Yuba County (; Maidu: Yubu) is a county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, its population was 81,575. The county seat is Marysville. Yuba County is included in the Yuba City metropolitan statistical area, which is also included in the Sacramento–Roseville combined statistical area. The county is in the Central Valley region along the Feather River.
Despite its name and proximity, Yuba City is in neighboring Sutter County, not Yuba County.
History
Yuba County was one of California's original counties, formed in 1850 at the time of statehood. Parts of the county's territory were given to Placer County in 1851, to Nevada County in 1851, and to Sierra County in 1852.
The county was named after the Yuba River by Captain John Sutter for the Maidu village Yubu, Yupu, or Juba near the confluence of the Yuba and Feather Rivers. General Mariano Vallejo said the river was named Uba by an exploring expedition in 1824 because of the quantities of wild grapes (uvas silvestres in Spanish) that they found growing on its banks.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of , of which (1.9%) are covered by water. It is California's fifth-smallest county by area. The county lies along the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, the steep slopes making it prime territory for the siting of hydroelectric power plants.
Part of the county, where Marysville (the county seat) and most of the population lives, is west of the mountains on the valley floor. A great deal of agriculture business occurs in this part of the county, especially fruit orchards, rice fields, and cattle grazing.
Ecology
Studies by the Biota of North America Program suggest Yuba is the most biodiverse county in the contiguous United States, with 1,968 native vascular plant species per , a figure that exceeds the most species-rich parts of Florida. The county exhibits a considerable diversity of flowering plant species, among them the yellow mariposa lily, Calochortus luteus.
National protected areas in Yuba County include parts of the Plumas National Forest and the Tahoe National Forest. The county also has extensive natural areas consisting of forestation, grassland, riparian area, grasslands, and other habitats.
Adjacent counties
Butte County to the north
Sierra County to the northeast
Nevada County to the east
Placer County to the southeast
Sutter County to the southwest
Crime
This table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense:
Cities by population and crime rates
Politics
Voter registration statistics
Cities by population and voter registration
Overview
Yuba is a strongly Republican county in presidential and congressional elections. The last Democratic presidential nominee to win a majority in the county was Jimmy Carter in 1976.
In the United States House of Representatives, Yuba County is split between , and .
In the California State Legislature, the county is in , and .
Transportation
Major highways
State Route 20
State Route 49
State Route 65
State Route 70
Public transportation
Yuba Sutter Transit operates local bus service, as well as commuter runs to downtown Sacramento. Greyhound buses stop in Marysville.
Airports
Yuba County Airport is south of Marysville. It is a general-aviation airport.
Brownsville Aero Pines Airport is off La Porte Rd in Brownsville.
Demographics
2020 census
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
2011
Places by population, race, and income
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Yuba County had a population of 72,155. The racial makeup of Yuba County was 49,332 (68.4%) White, 2,361 (3.3%) African American]], 1,675 (2.3%) Native American, 4,862 (6.7%) Asian, 293 (0.4%) Pacific Islander, 8,545 (11.8%) from other races, and 5,087 (7.1%) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 18,051 persons (25.0%).