Magalia (formerly Butte Mills and Dogtown) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 7,795 at the 2020 census, down from 11,310 at the 2010 census.
History
Originally established after the 1849 California Gold Rush as a mining camp, the town was first called Mountain View. A dog breeding operation started in 1850 which led to the name Dogtown.
2018 fire
The community suffered extensive damage in the Camp Fire, a wildfire which began on November 8, 2018. As of December 13, Butte County Sheriff's Department reported that at least seven people died in Magalia during the Camp Fire. Some survivors sheltered in place at a Baptist church along the only evacuation route north of the ridge.
Geography and natural history
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , all land. There are numerous flora and fauna species found in the vicinity, including mammals such as Black tailed deer, raccoon, and grey squirrel. A considerable number of amphibians are also found such as the Rough-skinned Newt, whose southern range in the California interior occurs near Magalia. The soil, deep reddish-brown loam for the most part, supports forest dominated by tall incense cedar and bull pine.
Demographics
Magalia first appeared as a census designated place in the 1990 U.S. census.
!Pop 2010
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |Pop 2020
!% 2000
!% 2010
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020
|-
|White alone (NH)
|9,611
|9,893
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6,336
|90.94%
|87.47%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |81.28%
|-
|Black or African American alone (NH)
|39
|39
|style='background: #ffffe6; |36
|0.37%
|0.34%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.46%
|-
|Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)
|97
|118
|style='background: #ffffe6; |84
|0.92%
|1.04%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.08%
|-
|Asian alone (NH)
|59
|87
|style='background: #ffffe6; |85
|0.56%
|0.77%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.09%
|-
|Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)
|9
|17
|style='background: #ffffe6; |9
|0.09%
|0.15%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.12%
|-
|Other race alone (NH)
|20
|13
|style='background: #ffffe6; |37
|0.19%
|0.11%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.47%
|-
|Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)
|218
|378
|style='background: #ffffe6; |517
|2.06%
|3.34%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6.63%
|-
|Hispanic or Latino (any race)
|516
|765
|style='background: #ffffe6; |691
|4.88%
|6.76%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |8.86%
|-
|Total
|10,569
|11,310
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7,795
|100.00%
|100.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%
|}
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Magalia had a population of 7,795 and a population density of . 88.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 11.5% lived in rural areas. The census reported that 98.9% of the population lived in households, 1.1% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.
The age distribution was 18.1% under the age of 18, 6.0% aged 18 to 24, 21.0% aged 25 to 44, 29.2% aged 45 to 64, and 25.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49.6 years. For every 100 females there were 103.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 104.3 males age 18 and over.
Income and poverty
The median household income in 2023 was $60,625, and the per capita income was $30,786. About 6.8% of families and 14.6% of the population were below the poverty line.
2010 census
The 2010 United States census reported that Magalia had a population of 11,310. The population density was . The racial makeup of Magalia was 10,398 (91.9%) White, 40 (0.4%) African American, 141 (1.2%) Native American, 90 (0.8%) Asian, 17 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 134 (1.2%) from other races, and 490 (4.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 765 persons (6.8%).
The Census reported that 11,297 people (99.9% of the population) lived in households, 13 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 4,825 households, out of which 1,217 (25.2%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 2,483 (51.5%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 515 (10.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 278 (5.8%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 311 (6.4%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 34 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,239 households (25.7%) were made up of individuals, and 623 (12.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34. There were 3,276 families (67.9% of all households); the average family size was 2.75.
The population was spread out, with 2,165 people (19.1%) under the age of 18, 789 people (7.0%) aged 18 to 24, 2,104 people (18.6%) aged 25 to 44, 3,573 people (31.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,679 people (23.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.7 males.
There were 5,355 housing units at an average density of , of which 4,825 were occupied, of which 3,713 (77.0%) were owner-occupied, and 1,112 (23.0%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 7.1%. 8,212 people (72.6% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 3,085 people (27.3%) lived in rental housing units.
Education
Almost all of Magalia is in the Paradise Unified School District.<!--UNI 29820--> Small pieces of the census-designated place extend into the Chico Unified School District<!--UNI 08370-->.
References
External links
- Magalia info, weather, history and more
- History of Dogtown