Tehama County (/təˈheɪmə/ (listen) tə-HAY-mə; Wintun for “high water”) is a county located in the northern part of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 65,829. The county seat and largest city is Red Bluff.
Tehama County comprises the Red Bluff, California micropolitan statistical area, which is also included in the Redding-Red Bluff, California combined statistical area. The county is bisected by the Sacramento River.
| Name: | Tehama County |
|---|---|
| FIPS code: | 06-103 |
| State: | California |
| Founded: | 1856 |
| Seat: | Red Bluff |
| Largest city: | Red Bluff |
| Total Area: | 2,962 sq mi (7,670 km²) |
| Land Area: | 2,950 sq mi (7,600 km²) |
| Total Population: | 65,829 |
| Population Density: | 22/sq mi (8.6/km²) |
| Time zone: | UTC-8 (Pacific Standard Time) |
| Summer Time Zone (DST): | UTC-7 (Pacific Daylight Time) |
| Website: | www.co.tehama.ca.us |
Tehama County location map. Where is Tehama County?
History
Tehama County was formed from parts of Butte, Colusa, and Shasta Counties in 1856.
The first permanent non-indigenous settlers in the area that is now Tehama County were Robert Hasty Thomes, Albert Gallatin Toomes, William George Chard, and Job Francis Dye. The four men were each given land grants by the government of Mexico in 1844. Thomes received Rancho Saucos, Toomes received Rancho Rio de los Molinos, Chard received Rancho Las Flores, and Dye received Rancho Primer Cañon o Rio de Los Berrendos. Later in the same year Josiah Belden received Rancho Barranca Colorado.
Famous early figures include Kit Carson, who took part in a fight that gave name to Bloody Island and Battle Creek, Jedediah Smith, John C. Fremont, and William B. Ide, the first and only president of the California Republic.
The history of Tehama County includes the January 1886 relocation of Red Bluff’s Chinese population, followed by the August 1886 torching of Red Bluff’s Chinatown by alleged arsonists. The January 29th, 1886 edition of The Daily Alta detailed ‘The Anti-Coolie Move’ and confirms that a secret anti-Chinese meeting was convened in the town of Tehama, and an organization established to relocate the estimated 2,000 Chinese in and around Vina. Secret daily anti-Chinese caucuses in Red Bluff were also held.
Tehama County Road Map
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,962 square miles (7,670 km), of which 2,950 square miles (7,600 km) is land and 12 square miles (31 km) (0.4%) is water. Watercourses in Tehama County include Dye Creek and Payne’s Creek. The county is intersected by Sacramento River. A small part of Lassen Volcanic National Park extends into the northeast corner of the county. The highest point of the county is Brokeoff Mountain (9,235 feet).
Adjacent counties
- Shasta County – north
- Plumas County – northeast
- Butte County – east
- Glenn County – south
- Mendocino County – southwest
- Trinity County – west
National protected areas
- Lassen National Forest (part)
- Lassen Volcanic National Park (part)
- Mendocino National Forest (part)
- Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge (part)
- Shasta–Trinity National Forest (part)
Tehama County Topographic Map
Tehama County Satellite Map
Tehama County Outline Map
