# South Lake Tahoe, California

South Lake Tahoe is the most populous incorporated city in El Dorado County, California, United States, in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The city's population was 21,330 at the 2020 census, down from 21,403 at the 2010 census. The city, along the southern edge of Lake Tahoe, extends about 5 miles (8 km) west-southwest along U.S. Route 50, also known as Lake Tahoe Boulevard. The east end of the city, on the California–Nevada state line right next to the town of Stateline, Nevada, is mainly geared towards tourism, restaurants, hotels, and Heavenly Mountain Resort with the Nevada casinos just across the state line in Stateline. The western end of town is mainly residential, and clusters around "The Y", the intersection of US 50, State Route 89, and the continuation of Lake Tahoe Boulevard after it loses its federal highway designation.

## Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.6 square miles (43 km$^2$), of which 10.2 square miles (26 km$^2$) is land and 6.4 square miles (17 km$^2$), or 38.80%, is water. Its elevation is about 6,237 feet (1,901 m) above sea level.

## Demographics

The 2010 United States Census reported that South Lake Tahoe had a population of 21,403. The population density was 1,289.1 inhabitants per square mile (497.7/km$^2$). The racial makeup of South Lake Tahoe was 15,733 (73.5%) White, 182 (0.9%) African American, 232 (1.1%) Native American, 1,186 (5.5%) Asian, 39 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 3,230 (15.1%) from other races, and 801 (3.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6,665 persons (31.1%).
The Census reported that 21,034 people (98.3% of the population) lived in households, 181 (0.8%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 188 (0.9%) were institutionalized.
There were 8,918 households, out of which 2,421 (27.1%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 3,100 (34.8%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 983 (11.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 594 (6.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 857 (9.6%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 67 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 2,918 households (32.7%) were made up of individuals, and 652 (7.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36. There were 4,677 families (52.4% of all households); the average family size was 3.06.
The population was spread out, with 4,400 people (20.6%) under the age of 18, 2,478 people (11.6%) aged 18 to 24, 6,416 people (30.0%) aged 25 to 44, 6,013 people (28.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,096 people (9.8%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 113.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.7 males.
There were 15,087 housing units at an average density of 908.7 per square mile (350.9/km$^2$), of which 8,918 were occupied, of which 3,473 (38.9%) were owner-occupied, and 5,445 (61.1%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.5%; the rental vacancy rate was 14.6%. 7,684 people (35.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 13,350 people (62.4%) lived in rental housing units.
There was a difference in population based on the 2020 United States census, which reported that South Lake Tahoe had a decrease in population from 21,403 in 2010 to the most recent census, of July 2020 to 21,175 inhabitants.
South Lake Tahoe education rate from 2017-2021, high school graduates or higher, 87.0% of persons age 25 years+.

## Education

South Lake Tahoe and the surrounding unincorporated communities are serviced by Lake Tahoe Unified School District, which is composed of four elementary schools (Bijou Community School, Sierra House Elementary School, Tahoe Valley Elementary School, and the Lake Tahoe Environmental Science Magnet School) a middle school (South Tahoe Middle School) and a high school (South Tahoe High School).
Due to budget cuts, Al Tahoe Elementary School and Meyers Elementary School closed in 2004; however, Meyers Elementary School reopened as Lake Tahoe Environmental Science Magnet School after a year's absence.
South Lake Tahoe also houses a community college, Lake Tahoe Community College.
South Lake Tahoe is the home of Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy.

## Politics

The city council of South Lake Tahoe is composed of five elected members: three council members, a Mayor, and a Mayor Pro Tem. The Mayor changes every year and is elected by the City Council.
In the state legislature, South Lake Tahoe is in the 1st Senate District, represented by Republican Megan Dahle, and the 5th Assembly District, represented by Republican Joe Patterson.
Federally, South Lake Tahoe is in California's 3rd congressional district, represented by Republican Kevin Kiley.

## History

The city incorporated in 1965 by combining the previously unincorporated communities of Al Tahoe, Bijou, Bijou Park, Stateline, Tahoe Valley, and Tallac Village. A post office was established in 1967.
Gambling arrived at the Lake in 1944, when Harvey's Wagon Wheel Saloon and Gambling Hall opened in Nevada as one of the area's first gaming establishments. Competition soon sprang up and so did the need for more permanent accommodations. By the 1950s, roads began to be plowed year-round, enabling access to permanent residences. When the 1960 Winter Olympics came to what is now Olympic Valley, Lake Tahoe was put firmly on the map as the skiing center of the western United States.
In 2012, the Lakeview Commons Park was renamed. As reported in the local media, "The Washoe Tribe has presented the name Tahnu Leweh (Pronounced Tah-New Lay-Way) which, in native language, means 'all the people's place.' It is a name the Tribe would like to gift to El Dorado County and South Lake Tahoe as a symbol of peace, prosperity and goodness."
In August 2021, the entire city was forced to evacuate due to the Caldor Fire.

## Crime

Some notable crimes have taken place in, or been linked to, South Lake Tahoe.
On December 8, 1963, Frank Sinatra Jr. was kidnapped by Barry Keenan, Johnny Irwin, and Joe Amsler. Sinatra was released, unharmed, soon after.
The disappearance of Donna Lass on September 6, 1970, has been linked to the Zodiac Killer.
The bombing of Harvey's Lake Tahoe in 1980, took place just outside the city limits in Stateline, Nevada.
On May 18, 1987, Herbert James Coddington was arrested for the murder of two women and the kidnapping of two teenagers. He was found guilty of these crimes and sentenced to death in 1988.
In 1991, Jaycee Lee Dugard (age 11) was abducted from a bus stop in South Lake Tahoe; she was found alive in Antioch, California, in 2009.

## Transportation

South Lake Tahoe is served by a major east–west highway, U.S. 50, which links the area with Sacramento, California, and Carson City, Nevada. Highway 50 often faces closures during winter due to bad weather conditions.
The Lake Tahoe Airport serves general aviation, while the closest scheduled passenger airline service is available via the Reno–Tahoe International Airport in Reno, Nevada.
Local bus service is operated by the Tahoe Transportation District. El Dorado Transit operates service between South Lake Tahoe, Placerville, and Sacramento.
Amtrak Thruway 20C provides a daily connection to/from Sacramento Valley Station to the west, with a few stops in between.
In 2024, The City of South Lake Tahoe began the process of starting a Joint Powers Agreement with El Dorado County, called South Tahoe Area Rapid Transit, which would compliment transit services provided by Tahoe Transportation District.
The South Tahoe airporter serves as an airport shuttle option from the Reno airport to the casinos at Stateline.

## Climate

South Lake Tahoe has a snowy highland climate featuring chilly winters with regular snowfall, and summers that feature warm to hot days and cool nights with very low humidity. The climate is either classified as a warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csb), using the 27 °F (−3 °C) isotherm of the original Köppen scheme, or a dry-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dsb), using the 32 °F (0 °C) isotherm preferred by some climatologists. Summertime is also the dry season, with August averaging only 0.36 inches (9.1 mm) of precipitation, in contrast to February's 3.75 inches (95.3 mm). Depending on the year, snowfall can be extremely heavy in winter, with an average of 88 inches (220 cm), while the wettest “rain year” has been from July 2005 to June 2006 with 31.12 inches (790.4 mm) and the driest from July 2002 to June 2003 with 9.26 inches (235.2 mm). December 2005 has been the wettest month with 13.83 inches (351.3 mm) of total water-equivalent precipitation.
South Lake Tahoe averages 1 day per year that reaches 90 °F (32 °C) or higher, most commonly occurring in July and August. Every month of the year averages at least 1 night with a low temperature of 32 °F (0 °C) or lower and overall there are 223 mornings in an average year that fall below freezing, although only 5 fall to 0 °F (−18 °C). High temperatures below 32 °F (0 °C) occur on average on 12 days per year. The all-time record high is 99 °F (37.2 °C), set on July 22, 1988, and the all-time record low is −29 °F (−33.9 °C), set on December 29, 1972, and subsequently tied on February 7, 1989.
Climate data for South Lake Tahoe, California (Lake Tahoe Airport) (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1968–present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 66 (19) | 65 (18) | 71 (22) | 76 (24) | 84 (29) | 91 (33) | 99 (37) | 96 (36) | 94 (34) | 84 (29) | 71 (22) | 64 (18) | 99 (37) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 54.4 (12.4) | 55.7 (13.2) | 61.4 (16.3) | 69.1 (20.6) | 76.9 (24.9) | 84.3 (29.1) | 88.8 (31.6) | 87.8 (31.0) | 83.7 (28.7) | 75.9 (24.4) | 64.9 (18.3) | 55.8 (13.2) | 89.7 (32.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 42.8 (6.0) | 43.4 (6.3) | 47.8 (8.8) | 53.2 (11.8) | 62.1 (16.7) | 72.0 (22.2) | 80.4 (26.9) | 79.7 (26.5) | 73.4 (23.0) | 62.2 (16.8) | 50.9 (10.5) | 42.8 (6.0) | 59.2 (15.1) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 30.6 (−0.8) | 31.3 (−0.4) | 35.8 (2.1) | 40.4 (4.7) | 47.6 (8.7) | 55.1 (12.8) | 61.5 (16.4) | 60.4 (15.8) | 54.4 (12.4) | 45.7 (7.6) | 37.1 (2.8) | 30.4 (−0.9) | 44.2 (6.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 18.4 (−7.6) | 19.3 (−7.1) | 23.7 (−4.6) | 27.6 (−2.4) | 33.2 (0.7) | 38.1 (3.4) | 42.5 (5.8) | 41.0 (5.0) | 35.4 (1.9) | 29.2 (−1.6) | 23.3 (−4.8) | 18.0 (−7.8) | 29.1 (−1.6) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −1.3 (−18.5) | 1.7 (−16.8) | 6.5 (−14.2) | 16.4 (−8.7) | 23.9 (−4.5) | 28.4 (−2.0) | 33.8 (1.0) | 31.9 (−0.1) | 27.0 (−2.8) | 18.9 (−7.3) | 7.7 (−13.5) | −0.9 (−18.3) | −7.5 (−21.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −21 (−29) | −29 (−34) | −10 (−23) | −1 (−18) | 7 (−14) | 21 (−6) | 25 (−4) | 24 (−4) | 19 (−7) | 9 (−13) | −9 (−23) | −29 (−34) | −29 (−34) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.81 (71) | 3.75 (95) | 2.87 (73) | 1.27 (32) | 1.32 (34) | 0.55 (14) | 0.39 (9.9) | 0.36 (9.1) | 0.28 (7.1) | 1.43 (36) | 1.94 (49) | 3.49 (89) | 20.46 (520) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 26.1 (66) | 26.3 (67) | 20.9 (53) | 10.1 (26) | 2.0 (5.1) | 0.3 (0.76) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.3 (0.76) | 2.0 (5.1) | 9.7 (25) | 24.6 (62) | 122.3 (310.72) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 8.6 | 8.7 | 10.0 | 8.4 | 7.4 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 5.4 | 7.5 | 10.8 | 75.1 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 6.7 | 6.3 | 5.7 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 3.5 | 6.4 | 33.8 |
| Source: NOAA ||||||||||||||

## Angora Fire

On June 24, 2007, a wildfire broke out at the Seneca Pond recreation area near Meyers, three miles south of South Lake Tahoe. The Angora Fire, so named for its proximity to Angora Ridge, stands as the worst forest fire in recorded Lake Tahoe history.
The fire spread throughout the Angora region rapidly, destroying dozens of homes and large tracts of forest. Highway closures followed by evacuations put the residents in the direct line of the fire. Hotels in the area responded by opening their doors to the hundreds of evacuees who needed shelter.
On June 25, 2007, a state of emergency was announced by Lt. Gov. John Garamendi acting on behalf of the absent Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was traveling in Europe. There were no deaths, but over 3,000 acres (12 km$^2$) were burned, while more than 275 structures, including 254 homes and 26 other buildings, were damaged or destroyed. On June 27, 2007, Schwarznegger toured the area after he returned to California.
Full containment of the fire was announced on July 2.