Sutter County Demographics
According to 2000 population estimates (
see 2002 update below),
Sutter County is home to approximately 78,930 people, making it the 38th largest of
California's 58 counties. There are two incorporated cities, Yuba City with a
population of 36,758 (2000), and Live Oak with 6,229 (2000) residents. The
remaining residents live within the small communities of Tierra Buena, Meridian,
Rio Oso, Trowbridge, Sutter, Pleasant Grove, Nicolaus, East Nicolaus, Riego or
Robbins, or reside in the vast rural, agricultural areas which make up Sutter
County.
(Note: Walton Ave. annexation, which occurred after Census 2000
counts, added 7,745 persons to Yuba City; therefore, the 36,758 is a
pre-annexation count)
The 2000 U. S. Census shows that Caucasians made
up nearly 67.5% of Sutter County's population. The remainder of the population
includes Hispanics (22.2%), Asians, including Sutter County's large East Indian
population (11.3%), African Americans (1.9%), and Native Americans
(1.6%).
The median age in Sutter County, according to the
2000 census, was 34.1 years, Children accounted for over 31.8% of the population
and seniors (65 and older) made up approximately 12.4%.
In the 2000 General Election, there were 37,570
registered voters in Sutter County. Party affiliation was as follows:
| Party |
# of
People |
Percent |
| Republican |
18,536 |
49% |
| Democrat |
13,337 |
35% |
| Decline to State (No
party) |
3,126 |
8% |
| Miscellaneous |
1,142 |
3% |
| American Independent |
874 |
2% |
| Peace & Freedom |
166 |
<1% |
| Libertarian |
205 |
<1% |
| Green |
94 |
<1% |
| Reform |
72 |
<1% |
| Natural Law |
18 |
<1% |
Sutter County has shown a high
unemployment rate, an average of 11.6% in 2000. However, this is a significant
decrease from 1996 when it was 15.7%. Many people who choose to live in Sutter
County commute to work in one of the many surrounding counties.
The availability of water, plus long sunny
growing seasons, make Sutter County an outstanding fertile area for agriculture.
With over 77% of the County's total acreage classified as "important farmland,"
with 43.5% considered prime, coupled with the high value of agricultural
production, Sutter County is one of the most intensively farmed counties in
California. Agricultural products grown in Sutter County are exported throughout
the world.
2002 Update: According to 2002 U.S. Census Bureau population
estimates, Sutter County is now home to approximately 82,580 people and the
incorporated cities of Yuba City and Live Oak now have populations of 47,213 and 6,405,
respectively.