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29-560: The northeastern third of the Wilderness is dominated by volcanic ridges and peaks; the remaining areas consist of many sparsely vegetated, granitic ridges interspersed with numerous lakes and meadows. Elevations range from below 5,000 feet (1,500 m) near Cherry Reservoir to 11,570 feet (3,527 m) at Leavitt Peak , but the elevation range of most of the popular areas is 7,500 to 9,000 feet (2,300 to 2,700 m). Precipitation averages 50 inches (1,300 mm) annually, 80% of it in

58-519: A city council consisting of five council members, including the mayor. The city council appoints a city administrator to implement the council's policies and enforce ordinances. As of June 2024, the current mayor of Sonora is Mark Plummer and the current city administrator is Melissa Eads. In the California State Legislature , Sonora is in the 4th Senate District , represented by Republican Marie Alvarado-Gil , and in

87-598: A portion of the present-day Emigrant Wilderness. Several more emigrant parties were enticed by officials from Sonora to use this route in 1853, but it was a very difficult passage with many hardships and was soon abandoned. Relief Valley and Relief Reservoir were so named because of the assistance some emigrants received there from residents of the Sonora area. In 1931, the United States Forest Service designated this area for primitive management as

116-556: Is located in the Emigrant Wilderness near Sonora Pass in the eastern Sierra Nevada range of California . Leavitt Peak is located on the Tuolumne County - Mono County line. The Pacific Crest Trail runs close to the east of Leavitt Peak, at an elevation of about 10,800 feet (3,290 m) elevation. The peak offers views south to Yosemite National Park and north towards South Lake Tahoe . Leavitt Peak

145-533: Is named for Hiram Leavitt , a native of New Hampshire and an early judge in Mono County. He built a hotel and home in 1863 at the foot of the east end of Sonora Pass to serve the growing number of travelers between Sonora and Aurora, primarily miners headed to the gold mines at nearby Bodie . Leavitt also erected a stagecoach station at what is called Leavitt Station. Leavitt Peak is a popular hiking destination. Leavitt Lake and Leavitt Meadow are nearby along

174-455: The 2010 census Sonora had a population of 4,903. The population density was 1,593.0 inhabitants per square mile (615.1/km ). The racial makeup of Sonora was 4,402 (89.8%) White, 24 (0.5%) African American, 95 (1.9%) Native American, 79 (1.6%) Asian, 12 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 84 (1.7%) from other races, and 207 (4.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 542 people (11.1%). The census reported that 4,613 people (94.1% of

203-639: The 8th Assembly District , represented by Republican Jim Patterson . In the United States House of Representatives , Sonora is in California's 5th congressional district , represented by Republican Tom McClintock . The newspaper of record for the Sonora area is The Union Democrat . The Tuolumne County Film Commission describes Sonora as "one of the country's most versatile locations", where more than "300 film[s] and television series" have been made. Local museums depict

232-541: The California Gold Rush by Mexican miners from Sonora (after which the city is named), the city population was 5,003 during the 2020 Census , an increase from the 4,610 counted during the 2010 Census . Sonora is the only incorporated community in Tuolumne County. Sonora was founded by Mexican miners during the California Gold Rush . Named after their home state of Sonora , Mexico , it

261-561: The Foothill Horizons Outdoor School . Columbia Community College is part of Yosemite Community College District (YCCD) which also includes Modesto Junior College. It is the sole college in Tuolumne County and offers two-year degrees. Individuals wishing to attend a university must commute 50 miles to University of California, Merced , or to California State University, Stanislaus , in Turlock . Sonora uses

290-777: The West Walker River and are also named for the early Leavitt family settlers. Leavitt's is recorded on Charles F. Hoffmann 's map of 1873. and Levitt Peak appears on the Mining Bureau map of 1891. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Leavitt Peak is located in an alpine climate zone. Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean , and travel east toward the Sierra Nevada mountains. As fronts approach, they are forced upward by

319-626: The Wilderness Act . A decision by the Stanislaus National Forest to compromise and leave some dams to naturally deteriorate while allowing maintenance of others was overturned in court in 2006, reigniting some of the controversy. The Forest Service chose not to appeal and the dams will gradually disappear. From Sonora Pass in the north, the Pacific Crest Trail follows a scenic route at the east edge of

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348-596: The Emigrant Basin Primitive Area. On January 4, 1975, the Emigrant Basin Primitive Area was designated as the Emigrant Wilderness. Since 1975, 18 small dams in the Emigrant Wilderness have been the source of an unresolved political debate. The dams were constructed by anglers who tightly stacked nearby stones and boulders. Some support proposals to maintain the dams while others feel the dams should be allowed to decay in keeping with

377-686: The Emigrant Wilderness along the high ridge past Leavitt Peak, turns further east from Kennedy Canyon to Bond Pass, and then heads south down Jack Main Canyon. Many other trails criss-cross the Emigrant Wilderness, from Leavitt Meadow on the East side, Kennedy Meadow on the West side, and other trailheads. Highlights include cliffs in the Granite Dome area and lakes such as Emigrant Lake, Huckleberry Lake, and Lake Lertora. Leavitt Peak Leavitt Peak

406-758: The Gold Rush era and historic Sonora. The small town is home to the professional theatre company Sierra Repertory Theatre that produces a variety of musicals and plays each year at two different theatre buildings, the East Sonora Theatre and the Fallon House Theatre in Columbia. Sonora is also home to the Tuolumne County Arts Alliance. The pilot, and various scenes, of the television show Little House on

435-485: The age of 18, 33.2% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.0% were non-families. 40.3% of households were made up of individuals, and 15% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.75. The age distribution was 20.4% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 or older. The median age

464-544: The driest from July 1975 to June 1976 with 15.26 inches (387.6 mm). The most rainfall in one month was 21.69 inches (551 mm) in December 1955, including 7.10 inches (180.3 mm) on December 27, the record 24-hour rainfall. The most snowfall in one month was 30.5 inches (0.77 m) in January 1933. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is Csa ( hot-summer Mediterranean climate ). At

493-737: The eastern side of the Sierra Nevada. The most recent groups were the Sierra Miwok of the western slope and Piute of the Great Basin. Following the discovery of gold in 1848, large numbers of miners and settlers came to the Sierra and the native cultures quickly declined. In September–October 1852, the Clark-Skidmore party became the first emigrant group to travel the West Walker route over Emigrant Pass , continuing through

522-400: The form of snow. Snowpacks typically linger into June, sometimes later following very wet winters. Summers are generally dry and mild, but afternoon thundershowers occur periodically and nighttime temperatures could dip below freezing anytime. Various native peoples occupied this area for 10,000 years, spending the summer and early autumn hunting in the high country and trading with groups from

551-420: The occupied units, 898 (40.8%) were owner-occupied and 1,301 (59.2%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 8.6%. 1,960 people (40.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 2,653 people (54.1%) lived in rental housing units. At the 2000 census , there were 4,423 people in 2,051 households, including 1,046 families, in the city. The population density

580-449: The peaks ( orographic lift ), causing moisture in the form of rain or snowfall to drop onto the range. This Tuolumne County, California -related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This Mono County, California -related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Sonora, California Sonora is the county seat of Tuolumne County, California , United States. Founded during

609-611: The population) lived in households, 85 (1.7%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 205 (4.2%) were institutionalized. There were 2,199 households, 562 (25.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 689 (31.3%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 308 (14.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 116 (5.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 192 (8.7%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships , and 12 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships . 881 households (40.1%) were one person and 312 (14.2%) had someone living alone who

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638-754: The total population, 22.8% of those under the age of 18 and 7.2% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. The area economy was historically based on the mining and timber industries, but now relies on tourism. One of two active lumber mills in Tuolumne County was shut down in 2009, but reopened in July 2011. As a city close to Yosemite National Park , Sonora provides services to some of Yosemite's visitors. The city also benefits from its proximity to Railtown 1897 State Historic Park and Columbia State Park . The city's schools include its namesake educational institutions Sonora Union High School and Sonora Elementary School, as well as Dario Cassina High and

667-716: The town's Gold Rush legacy. Sonora is located at 37°59′04″N 120°22′54″W  /  37.984361°N 120.381767°W  / 37.984361; -120.381767 , around the intersection of California State Highways 49 and 108 The altitude is 1,825 feet (556 m). According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 3.1 square miles (8.0 km ), 99.55% of it land and 0.45% of it water. There are an average of 75 days annually with highs of 90 °F (32 °C) or higher and an average of 65.5 days annually with lows of 32 °F (0 °C) or lower. The record high temperature

696-732: The years. In c.  1851 , the Sonora Hebrew Cemetery was formed by the Hebrew Benevolent Society and predominately contains the graves of European-born Jews who emigrated to Gold Country. As detailed in the 2005 memoir of novelist David Carkeet , Campus Sexpot , Sonora was fictionalized as "Wattsville", the setting of Dale Koby's cult/underground classic (also titled Campus Sexpot ). The sequel, From Roundheel To Revolutionary by Jeff Daiell, also takes place primarily in "Wattsville"/Sonora. The Tuolumne County Museum and History Center preserves

725-448: Was 1,456.2 inhabitants per square mile (562.2/km ). There were 2,197 housing units at an average density of 723.3 per square mile (279.3/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 91.4% White, 0.7% African American, 1.5% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.0% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race comprise 8.4% of the population. There were 2,051 households, 24.0% had children under

754-614: Was 113 °F (45.0 °C) on June 22, 1961, and July 15, 1972. The record low temperature was 8 °F (−13.3 °C) on December 9, 1972. Average annual rainfall is 32.79 inches (833 mm), almost all from November through April, although there are occasionally afternoon and evening thunderstorms in the summer months, which drift down from the Sierra Nevada . There are an average of 63.8 days annually with measurable precipitation. The wettest “rain year” has been from July 1982 to June 1983 with 60.29 inches (1,531.4 mm) and

783-406: Was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.1 males. The median household income was $ 28,858 and the median family income was $ 39,722. Males had a median income of $ 40,958 versus $ 26,111 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 19,248. 16.9% of the population and 10.9% of families were below the poverty line . Out of

812-580: Was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.10. There were 1,113 families (50.6% of households); the average family size was 2.77. The age distribution was 975 people (19.9%) under the age of 18, 526 people (10.7%) aged 18 to 24, 1,266 people (25.8%) aged 25 to 44, 1,324 people (27.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 812 people (16.6%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 39.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males. There were 2,463 housing units at an average density of 800.2 per square mile; of

841-535: Was once a booming center of industry and trade in California's Mother Lode . Most of the gold that was removable with traditional mining techniques was quickly extracted, leaving miners to use more complex and expensive mining techniques to reach deep pockets of quartz and gold. Sonora as well as other mining towns of the era experienced economic hardship when the value of gold decreased. As "gold fever" died down, Sonora's size and population steadily decreased over

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