Klamath is an unincorporated, rural, census-designated place in Del Norte County, California, situated on US Route 101 inland from the mouth of the Klamath River. The population was 779 at the 2010 census, up from 651 at the 2000 census. Klamath is at an elevation of 30 feet. The original "town" center was destroyed by the 1964 Flood. Streets and sidewalks of this original site, west of US 101 and the current site of the town's core, remain visible.
At the 2010 census Klamath had a population of 779. The population density was 62.1 people per square mile. The racial makeup of Klamath was 379 White, 1 African American, 325 Native American, 3 Asian, 0 Pacific Islander, 5 from other races, and 66 from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 90 people. The census reported that 775 people lived in households, 4 lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized. There were 307 households, 83 had children under the age of 18 living in them, 107 were opposite-sex married couples living together, 37 had a female householder with no husband present, 30 had a male householder with no wife present. There were 38 unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 5 same-sex married couples or partnerships. 94 households were one person and 35 had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.52. There were 174 families ; the average family size was 3.20. The age distribution was 183 people under the age of 18, 53 people aged 18 to 24, 168 people aged 25 to 44, 231 people aged 45 to 64, and 144 people who were 65 or older. The median age was 43.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.9 males. There were 406 housing units at an average density of 32.4 per square mile,of which 307 were occupied, 173 by the owners and 134 by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 8.8%. 398 people lived in owner-occupied housing units and 377 people lived in rental housing units.
2000
At the 2000 census there were 651 people, 264 households, and 177 families in the CDP. The population density was 51.9 people per square mile. There were 365 housing units at an average density of 29.1 per square mile. The racial makeup of the CDP was 58.37% White, 34.25% Native American, 0.77% Asian, 2.15% from other races, and 4.45% from two or more races. 5.53% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 264 households 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 27.3% of households were one person and 10.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.83. The age distribution was 24.4% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 110.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.1 males. The median household income was $29,231 and the median family income was $29,417. Males had a median income of $24,750 versus $22,500 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $13,660. About 11.2% of families and 15.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.5% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
In the state legislature, Klamath is in, and. Federally, Klamath is in.
Salmon fishing was a major component of the local economy. As of late, fish stocks are in decline due to political feuds with upstream agribusiness water users in the Klamath Falls area.
Klamath has a 35-foot statue of Babe the Blue Ox, the legendary sidekick of Paul Bunyan, a famous mythical lumberjack at Trees of Mystery. On 20 November 2007, the head of the statue fell off. The head has since been repaired.
Klamath was on the center line of the annular solar eclipse path as it entered North America on Sunday, May 20, 2012. This was the first central land entry on the West Coast. Weather permitting, this location in the USA was best suited to viewing this event because it occurred earlier in the day than further east, and the sun appeared to be higher in the sky. See Solar eclipse of May 20, 2012.
Klamath is home to one of three California redwood trees that can be driven through.
