# Rutherford, California

Rutherford is a census-designated place (CDP) in Napa County, California, United States. The population was 115 at the 2020 census.
Rutherford is located in the Rutherford AVA (American Viticultural Area) which is located in the larger Napa Valley AVA. The Robert Mondavi Winery is located between Rutherford and neighboring Oakville (though its corporate headquarters are in nearby St. Helena). Other notable wineries in the Rutherford area include Beaulieu Vineyard, Grgich Hills Estate, St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery, and Inglenook. The Auberge du Soleil restaurant and resort is located in Rutherford.
Rutherford's zip code is 94573. It is inside area code 707.

## History

Rutherford is located within the 11,887-acre (4,810 ha) Mexican land grant Rancho Caymus deeded to the early Napa Valley settler George C. Yount from General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo in 1838 as payment for a variety of services. Yount gave a 1,040-acre (421 ha) portion of the grant to his granddaughter Elizabeth and her husband Thomas Rutherford in 1864 as a wedding present. The Rutherfords planted vineyards and made wine in the late 1800s.
In August 2020, the Hennessey Fire was started by a lightning strike in the Vaca Mountains in the Rutherford area, resulting in widespread evacuations and the burning of over 315,611 acres (127,723 ha).

## Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP covers an area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km$^2$), 99.76% of it land, and 0.24% water.

## Demographics

The 2010 United States Census reported that Rutherford had a population of 164. The population density was 97.4 per square mile (37.6/km$^2$). The racial make-up of Rutherford was 123 (75.0%) White, 0 (0.0%) African American, 0 (0.0%) Native American, 0 (0.0%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 30 (18.3%) from other races and 11 (6.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 70 persons (42.7%).
The census reported that 164 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 71 households, of which 21 (29.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 36 (50.7%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 7 (9.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 4 (5.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 0 (0%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 0 (0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 24 households (33.8%) were made up of individuals, and 7 (9.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31. There were 47 families (66.2% of all households); the average family size was 2.89.
37 people (22.6%) were under the age of 18, 11 (6.7%) aged 18 to 24, 30 (18.3%) aged 25 to 44, 57 (34.8%) aged 45 to 64 and 29 (17.7%) were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.6 males.
There were 94 housing units at an average density of 55.8 per square mile (21.5/km$^2$), of which 32 (45.1%) were owner-occupied and 39 (54.9%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0% and the rental vacancy rate was 2.4%. 71 people (43.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 93 people (56.7%) lived in rental housing units.

## Government

In the California State Legislature, Rutherford is in the 3rd Senate District, represented by Democrat Bill Dodd, and in the 4th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Cecilia Aguiar-Curry. In the United States House of Representatives, Rutherford is in California's 4th congressional district, represented by Democrat Mike Thompson.