Eastern California

Eastern California is a region defined as either the strip to the east of the crest of the Sierra Nevada or as the easternmost counties of California.
Demographics
According to the 2010 census, the population of the eastern border counties of California was 5,129,384. However, 4,224,851 (82.4%) lived in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, which are very large and whose populations are concentrated near Los Angeles and Orange counties to the southwest.
Culture and history
Eastern California's history differs significantly from that of the coastal regions and the Central Valley. Northeastern California is very sparsely populated (except for the area around Lake Tahoe): the three least-populated counties of California lie in the northeast. The area tends to be politically conservative, much like the rest of the rural Western United States. However, the counties of San Bernardino and Riverside form the 13th-largest metropolitan area of the United States, and El Dorado and Placer Counties are part of the Greater Sacramento area and are culturally influenced by their respective metropolitan areas. Imperial County in the Southeast, though rural and agrarian, is heavily Democratic and has ties with the Mexicali Valley to the south.
Northeastern California has had strong ties to Nevada, with the exact boundary between the two states having once been a matter of dispute. Residents of an area near Susanville, California tried to break away from the state in 1856, first by declaring themselves part of the Nataqua Territory and then through annexation to Nevada. The two states further squabbled over ownership of Susanville in 1863. The town of Aurora, Nevada, was temporarily the county seat of both Mono County, California, and Esmeralda County, Nevada. Finally, the line between the two states was settled by a survey in 1892. Over time, droughts and wildfires have increased in frequency and become less seasonal and more year-round, further straining the region's water security.
There are many unique historical aspects of Eastern California including the Manzanar internment camp and the historical Carson and Colorado Railway.
Geography
The easternmost counties of California are (from north to south):
Modoc County
Lassen County
Plumas County
Sierra County
Nevada County
Placer County
El Dorado County
Alpine County
Mono County
Inyo County
San Bernardino County
Riverside County
Imperial County
Cities within this region include San Bernardino, Riverside, Ontario, Corona, Rancho Cucamonga, Roseville, Victorville, Temecula, Palm Springs, Lincoln, El Centro, Barstow, South Lake Tahoe, Susanville, Truckee, Grass Valley, Placerville, and Alturas.
Cities larger than 50,000 population
The following incorporated places have a population of 50,000 or greater, according to the 2020 census:
Placer County
Roseville: 147,773
Rocklin: 71,601
San Bernardino County
Apple Valley: 75,791
Chino: 91,403
Chino Hills: 78,411
Colton: 53,909
Fontana: 208,393
Hesperia: 99,818
Highland: 56,999
Ontario: 175,265
Rancho Cucamonga: 174,453
Redlands: 73,168
Rialto: 104,026
San Bernardino: 222,101
Upland: 79,040
Victorville: 134,810
Yucaipa: 54,542
Riverside County
Beaumont: 53,036
Cathedral City: 51,493
Corona: 157,136
Eastvale: 69,757
Hemet: 89,833
Indio: 89,137
Jurupa Valley: 105,053
Lake Elsinore: 70,265
Menifee: 102,527
Moreno Valley: 208,634
Murrieta: 110,949
Palm Desert: 51,163
Perris: 78,700
Riverside: 314,998
San Jacinto: 53,898
Temecula: 110,003
Geology
Because Eastern California is generally in the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada or the Transverse Ranges, the climate is extremely dry and can be considered a desert. Indeed, the hottest and lowest area in North America lies in Death Valley, in the heart of Eastern California.
Geologically, Eastern California is mostly part of the Basin and Range Province, marked by crustal extension, with horsts and grabens. Volcanism is also evident in this region.
Climate
The majority of Eastern California experiences two seasons, a long, dry summer and a milder winter in which the rain is concentrated. Most higher elevations experience four distinct seasons. There are some areas where the weather is very diverse. The Sierra Nevada mountain range has larger amounts of snowfall, while the Imperial Valley has more arid conditions. The Sierra Nevada's average temperature is around and the Imperial Valley is on average . A record-breaking heat temperature was recorded in Death Valley, at on July 10, 1913.
With its low and often sporadic rainfall, California is susceptible to drought, and in many parts of the state including Eastern California, there is very high fire danger and there have been several devastating wildfires.
Economy
The northern counties of Eastern California are heavily timbered areas. The timber industry is a major contributor to the economy from sale of timber and forest products and the number of jobs that it provides. These timbered areas not only provide valuable income, but are also the main growing sector for the economy for recreation and tourism. In the Sierra Nevada National Forests they experience 50 million recreational visitor days per year. When California became a state, it was one of the leading producers of these timber and forest products. Since then, it has held the third place for the top producer of softwoods since the 1940s. In California there were five counties that contributed to 55 percent of the wood harvested for the state. One of those counties, Plumas, is located in Eastern California.
Transportation
Major highways
Modoc County
U.S. Route 395
State Route 139
State Route 299
Lassen County
U.S. Route 395
State Route 36
State Route 44
State Route 139
State Route 299
Plumas County
State Route 36
State Route 49
State Route 70
State Route 89
State Route 284
Sierra County
U.S. Route 395
Interstate 80
State Route 49
State Route 89
Nevada County
Interstate 80
State Route 20
State Route 49
State Route 89
State Route 174
Placer County
Interstate 80
State Route 28
State Route 49
State Route 65
State Route 89
State Route 174
State Route 267
El Dorado County
U.S. Route 50
State Route 49
State Route 89
State Route 193
Luther Pass
Alpine County
State Route 4
State Route 88
State Route 89
Mono County
U.S. Route 6
U.S. Route 395
State Route 108
State Route 120
State Route 158
State Route 167
State Route 182
State Route 270
Inyo County
U.S. Route 6
U.S. Route 395
State Route 127
State Route 136
State Route 168
State Route 178
State Route 190
San Bernardino County
Riverside County
U.S. Route 95
Historic U.S. Route 99
Historic U.S. Route 395
State Route 60
State Route 62
State Route 71
State Route 74
State Route 78
State Route 79
State Route 86
State Route 91
State Route 111
State Route 177
State Route 243
State Route 371
Educational Institutions
Private institutions
William Jessup University
Brandman University
National University (campuses in Ontario and San Bernardino)
Deep Springs College
Loma Linda University
University of Redlands
Community Colleges
Lassen Community College
Feather River College
Sierra College
Folsom Lake College
Lake Tahoe Community College
Cerro Coso Community College
Palo Verde Community College
Barstow Community College
Chaffey College
Copper Mountain College
Crafton Hills College
San Bernardino Valley College
University of La Verne
Victor Valley College
Mt. San Jacinto College
College of the Desert
Public Institutions
California State University, San Bernardino
University of California, Riverside
National Parks
Death Valley National Park
Lassen National Park
Lava Beds National Monument
Devils Postpile
Manzanar
Mojave National Preserve
Old Spanish National Historic Trail
Tule Lake Unit, World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument
Joshua Tree National Park
See also
Deserts of California
References
Further reading
Regions of California
Deserts of California