thumb|Another view of Uptown Susanville
Susanville (formerly known as Rooptown) (, bush creek country) is the only incorporated city in Lassen County, California, United States, at an elevation of . Nearly half the adult population of Susanville works at the three prisons in the area, where 6,000 people are incarcerated.
Etymology
It was originally known as Rooptown, named for Isaac Roop, a pioneer of the Honey Lake District.
History
The Susanville US post office was established in 1860. Susanville was incorporated in 1900.
Climate
Susanville has a cold semi-arid climate (Bsk according to Köppen climate classification) with cool winters and hot, mostly dry summers, except for occasional afternoon thunderstorms. Records have been kept at several stations since 1895, including Susanville Airport and Susanville 2 SW, southwest of the town center. There are two other area stations with shorter records.
Temperatures reach or higher on an average of 30.8 days annually, and drop to or lower on an average of 148.7 days annually.
|source 2 = National Weather Service
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Susanville had a population of 16,728. The population density was . The age distribution was 14.0% under the age of 18, 10.9% aged 18 to 24, 47.0% aged 25 to 44, 19.7% aged 45 to 64, and 8.5% aged 65 or older. The median age was 33.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 250.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 298.3 males.
There were 4,277 housing units at an average density of . Of these, 3,841 (89.8%) were occupied, and 10.2% were vacant. Of occupied units, 50.1% were owner-occupied and 49.9% were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.4%, and the rental vacancy rate was 8.3%.
! Race !! Number !! Percent
|-
| White || 8,253 || 49.3%
|-
| Black or African American || 1,937 || 11.6%
|-
| American Indian and Alaska Native || 536 || 3.2%
|-
| Asian || 325 || 1.9%
|-
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 257 || 1.5%
|-
| Some other race || 4,271 || 25.5%
|-
| Two or more races || 1,149 || 6.9%
|-
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 5,299 || 31.7%
|}
2023 ACS estimates
The median household income in 2023 was $57,607, and the per capita income was $20,764. About 12.9% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty line.
2010 census
At the 2010 census Susanville had a population of 17,947. The population density was . The racial makeup of Susanville was 11,269 (62.8%) White, 2,249 (12.5%) African American, 212 (1.2%) Native American, 198 (1.1%) Asian, 111 (0.6%) Pacific Islander, 2,928 (16.3%) from other races, and 580 (3.2%) from two or more races. There were 4,259 people (23.7%) of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.
The census reported that 9,439 people (52.6% of the population) lived in households, 108 (0.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 8,400 (46.8%) were institutionalized.
There were 3,833 households, 1,357 (35.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,645 (42.9%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 499 (13.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 233 (6.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 327 (8.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 16 (0.4%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,161 households (30.3%) were one person and 405 (10.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.46. There were 2,377 families (62.0% of households); the average family size was 3.05.
The age distribution was 2,559 people (14.3%) under the age of 18, 2,547 people (14.2%) aged 18 to 24, 7,633 people (42.5%) aged 25 to 44, 4,024 people (22.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,184 people (6.6%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 33.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 273.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 327.3 males.
Government
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Local government
The current city council members are:
{| class="wikitable"
!Position
!Name
|-
|Mayor
|Mendy Schuster
|-
|Mayor Pro Tem
|Russ Brown
|-
|City Councilor
|Patrick Parrish
|-
|City Councilor
|Curtis Bortle
|-
|City Councilor
|Dawn Miller
|}
List of mayors
This is a list of Susanville mayors by year.
- 1975 Jim Chapman
- 2016 Kathie Garnier
- 2018 Kevin Stafford
- 2020 Mendy Schuster
- 2022 Quincy McCourt
- 2024 Mendy Schuster
State and federal representation
In the California State Legislature, Susanville is in , and .
In the United States House of Representatives, Susanville is in .
Transportation
right|thumb|Susanville Railroad Depot, on the [[National Register of Historic Places, in 2013]]
Susanville lies at the junction of California State Routes 36 and 139. Highway 139 heads north to the Oregon border as a direct route to Klamath Falls. Highway 36 runs west to Red Bluff, and east to where it terminates with U.S. Route 395 just outside Susanville's city limits. U.S. 395 connects Alturas to the north and Reno to the south. California State Route 44 has its eastern terminus a short distance west of town, at an intersection with Highway 36. It runs west to Redding.
Susanville Municipal Airport, southeast of Susanville, serves as a public, general aviation airport. Lassen Rural Bus, operated by the Lassen County Transportation Commission, provides bus service within the city. Sage Stage, operated by Modoc County, connects Alturas, Susanville, and Reno, Nevada, with connections to Redding, California, and Klamath Falls, Oregon, as well as connections to/from Reno International Airport.
The Quincy Railroad stopped serving Susanville on the former Southern Pacific Railroad line in 2004. A Union Pacific Railroad caboose is on an intact section of track next to the rail depot.
Economy
One California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation facility, High Desert State Prison, is in Susanville.
Top employers
According to Susanville's 2014 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of Employees
|-
|1
| High Desert State Prison
|1,250
|-
|2
| Lassen County
|441
|-
|3
| Susanville Indian Rancheria
|295
|-
|4
| Lassen College
|267
|-
|5
| Banner Lassen Medical Center
|197
|-
|6
| Diamond Mountain Casino
|179
|-
|7
| Walmart
|150
|-
|8
| Susanville School District
|101
|-
|9
| Lassen Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
|101
|-
|10
| Lassen Union High School District
|85
|-
|11
| Northeastern Rural Health
|81
|-
|12
| Safeway
|80
|-
|13
| City of Susanville
|62
|-
|14
| Susanville Supermarket IGA
|48
|}
Notable people
- Dugan Aguilar (1947–2018), Maidu/Achomawi/Northern Paiute photographer
- Hardin Barry, baseball player and lawyer, returned to practice law after a one-season career in professional baseball
- Frank Cady, actor (Petticoat Junction, Green Acres, and The Beverly Hillbillies).
- Aaron Duran, writer, media producer grew up in Susanville.
- Jack Ellena, former Los Angeles Rams player, born and raised in Susanville and ran a summer camp near town
- Mike Leach, former Texas Tech, Washington State, and Mississippi State head football coach was born in Susanville.
- Mitch Lively, former player for the San Francisco Giants, was born in Susanville
- Kevin Mangold, professional jockey, stunt double, actor, author
- Freddy Nagel, bandleader
- Ryan O'Callaghan, NFL player (Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots).
- Frank Shamrock, mixed martial artist
- Ken Shamrock, mixed martial artist and professional wrestler
- Mike Skinner, NASCAR driver
- Benjamin "Coach" Wade, reality television contestant
References
External links
- SusanvilleStuff.com
- Lassen County Chamber of Commerce
- Images of Susanville from the Eastman's Originals Collection, Special Collections Dept., University of California, Davis.