California

Placer

404,739
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Placer

Placer, California, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 13,270. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 404,739.

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

On the ground today, 34 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020404,739
2010348,432
2000248,399
1990172,796
1980117,247
197077,306
196056,998
195041,649
194028,108
193024,468
192018,584
191018,237
190015,786
189015,101
188014,232
187011,357
186013,270
Source

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

Historic places in Placer

National Register of Historic Places listings in Placer, California.

Lake Tahoe Dam
Tahoe City
Colfax Passenger Depot
Colfax
Chapel of the Transfiguration
Tahoe City
Woman's Club of Lincoln
Lincoln
Auburn Masonic Temple
Auburn
Griffith Quarry
Penryn
Mountain Quarries Bridge
Auburn
Auburn City Hall and Fire House
Auburn
Old Auburn Historic District
Auburn
Browse all Californiahistoric sites ›

Other counties in California

Explore census history and historic records for more California counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Placer County, California

This page charts the census history of Placer 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 Placer

When does Placer first appear in the US census?
Placer, California first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 13,270.
What is the population of Placer?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Placer had a recorded population of 404,739.
How many historic places are in Placer?
34 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Placer, California.
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