South Lake Tahoe is the most populous city in El Dorado County, California, United States, in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The city's population was 21,330 at the 2020 census, down from 21,403 at the 2010 census. The city, along the southern edge of Lake Tahoe, extends about west-southwest along U.S. Route 50, also known as Lake Tahoe Boulevard. The east end of the city, on the California–Nevada state line right next to the town of Stateline, Nevada, is mainly geared towards tourism, restaurants, hotels, and Heavenly Mountain Resort with the Nevada casinos just across the state line in Stateline. The western end of town is mainly residential, and clusters around "The Y", the intersection of US 50, State Route 89, and the continuation of Lake Tahoe Boulevard after it loses its federal highway designation.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and , or 38.74%, is water. Its elevation is about above sea level.
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left|thumb|Beachfront walkway, South Lake Tahoe, Memorial Day weekend 2007
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, South Lake Tahoe had a population of 21,330 and a population density of .
The census reported that 99.0% of the population lived in households, 0.2% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.8% were institutionalized. 100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 9,266 households, out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 33.7% were married-couple households, 11.0% were cohabiting couple households, 27.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present, and 28.0% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. About 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28. There were 4,784 families (51.6% of all households).
The age distribution was 18.5% under the age of 18, 7.8% aged 18 to 24, 32.9% aged 25 to 44, 25.8% aged 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65years of age or older. The median age was 38.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 107.9 males age 18 and over.
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|+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census
South Lake Tahoe education rate from 2019–2023, of all persons aged 25 or older, 89.0% were high school graduates and 34.0% had a bachelor's degree.
Education
South Lake Tahoe and the surrounding unincorporated communities are serviced by Lake Tahoe Unified School District,<!--UNI 20640--> which is composed of four elementary schools (Bijou Community School, Sierra House Elementary School, Tahoe Valley Elementary School, and the Lake Tahoe Environmental Science Magnet School) a middle school (South Tahoe Middle School) and a high school (South Tahoe High School).
Due to budget cuts, Al Tahoe Elementary School and Meyers Elementary School closed in 2004; however, Meyers Elementary School reopened as Lake Tahoe Environmental Science Magnet School after a year's absence.
South Lake Tahoe also houses a community college, Lake Tahoe Community College.
South Lake Tahoe is the home of Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy.
Politics
The city council of South Lake Tahoe is composed of five elected members: three council members, a Mayor, and a Mayor Pro Tem. The Mayor changes every year and is elected by the City Council.
In the state legislature, South Lake Tahoe is in , A post office was established in 1967.
The disappearance of Donna Lass on September 6, 1970, has been linked to the Zodiac Killer.
The bombing of Harvey's Lake Tahoe in 1980, took place just outside the city limits in Stateline, Nevada.
On May 18, 1987, Herbert James Coddington was arrested for the murder of two women and the kidnapping of two teenagers. He was found guilty of these crimes and sentenced to death in 1988.
In 1991, Jaycee Lee Dugard (age 11) was abducted from a bus stop in South Lake Tahoe; she was found alive in Antioch, California, in 2009.
left|thumb|View of the Angora Fire from nearby|210x210px
thumb|Flames approach at 4:42pm on June 24, 2007.|448x448px
On June 24, 2007, the Angora Fire broke out at the Seneca Pond recreation area near Meyers, south of South Lake Tahoe. The Angora Fire, so named for its proximity to Angora Ridge, stands as the worst forest fire in recorded Lake Tahoe history.
The fire spread throughout the Angora region rapidly, destroying dozens of homes and large tracts of forest. Highway closures followed by evacuations put the residents in the direct line of the fire. Hotels in the area responded by opening their doors to the hundreds of evacuees who needed shelter.
On June 25, 2007, a state of emergency was announced by Lt. Gov. John Garamendi acting on behalf of the absent Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was traveling in Europe. There were no deaths, but over were burned, while more than 275 structures, including 254 homes and 26 other buildings, were damaged or destroyed. On June 27, 2007, Schwarznegger toured the area after he returned to California.
Full containment of the fire was announced on July 2.
In 2012, the Lakeview Commons Park was renamed. As reported in the local media, "The Washoe Tribe has presented the name Tahnu Leweh (Pronounced Tah-New Lay-Way) which, in the native language, means 'all the people's place.' It is a name the Tribe would like to gift to El Dorado County and South Lake Tahoe as a symbol of peace, prosperity and goodness."
In August 2021, the entire city was forced to evacuate due to the Caldor Fire.
Transportation
South Lake Tahoe is served by a major eastwest highway, U.S. 50, which links the area with Sacramento, California, and Carson City, Nevada. Highway 50 often faces closures during winter due to bad weather conditions.
The Lake Tahoe Airport serves general aviation, while the closest scheduled passenger airline service is available via the Reno–Tahoe International Airport in Reno, Nevada.
Local bus service is operated by the Tahoe Transportation District. El Dorado Transit operates service between South Lake Tahoe, Placerville, and Sacramento.
Amtrak Thruway 20C provides a daily connection to/from Sacramento Valley Station to the west, with a few stops in between.
In 2024, The City of South Lake Tahoe began the process of starting a Joint Powers Agreement with El Dorado County, called South Tahoe Area Rapid Transit, which would complement transit services provided by Tahoe Transportation District.
The South Tahoe Airporter serves as an airport shuttle option from the Reno airport to the casinos at Stateline.
Landscape
Climate
thumb|right|Climate chart for South Lake Tahoe
South Lake Tahoe has a snowy highland climate featuring chilly winters with regular snowfall, and summers that feature warm to hot days and cool nights with very low humidity. The climate is either classified as a warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csb), using the isotherm of the original Köppen scheme, or a dry-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dsb), using the isotherm preferred by some climatologists. Summertime is also the dry season, with August averaging only of precipitation, in contrast to February's . Depending on the year, snowfall can be extremely heavy in winter, with an average of , while the wettest "rain year" has been from July 2005 to June 2006 with and the driest from July 2002 to June 2003 with . December 2005 has been the wettest month with of total water-equivalent precipitation.
South Lake Tahoe averages 1 day per year that reaches or higher, most commonly occurring in July and August. Every month of the year averages at least 1 night with a low temperature of or lower and overall there are 223 mornings in an average year that fall below freezing, although only 5 fall to . High temperatures below occur on average 12 days per year. The record high is , set on July 22, 1988, and the record low is , set on December 29, 1972, and subsequently tied on February 7, 1989.
See also
- Tahoe Keys, California
- Blacklist Festival
- Susie Lake
Contemporary Development and Tourism
South Lake Tahoe has emerged as a premier alpine resort destination in the 21st century, with continued growth in tourism infrastructure and recreational amenities. The city has invested significantly in sustainable development practices and year-round entertainment options. Major developments include expansions of ski resorts, summer outdoor recreation facilities, and hospitality infrastructure. The city has also focused on managing environmental impacts associated with high tourism volumes and seasonal influx of visitors. Recent initiatives have emphasized preserving the natural environment of Lake Tahoe while accommodating growing tourism demands. Winter sports remain a primary draw, while summer activities including hiking, mountain biking, boating, and water sports contribute to year-round tourism economy. The city continues to balance economic development with environmental conservation to maintain the region's natural beauty and recreational value.