Forest Ranch, California
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Forest Ranch, California | |
|---|---|
 Location of Forest Ranch in Butte County, California. | |
  Forest Ranch, California Location in California | |
| Coordinates: 39°52′56″N 121°40′22″W / 39.88222°N 121.67278°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | Butte County |
| Area | |
• Total | 13.934 sq mi (36.090 km2) |
| • Land | 13.934 sq mi (36.090 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) 0% |
| Elevation | 2,415 ft (736 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 1,304 |
| • Density | 93.58/sq mi (36.13/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP Code | 95942 |
| Area codes | 530, 837 |
| GNIS feature IDs | 260256; 2612481 |
| U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Forest Ranch, California; U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Forest Ranch, California | |
Forest Ranch is an unincorporated community and census-designated place[4] in Butte County, California. It includes Forest Ranch Charter School (K-8), its own post office, and a CDF and Volunteer fire stations. The community's ZIP code is 95942, and is shared with the community of Butte Meadows. The area code is 530. Forest Ranch's population was 1,304 at the 2020 census.
In late July 2024, the community was affected by the Park Fire. Several structures were destroyed, but the majority of the community was left standing.[citation needed]
The US Geological Survey reports the town's elevation as 2,415 feet (736 m) above mean sea level. The eastern end of the community is about 3,500 feet (1,067 m): about 1,000 feet (305 m) higher. This is high enough that residents occasionally get "snowed in." Residents east of the center of the community report the snowfall is heavy enough to prevent driving about one to three days each year. This is only true of homes not located along State Route 32. Some residents commute to work in Chico, about fifteen driving miles west on SR32.
Forest Ranch post office was opened in 1878, closed in 1926, and re-established in 1932, and moved several times in 1938 to its present location.[5] The town once was the site of a lumber mill,[6] established around 1873 and operated by Elias Findley. In the mid-1870s, Findley's residence was taken over by a Mr. and Mrs. Weld, who provided accommodations for teams and travelers on the Humboldt Wagon Road.[7] In the 1890s, Forest Ranch had an active literary society and its school hosted regular performances and athletic events for the general community.[8] The town is now mostly a bedroom community for nearby Chico.
