California

Modoc

8,700
2020 population
1880
first census record
15
census records

About Modoc

Modoc, California, first appears in the United States federal census in 1880, when it recorded a population of 4,399. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 8,700.

Its recorded population peaked at 9,686 in 2010, and has since declined by roughly 10 percent.

On the ground today, 17 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Modoc Volcanic Tablelands Conflict, Applegate Trail – Tule Lake Massacre Site, Surprise Valley Border Fight, and 18 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20208,700
20109,686
20009,449
19909,678
19808,610
19707,469
19608,308
19509,678
19408,713
19308,038
19205,425
19106,191
19005,076
18904,986
18804,399
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Modoc

Military engagements that took place in Modoc, California.

Modoc Volcanic Tablelands Conflict
1000
Applegate Trail – Tule Lake Massacre Site
1852
Surprise Valley Border Fight
1865
Battle of Infernal Caverns Approach (September 1867)
1867
Infernal Caverns Fight 1867
1867
Snake War – Battle at Infernal Caverns
1867
Battle of Infernal Caverns
1867
Modoc War — Hot Creek Modoc Raids 1872
1872
Modoc War — Sorass Lake Fight (May 10, 1873)
1873
Battle of Sorass Lake
1873
Captain Jack's Capture
1873
Modoc War — Hardin Butte Skirmish (May 22, 1873)
1873
Battle of Land's Ranch
1873
Modoc War — Battle of Dry Lake (May 10, 1873)
1873
Surprise Valley Fight — Modoc territory
1873
Modoc War – Battle of Sorass Lake
1873
Tule Lake War Relocation Center
1942

Historic places in Modoc

National Register of Historic Places listings in Modoc, California.

NCO Railway Depot
Alturas
Fern Cave Archeological Site
Tule Lake
Petroglyph Point Archeological Site
Tulelake
Lava Beds National Monument Archeological District
Tulelake
Nevada-California-Oregon Railway Co. General Office Building
Alturas
Jess Valley Schoolhouse
Likely
Tule Lake Segregation Center
Newell
Browse all Californiahistoric sites ›

Other counties in California

Explore census history and historic records for more California counties.

LassenLos AngelesMaderaMarinMariposaMendocinoMercedMonoMontereyNapaNevadaOrangePlacerPlumasRiversideSacramentoSan BenitoSan BernardinoSan DiegoSan Francisco
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Modoc County, California

This page charts the census history of Modoc 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.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Modoc County, California report
Or see a real report first

Explore California records

Californiahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from California›

Frequently asked about Modoc

When does Modoc first appear in the US census?
Modoc, California first appears in the federal census in 1880, with a recorded population of 4,399.
What is the population of Modoc?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Modoc had a recorded population of 8,700.
When did Modoc's population peak?
Modoc's recorded population peaked at 9,686 in 2010.
Were any battles fought in Modoc?
17 documented military engagements took place in Modoc, including Modoc Volcanic Tablelands Conflict, Applegate Trail – Tule Lake Massacre Site, Surprise Valley Border Fight.
How many historic places are in Modoc?
18 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Modoc, California.
Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report