California

Sierra

3,236
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Sierra

Sierra, California, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 11,387. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 3,236.

Its recorded population peaked at 11,387 in 1860, and has since declined by roughly 72 percent.

On the ground today, 2 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Grouse Creek Massacre, Central Pacific Railroad — Chinese Workers Strike 1867, and 14 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20203,236
20103,240
20003,555
19903,318
19803,073
19702,365
19602,247
19502,410
19403,025
19302,422
19201,783
19104,098
19004,017
18905,051
18806,623
18705,619
186011,387
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Sierra

Military engagements that took place in Sierra, California.

Grouse Creek Massacre
1850
Central Pacific Railroad — Chinese Workers Strike 1867
1867

Historic places in Sierra

National Register of Historic Places listings in Sierra, California.

Sierra County Sheriff's Gallows
Downieville
Foote's Crossing Road
Nevada City
Webber Lake Hotel
Sierraville
Sierraville School
Sierraville
Hospital Bridge
Downieville
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Everything a full report reveals about Sierra County, California

This page charts the census history of Sierra 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 Sierra

When does Sierra first appear in the US census?
Sierra, California first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 11,387.
What is the population of Sierra?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Sierra had a recorded population of 3,236.
When did Sierra's population peak?
Sierra's recorded population peaked at 11,387 in 1860.
Were any battles fought in Sierra?
2 documented military engagements took place in Sierra, including Grouse Creek Massacre, Central Pacific Railroad — Chinese Workers Strike 1867.
How many historic places are in Sierra?
14 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Sierra, California.
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