren landscape still remaining.
The ghost town of Poker Flat is located on the Poker Flat OHV trail in the Plumas National Forest.Poker Flat Oakland Museum of California The last-standing structure of Poker Flat, the 1886 Scott House, stood until the winter of 2014–15, when it collapsed.
Sierra longboard racing
Skiing may have been practiced in Rabbit Creek as early as 1851 by Hamilton Ward and James Murray using improvised barrel staves.Berry, William B. (1991) Lost Sierra: Gold, Ghosts, and Skis, the legendary days of skiing in the California mining camps Soda Springs: Western America SkiSport Museum p11 In 1866 the Alturas Snowshoe Club was formed at La Porte.Sacramento Daily Union Volume 32, Number 4967, 28 February 1867Mills, David C. (1938) “California Pioneers on Skis” American Ski Annual pg 35–36 This longboard racing association was founded by Creed Haymond to arrange the local Norwegian snow-shoe club tournaments at Onion Valley,"Snow Shoe Racing" Marysville Daily Appeal, Vol 17 #24, 29 January 1868 Port Wine,"Snow Shoe Races in Sierra" Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 36, Number 5596, 4 March 1869 St. Louis, Pine Grove, "Snow Shoe Race" Weekly Butte Record, March 21, 1863 p2 Howland Flat,"Snowshoe Racing at Howland Flat" Sacramento Daily Union Volume 35 Number 5304, 28 March 1868 Newark,"The News" Marysville Daily Appeal Volume V, Number 48, 25 February 1862 Gibsonville,"Racing on Snow-Shoes" Sacramento Daily Record-Union April 03, 1890 and others. The last annual La Porte tournament was held in 1911, although revivals were held in 1938, 1941, 1951–1952, 1964 and since 1993 at nearby California locations.Page, David (2017) Longboarding Through the Lost Sierra Powder magazineBerry, William B. (1991) Lost Sierra: Gold, Ghosts, and Skis Soda Springs: Western America SkiSport Museum pp222–223
California Historical Landmarks 723 and 724 note La Porte as a Pioneer Ski Area of America.Pioneer Ski Area Parks CA Plumas National Forest Service placed an informational placard atop nearby Lexington Hill, replacing a 1991 Alturas Snowshoe Club marker which commemorated the start of organized downhill ski racing in the western hemisphere.Historical Markers of Plumas County las Plumas v34 #2 2008 Plumas County Museum Association p4
Education The school district is Plumas Unified School District. - Text list
Notable people Charlotte Ah Tye Chang (1873–1972), Chinese-American activist born in La Porte Claire Cayot O'Rourke, supercentenarian and the first woman to hold public office in the state of California.
See also California Historical Landmarks in Plumas County The Union Hotel, La Porte, California Gold Country
References