| County: | Placer County |
| State: | California |
| Map Size: | 225 |
| Founded: | 1851 |
| Seat: | Auburn |
| Largest City: | Roseville |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 1503 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 1404 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 98 |
| Area Percentage: | 6.55% |
| Census Yr: | 2004 |
| Pop: | 307004 |
| Density Km2: | 84 |
| Web: | www.placer.ca.gov |
Placer County is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California, in what is known as the Gold Country. It stretches from the suburbs of Sacramento to Lake Tahoe and the Nevada border. Because of the expansion of the Sacramento metropolitan area, Placer County is one of the fastest growing counties in the state. As of 2000, the population was 248,399. In 2004, the population had grown to 307,004. The county seat is Auburn.
Placer County was created from parts of Sutter and Yuba Counties in 1851.
The county name refers a mining method known as placer mining which was used extensively in the area.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1503sqmi, of which, 1404sqmi is land and 98sqmi (6.55%) is water. Watercourses in Placer County include the American River and Bunch Creek.
There are three general aviation airports in Placer County:
The closest commercial airport is Sacramento International Airport in Sacramento.
As of the census
Web site: States Census Bureau] American FactFinder]. 2008-01-31. of 2000, there were 248,399 people, 93,382 households, and 67,701 families residing in the county. The population density was 177 people per square mile (68/km²). There were 107,302 housing units at an average density of 76 per square mile (30/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.59% White, 0.82% Black or African American, 0.89% Native American, 2.95% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 3.39% from other races, and 3.21% from two or more races. 9.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 15.5% were of German, 12.3% English, 10.6% Irish, 7.1% Italian and 7.0% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 89.7% spoke English and 6.0% Spanish as their first language.There were 93,382 households out of which 35.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.40% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were non-families. 21.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the county the population was spread out with 26.50% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $57,535, and the median income for a family was $65,858 (these figures had risen to $68,463 and $80,987 respectively as of a 2007 estimate[1]). Males had a median income of $50,410 versus $33,763 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,963. About 3.90% of families and 5.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.30% of those under age 18 and 3.80% of those age 65 or over.
| Year | GOP | DEM | Others |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 54.5% 80,209 | 43.8% 64,460 | 1.7% 2,465 |
| 2004 | 62.6% 95,969 | 36.3% 55,573 | 1.1% 1,736 |
| 2000 | 59.3% 69,835 | 36.0% 42,449 | 4.7% 5,515 |
| 1996 | 52.8% 49,808 | 37.1% 34,981 | 10.2% 9,638 |
| 1992 | 41.9% 38,298 | 33.7% 30,783 | 24.4% 22,285 |
| 1988 | 59.6% 42,096 | 39.0% 27,516 | 1.5% 1,030 |
| 1984 | 62.9% 38,035 | 35.2% 21,294 | 1.8% 1,098 |
| 1980 | 54.8% 28,179 | 33.7% 17,311 | 11.6% 5,950 |
| 1976 | 45.0% 18,154 | 52.2% 21,026 | 2.8% 1,131 |
| 1972 | 50.3% 18,597 | 45.8% 16,911 | 3.9% 1,437 |
| 1968 | 42.6% 12,427 | 48.2% 14,050 | 9.2% 2,667 |
| 1964 | 33.9% 9,389 | 66.0% 18,256 | 0.1% 31 |
| 1960 | 43.8% 10,439 | 55.8% 13,304 | 0.5% 120 |
Placer is part of California's 4th congressional district, which is held by Republican Tom McClintock. In the State Assembly, Placer is part of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th districts, which are held by Republicans Rick Keene, Ted Gaines, and Roger Niello respectively. In the State Senate, Placer is mostly in the 1st district with parts in the 4th district. Both districts are held by Republicans, Dave Cox and Sam Aanestad respectively.
In 2004, current and former Placer County social workers reported that the county had an "unwritten policy" of homeless dumping, encouraging employees to send homeless individuals to neighboring jurisdictions--namely facilities in Sacramento County. The story was initially reported in the Sacramento News & Review and corroborated in an independent story in the Sacramento Bee.[2] [3]
Based on this and other instances of homeless dumping in Sacramento, California State Assembly Member Dave Jones introduced Assembly Bill 2745, prohibiting hospitals from sending a homeless person to a facility in another county without that facility's consent.[4] The bill became law in 2006 when it was signed by Governor Schwarzenegger and included in Section 1262.4 of the California Health and Safety Code.[5] [6]