Del Norte County, California
Del Norte County /dɛl ˈnɔːrt/ (Spanish for "Of The North") is a county at the far northwest corner of the U.S. state of California, along the Pacific Ocean adjacent to the Oregon border. Its population is 27,743 as of the 2020 census, down from 28,610 from the 2010 census. The county seat and only incorporated city is Crescent City. Del Norte was pioneered and populated by Azorean Portuguese settlers and dairy farmers, which may account for the local pronunciation of the county name. Locals pronounce the county name as Del Nort, not Del Nor-teh as would be expected in Spanish.
Del Norte County | |
|---|---|
| County of Del Norte | |
Images, from top down, left to right: Crescent City Harbor, Redwood National Park, Castle Rock, the mouth of the Smith River | |
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Seal | |
Interactive map of Del Norte County | |
Location in the state of California | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California
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| Region | North Coast |
| Incorporated | March 2, 1857 |
| Named for | Its location, "Of the North" (Spanish: Del norte), in California |
| County seat | Crescent City |
| Largest city | Crescent City |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–CAO |
| • Chair | Darrin Short |
| • Vice Chair | Valerie Starkey |
| • Board of Supervisors | Supervisors
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| • County Administrative Officer | Neal Lopez |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,230 sq mi (3,200 km2) |
| • Land | 1,006 sq mi (2,610 km2) |
| • Water | 223 sq mi (580 km2) |
| Highest elevation | 6,415 ft (1,955 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 27,743 |
| • Density | 28/sq mi (11/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific Time Zone) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (Pacific Daylight Time) |
| Area codes | 707 |
| FIPS code | 06-015 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1682074 |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | www |
Del Norte County comprises the Crescent City, CA Micropolitan Statistical Area.
The rural county is notable for forests containing giant Coast Redwoods, with some attaining heights over 350 feet (110 m). This northernmost county on the California coast also has scores of unique plants and flowers, dozens of species of coastal birds and fish, rocky primitive beaches and sea stacks, pristine rivers, and historic lighthouses.