Squaw Valley, Fresno County, California

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This article is about the unincorporated community in Fresno County, California. For the unincorporated community in Placer County, see Olympic Valley, California. For the ski resort there, see Palisades Tahoe.
Squaw Valley
census-designated place
The Post Office in Squaw Valley along Highway 180
The Post Office in Squaw Valley along Highway 180
Location in Fresno County and the state of California
Location in Fresno County and the state of California
Squaw Valley is located in the United States
Squaw Valley
Squaw Valley
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 36°44′25″N 119°14′48″W / 36.74028°N 119.24667°W / 36.74028; -119.24667Coordinates: 36°44′25″N 119°14′48″W / 36.74028°N 119.24667°W / 36.74028; -119.24667
Country United States
State California
CountyFresno
Government
 • State SenatorAndreas Borgeas (R)[1]
 • State AssemblyJim Patterson (R)[2]
 • U. S. CongressTom McClintock (R)[3]
Area
[4]
 • Total56.610 sq mi (146.618 km2)
 • Land56.559 sq mi (146.487 km2)
 • Water0.051 sq mi (0.131 km2)  0.09%
Elevation
[5]
1,631 ft (497 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total3,162
 • Density56/sq mi (22/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (PST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP codes
93646, 93675
Area code559
GNIS feature IDs1659853, 2408799

Squaw Valley (formerly, Squawvalley)[6] is a census-designated place located in Fresno County, California, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the CDP had a total population of 3,162, up from 2,691 at the 2000 census. Squaw Valley is located 9 miles (14 km) north-northeast of Orange Cove and 30 miles (48 km) east of Fresno, at an elevation of 1,631 ft (497 m).[5]

Name

Squaw Valley is named after either the surrounding basin or a narrow valley that connects it to the San Joaquin Valley. The basin may have originally been named "Woman's Land", after a depression in a rock overlooking the valley that resembles a woman's moccasin print. By 1873, non-native hunters had given it the name "Squaw Valley", referring to its population of native women.[7][8][9] The United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN) officially assigned the name Squaw Valley to the community in 1957 and to the basin in 1959.[9]

On August 28, 1958, at the behest of Representative B. F. Sisk, the BGN decided that Squaw Valley would only refer to this community, not to a newer community in Placer County that was about to host the 1960 Winter Olympics. The latter would become known as Olympic Valley.[10][11][12] Nevertheless, the name "Squaw Valley" continued to refer informally to both communities, creating considerable confusion.[13][14]

Since 2020, a coalition that includes members of local tribes has petitioned the Fresno County Board of Supervisors to rename the community "Nuum Valley" and later "Yokuts Valley", citing the derogatory connotations of the word "squaw".[9][15][16][17]

In September 2022, the Board on Geographic Names renamed the surrounding valley to Yokuts Basin as part of a program to remove "squaw" from geographical names across the country.[18] Supervisor Nathan Magsig solicited feedback from 1,400 households soliciting feedback about the proposed renaming and organized a town hall meeting with local activists that turned contentious.[19] A few days later, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law directing state and local authorities to remove "squaw" from geographic features and place names throughout the state, including Squaw Valley, by 2025.[20][21]

History

Present-day Squaw Valley was originally the home of Yokuts and Mono people. In 1869, the Simpson Drake family became the first known non-native family to settle in the basin. An early reference to Squaw Valley appears in an 1884 issue of an Idaho newspaper.[7]

The first post office opened in Squaw Valley in 1879.[6] It was renamed Squawvalley in 1895[6] before closing in 1918.[6] It reopened in 1923, renamed back to Squaw Valley in 1932, and closed again in 1945[6] in favor of the nearby Orange Cove post office.[22] The Squaw Valley post office was established a third time in 1960.[6]

In the 1960s, the community moved east to its current location.[23]

Geography

The community is located in the Yokuts Basin. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 56.6 square miles (146.6 km2), of which over 99% is land.

Demographics

2010

At the 2010 census Squaw Valley had a population of 3,162. The population density was 55.9 inhabitants per square mile (21.6/km2). The racial makeup of Squaw Valley was 2,700 (85.4%) White, 30 (0.9%) African American, 77 (2.4%) Native American, 47 (1.5%) Asian, 2 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 159 (5.0%) from other races, and 147 (4.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 525 people (16.6%).[24]

The census reported that 3,160 people (99.9% of the population) lived in households, 2 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.

There were 1,188 households, 343 (28.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 715 (60.2%) were married couples living together, 101 (8.5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 66 (5.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 75 (6.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 7 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 239 households (20.1%) were one person and 99 (8.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.66. There were 882 families (74.2% of households); the average family size was 3.01.

The age distribution was 709 people (22.4%) under the age of 18, 200 people (6.3%) aged 18 to 24, 597 people (18.9%) aged 25 to 44, 1,111 people (35.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 545 people (17.2%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 46.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.9 males.

There were 1,419 housing units at an average density of 25.1 per square mile (9.7/km2),of which 1,188 were occupied, 1,009 (84.9%) by the owners and 179 (15.1%) by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.7%. 2,648 people (83.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 512 people (16.2%) lived in rental housing units.

2000

As of the census[25] of 2000, there were 2,691 people, 1,025 households, and 779 families in the CDP. The population density was 47.5 inhabitants per square mile (18.3/km2). There were 1,160 housing units at an average density of 20.5 per square mile (7.9/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 88.33% White, 1.37% African American, 2.38% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.22% Pacific Islander, 4.83% from other races, and 2.30% from two or more races. 12.15% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 1,025 households 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.9% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.0% were non-families. 19.3% of households were one person and 8.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 2.98.

The age distribution was 23.5% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 30.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% 65 or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.4 males.

The median household income was $39,417 and the median family income was $47,739. Males had a median income of $38,375 versus $27,850 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $20,719. 8.9% of the population and 2.6% of families were below the poverty line. 14.4% of those under the age of 18 and 2.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Notable people

References

  1. ^ "Senators". State of California. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
  2. ^ "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
  3. ^ "California's 4th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
  4. ^ "2010 Census U.S. Gazetteer Files – Places – California". United States Census Bureau.
  5. ^ a b "Squaw Valley". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, Calif.: Word Dancer Press. p. 1109. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
  7. ^ a b George, Carmen (February 20, 2021). "Native Americans want Squaw Valley, Fresno County CA renamed". The Fresno Bee. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  8. ^ Rodriguez-Delgado, Cresencio (February 15, 2022). "In Fresno County, Native groups take on meaning of 'Squaw' and 'Warrior'". PBS NewsHour. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  9. ^ a b c "Change Sq__ Valley to Yokuts Valley" (PDF). Quarterly Review List. Washington, D.C.: United States Board on Geographic Names (448): 30–33. August 5, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  10. ^ Hearings Before and Special Reports Made by Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives on Subjects Affecting the Naval and Military Establishments. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office: 5067. 1958 https://books.google.com/books?id=8I80z2mG-fAC&pg=PA5067 – via Google Books. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. ^ "Squaw Valley 'Loses' Name". The Press-Tribune. Roseville, California. United Press. August 30, 1957. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Tug-Of-War Over Squaw Valley Name Resolved". Auburn Journal. October 4, 1958. p. B-4 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Olympics Site Still Has Post Office Problem". Auburn Journal. JS. December 22, 1960. p. D-1 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Janssen, Jim (November 13, 1969). "Challenge issued by county for Squaw Valley name". The Press-Tribune. Roseville, California. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Seidman, Lila (January 8, 2022). "Indigenous group goes to federal board to rename Squaw Valley". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  16. ^ Montalvo, Melissa (November 19, 2021). "Should the community of Squaw Valley change its name?". CalMatters. Sacramento, California. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  17. ^ "California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names Minutes" (PDF). Sacramento, California: California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names. March 25, 2022. p. 13. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  18. ^ Smith, Darrell (September 8, 2022). "Squaw removed from place names across US, California by feds". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  19. ^ Kohlruss, Carmen (September 23, 2022). "Squaw Valley, CA meeting about name change angers residents". The Fresno Bee. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  20. ^ Sahagún, Louis (September 25, 2022). "New law will remove the word 'squaw' from California place names". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  21. ^ "On Native American Day, Governor Newsom Signs Legislation to Support California Native Communities, Advance Equity and Inclusion" (Press release). Sacramento, California: Office of the Governor of California. September 23, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  22. ^ "PO Department Recognize Squaw Valley Prior Claim". Reedley Exponent. November 19, 1959. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "Change S__ Valley to Nuum Valley" (PDF). Quarterly Review List. Washington, D.C.: United States Board on Geographic Names (446): 15–18. January 24, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  24. ^ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Squaw Valley CDP". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  25. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.

External links

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