Yosemite Valley (Yosemite, Miwok for "killer") is a census-designated place (CDP) in Mariposa County, California, United States. It consists of Yosemite Village, the main developed area, together with adjacent areas of the Yosemite Valley within Yosemite National Park. The population was 337 at the 2020 census.
19th century
In 1855, James Mason Hutchings organized the first recreational visit to Yosemite Valley and published accounts that drew national attention to the area. In 1857, Gustavus Adolphus Hite filed a pre-emption claim in central Yosemite Valley; the following year he built a two-story hotel that was the first permanent structure in the area that became Yosemite Village. The first US post office opened in 1869, originally named "Yo Semite"; the spelling was changed to "Yosemite" in 1908 and to "Yosemite National Park" in 1922. Yosemite National Park was established by Congress in 1890, reclaiming the valley from state management.
20th century
In 1906, Major H.C. Benson was commanded to build and garrison Fort Yosemite in the valley.
Mean daily temperatures range from to at Tuolumne Meadows at . At the Wawona Entrance (elevation ), mean daily temperature ranges from . At the lower elevations below , temperatures are hotter; the mean daily high temperature at Yosemite Valley (elevation ) varies from . At elevations above , the hot, dry summer temperatures are moderated by frequent summer thunderstorms, along with snow that can persist into July. The combination of dry vegetation, low relative humidity, and thunderstorms results in frequent lightning-caused fires as well.
|source 2 = Weather Atlas
Demographics
Yosemite Valley first appeared as a census-designated place in the 2000 United States census.
The census reported that 96.4% of the population lived in households, 3.6% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.
The age distribution was 61 people (18.1%) under the age of 18, 25 people (7.4%) aged 18 to 24, 142 people (42.1%) aged 25 to 44, 87 people (25.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 22 people (6.5%) who were 65years of age or older. The median age was 36.3years. For every 100 females, there were 87.2 males.
The census reported that 511 people (49.4% of the population) lived in households, 524 (50.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.
There were 282 households, 44 (15.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 74 (26.2%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 6 (2.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 6 (2.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 21 (7.4%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 3 (1.1%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 127 households (45.0%) were one person and 12 (4.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 1.81. There were 86 families (30.5% of households); the average family size was 2.84.
The age distribution was 81 people (7.8%) under the age of 18, 140 people (13.5%) aged 18 to 24, 413 people (39.9%) aged 25 to 44, 378 people (36.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 23 people (2.2%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 37.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 148.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 157.1 males.
There were 323 housing units at an average density of 152.3 per square mile, of the occupied units 2 (0.7%) were owner-occupied and 280 (99.3%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0%; the rental vacancy rate was 1.8%. 3 people (0.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 508 people (49.1%) lived in rental housing units.
Government
In the California State Legislature, Yosemite Valley is in , and .
In the United States House of Representatives, Yosemite Valley is in .