Upper Lake, California

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Upper Lake had a population of 1,095. The population density was 638.9 inhabitants per square mile (246.7/km²). The racial makeup of Upper Lake was 64.4% White, 0.3% African American, 5.1% Native American, 0.0% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 14.5% from other races, and 15.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 31.1% of the population.^[28][29][30]

The census reported that 99.5% of the population lived in households and 0.5% were institutionalized. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.^[31][29]

There were 400 households, of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 37.0% were married-couple households, 12.0% were cohabiting couple households, 24.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73. There were 224 families (56.0% of all households).^{[32][28][29][31]}

The age distribution was 23.5% under the age of 18, 6.8% aged 18 to 24, 28.6% aged 25 to 44, 25.8% aged 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 111.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 103.4 males age 18 and over.^[29]

There were 454 housing units at an average density of 264.9 units per square mile (102.3 units/km²). Of these, 400 (88.1%) were occupied and 54 (11.9%) were vacant. Of the occupied units, 72.8% were owner-occupied and 27.3% were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 0.0%.^[29][30]

Viticulture

The Upper Lake area emerged as a wine-growing region in the 1880s, counting among his earliest viticulturists Serranus Clinton Hastings, who farmed 125 acres (51 ha) of vineyards and built a winery and distillery in operation until 1900.^[33][34] Charles M. Hammond planted a 25-acre (10 ha) vineyard in the late 19th century which was still thriving in 1914.^[35]

Viticulture and winemaking activities were wiped out by Prohibition and the Depression when vineyards were abandoned or replanted with orchards, most notably walnuts, which remain a key crop in the area. Wine grapes were replanted starting in the 1970s during the California viticulture boom, and by 2022 there were about 300 acres (120 ha) of wine grape cultivation and the Upper Lake Valley appellation was established.^[36]

Canning

The early economy of Upper Lake comprised canning beans, growing alfalfa and raising cattle.^[6] During the late 19th century, canned beans developed into the primary economy for Upper Lake in the mid-20th century. The first cannery, which employed 400 people annually, was built in 1897 by A. Mendenhall.^[6] The first cannery was actually built by Mr. Henry Van Wambold. He built his "Blue Lakes Cannery" in 1895 and Mr. Mendenhall followed with his "Clear Lake Cannery" in 1897. This information is found in the State of California archives which show the application paperwork along with the trademark labels that were issued by California for each of these canneries.^[37] The name "Blue Lake" green bean was developed near the shores of the Blue Lakes of Lake County, near Upper Lake. Both these canneries were bought out in 1927 and were then renamed the "Lake County Cannery". The Lake County Cannery continued in operation until 1968.