California

Butte

211,632
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Butte

Butte, California, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 3,574. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 211,632.

Its recorded population peaked at 220,000 in 2010, and has since declined by roughly 4 percent.

On the ground today, 2 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Chico Rancheria Massacre, Mill Creek Conflict — Final Phase (1870), and 27 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020211,632
2010220,000
2000203,171
1990182,120
1980143,851
1970101,969
196082,030
195064,930
194042,840
193034,093
192030,030
191027,301
190017,117
189017,939
188018,721
187011,403
186012,106
18503,574
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Butte

Military engagements that took place in Butte, California.

Chico Rancheria Massacre
1863
Mill Creek Conflict — Final Phase (1870)
1870

Historic places in Butte

National Register of Historic Places listings in Butte, California.

Southern Pacific Depot
Chico
Inskip Hotel
Stirling City
St. John's Episcopal Church
Chico
Magalia Community Church
Magalia
Chapman, A. H., House
Chico
Oroville Chinese Temple
Oroville
Silberstein Park Building
Chico
Honey Run Covered Bridge
Chico
South of Campus Neighborhood
Chico
Durham, W. W., House
Durham
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Other counties in California

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Everything a full report reveals about Butte County, California

This page charts the census history of Butte County, California. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Butte

When does Butte first appear in the US census?
Butte, California first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 3,574.
What is the population of Butte?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Butte had a recorded population of 211,632.
When did Butte's population peak?
Butte's recorded population peaked at 220,000 in 2010.
Were any battles fought in Butte?
2 documented military engagements took place in Butte, including Chico Rancheria Massacre, Mill Creek Conflict — Final Phase (1870).
How many historic places are in Butte?
27 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Butte, California.
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