California

Mendocino

91,601
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Mendocino

Mendocino, California, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 55. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 91,601.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 17 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Russian River, Yuki War – Eel River Expeditions 1856, Yuki War — Round Valley Massacres (1856–1860), and 45 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202091,601
201087,841
200086,265
199080,345
198066,738
197051,101
196051,059
195040,854
194027,864
193023,505
192024,116
191023,929
190020,465
189017,612
188012,800
18707,545
18603,967
185055
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Mendocino

Military engagements that took place in Mendocino, California.

Battle of Russian River
1850
Yuki War – Eel River Expeditions 1856
1856
Yuki War — Round Valley Massacres (1856–1860)
1856
Nome Cult Farm Massacre
1856
Round Valley Conflict — Yuki Extermination Campaigns (1856–1860)
1858
Round Valley War
1859
Round Valley Massacres
1859
Round Valley Conflicts – Mendenhall's Expedition
1859
Mendocino War
1859
Mendocino War — Bloody Run Massacre (1859)
1859
Mendocino Reservation Conflicts (1860–1865)
1860
Round Valley Massacre — Nome Cult Farm
1862
Dos Rios Massacre
1863
Eden Valley Engagement 1863
1863
Nome Cult Massacre
1866
Island Mountain Massacre
1866
Bloody Rock Massacre
1871

Historic places in Mendocino

National Register of Historic Places listings in Mendocino, California.

Albion River Bridge
Albion
Point Arena Light Station
Point Arena
Mendocino and Headlands Historic District
Mendocino
Lovejoy Homestead
Branscomb
Point Cabrillo Light Station
Caspar
Weller House
Fort Bragg
Willits Depot
Willits
Navarro
Albion
Milano Hotel
Gualala
Manchester Schoolhouse
Manchester
Con Creek School
Boonville
Babcock, Dr. Raymond, House
Willits
Arena Cove Historic District
Point Arena
Buckridge Ranch House
Point Arena
Morse, LeGrand, House
Point Arena
FROLIC (brig)
Caspar
Point Arena Rancheria Roundhouse
Point Arena
Mendocino Woodlands Recreational Demonstration Area
Mendocino
Sun House
Ukiah
Seabiscuit's Stud Barn
Willits
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Other counties in California

Explore census history and historic records for more California counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Mendocino County, California

This page charts the census history of Mendocino 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 Mendocino

When does Mendocino first appear in the US census?
Mendocino, California first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 55.
What is the population of Mendocino?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Mendocino had a recorded population of 91,601.
Were any battles fought in Mendocino?
17 documented military engagements took place in Mendocino, including Battle of Russian River, Yuki War – Eel River Expeditions 1856, Yuki War — Round Valley Massacres (1856–1860).
How many historic places are in Mendocino?
45 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Mendocino, California.
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