Markleeville (formerly, Markleville) is a census-designated place (CDP) and the county seat of Alpine County, California, United States. The population was 191 at the 2020 census, down from 210 at the 2010 census.
History
Jacob J. Marklee founded a toll bridge crossing the Carson River in 1861. He aimed to tap into the traffic from the silver mining boom at Silver Mountain City. On June 23, 1862, he recorded a land claim of 160 acres in Douglas County, Nevada. A boundary survey took place, and the property ended up being in California. In 1863, Marklee died after being involved in a gunfight. When the Comstock Lode discovery took place, the town of Markleeville was founded on the Marklee property. Today, the Alpine County Courthouse sits on the former property, which is listed as a California Historical Landmark.
A post office opened in Markleeville in 1863.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , all land. The region comprising Markleeville is Alpine in appearance, with lush grassy valley areas. There is a hot spring, and a state park with a campground. Excellent hiking trails abound.
Climate
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Markleeville has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated Csb on climate maps, though it approaches a Humid continental climate (Dsb).
Markleeville has warm to hot summers with only occasional rainfall, mostly from afternoon and evening thunderstorms; nights are usually well below . Winters are somewhat cold and often snowy. The average January temperatures are a maximum of and a minimum of . The average July temperatures are a maximum of and a minimum of . There are an average of 15.7 afternoons with highs of or higher and an average of 221.7 mornings with lows of or lower, including 5.4 mornings falling to or below , and 8.1 afternoons that do not top freezing. The record high temperature was on July 11, 1931. The record low temperature was on December 22, 1990.
Average annual precipitation is . There are an average of 59 days with measurable precipitation. The wettest calendar year was 1996 with and the driest year was 1917 with . The most precipitation in one month occurred in January 1914 with . The most precipitation in 24 hours was on December 3, 1950. Average annual snowfall is , and snow depths of over were recorded during the very cold months of January 1916 and February 1922 – the average depth of snow on the ground in January being . The snowiest year was 1916 with , including in January 1916.
Demographics
2010
At the 2010 census Markleeville had a population of 210. The population density was . The racial makeup of Markleeville was 192 (91%) White, 0 (0%) African American, 4 (2%) Native American, 2 (1%) Asian, 0 (0%) Pacific Islander, 6 (3%) from other races, and 6 (3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11 people (5%).
The whole population lived in households; no one lived in non-institutionalized group quarters and no one was institutionalized.
There were 100 households, 19 (19%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 47 (47%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 5 (5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 5 (5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 9 (9%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 1 (1%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 32 households (32%) were one person and 8 (8%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.1. There were 57 families (57% of households); the average family size was 2.7.
The population was spread out, with 39 people (19%) under the age of 18, 3 people (1%) aged 18 to 24, 42 people (20%) aged 25 to 44, 92 people (44%) aged 45 to 64, and 34 people (16%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 50.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.2 males.
There were 194 housing units at an average density of , of which 100 were occupied, of which 63 (63%) were owner-occupied, and 37 (37%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2%; the rental vacancy rate was 10%. 133 people (63% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 77 people (37%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
At the 2000 census there were 197 people, 92 households, and 57 families in the CDP. The population density was . There were 173 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the CDP was 98% White, 2% Native American, 1% from other races. 2% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.