Jamestown is an unincorporated community in Tuolumne County, California, United States. Formerly a California Gold Rush town, Jamestown was designated a California Historical Landmark on March 16, 1949. It is the home of Railtown 1897 State Historic Park and the Sierra Railway, which operates steam passenger trains. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined the community as a census-designated place (CDP). The population was 3,478 at the 2020 census, up from 3,433 at the 2010 census.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , of which 99.93% is land and 0.07% is water.

Demographics

Jamestown first appeared as a census designated place in the 1980 U.S. census.

Racial and ethnic composition +Jamestown CDP, California – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)2,5752,6752,57185.35%77.92%73.92%Black or African American alone (NH)319220.10%0.55%0.63%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)5274661.72%2.16%1.90%Asian alone (NH)3626381.19%0.76%1.09%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)8340.27%0.09%0.12%Other race alone (NH)58250.17%0.23%0.72%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)521172351.72%3.41%6.76%Hispanic or Latino (any race)2865115179.48%14.88%14.86%Total3,0173,4333,478 100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020 census As of the 2020 census, Jamestown had a population of 3,478, with a population density of .

The census reported that 98.2% of the population lived in households, 63 people (1.8%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized. Of Jamestown residents, 92.4% lived in urban areas and 7.6% lived in rural areas.

There were 1,546 households, of which 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 35.8% were married-couple households, 9.4% were cohabiting couple households, 35.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present, and 19.2% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. About 37.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 23.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21. There were 828 families (53.6% of all households).

The age distribution was 19.6% under the age of 18, 5.3% aged 18 to 24, 20.6% aged 25 to 44, 25.4% aged 45 to 64, and 29.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 86.2 males age 18 and over.

There were 1,660 housing units at an average density of , of which 1,546 (93.1%) were occupied. Of these, 63.7% were owner-occupied and 36.3% were occupied by renters. 6.9% of housing units were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 2.1%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 2,745 78.9% Black or African American 24 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native 88 2.5% Asian 38 1.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 4 0.1% Some other race 170 4.9% Two or more races 409 11.8%

Income and poverty In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $51,886, and the per capita income was $38,507. About 2.4% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line.

2010 census At the 2010 census, Jamestown had a population of 3,433. The population density was . The racial makeup of Jamestown was 2,948 (85.9%) White, 20 (0.6%) African American, 96 (2.8%) Native American, 27 (0.8%) Asian, 4 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 135 (3.9%) from other races, and 203 (5.9%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 511 people (14.9%).

The census reported that 3,423 people (99.7% of the population) lived in households, 10 (0.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.

There were 1,501 households, 399 (26.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 592 (39.4%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 209 (13.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 80 (5.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 100 (6.7%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 4 (0.3%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 513 households (34.2%) were one person and 299 (19.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.28. There were 881 families (58.7% of households); the average family size was 2.89.

The age distribution was 752 people (21.9%) under the age of 18, 289 people (8.4%) aged 18 to 24, 686 people (20.0%) aged 25 to 44, 938 people (27.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 768 people (22.4%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 44.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.1 males.

There were 1,645 housing units at an average density of 549.0 per square mile, of the occupied units 885 (59.0%) were owner-occupied and 616 (41.0%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 9.5%. 1,857 people (54.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,566 people (45.6%) lived in rental housing units.

Government In the California State Legislature, Jamestown is in , and .

In the United States House of Representatives, Jamestown is in .

Jamestown is the headquarters for the Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California, a federally recognized tribe of Miwok people."Tribes: C." National Congress of American Indians. Retrieved 29 May 2012.

In popular culture Scenes from Back to the Future Part III, the final installment of the Back to the Future trilogy, were filmed in Jamestown. A scene from the 2004 movie Hidalgo was also filmed there. Exterior scenes from the TV series Petticoat Junction, The Wild Wild West, and Green Acres were filmed in and near Jamestown, as well as parts of the Little House on the Prairie TV series, and the 1985 Clint Eastwood film Pale Rider.

Jamestown was featured by Huell Howser in Road Trip Episode 153.

References

External links

Website for Jamestown, CA Railtown 1897 State Historic Park Jamestown Sanitary District