Sierra County, California

Sierra County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,236,^[1] making it California's second-least populous county. The county seat is Downieville,^[2] and the only incorporated city is Loyalton. The county is in the Sierra Nevada, northeast of Sacramento on the border with Nevada. Sierra County was founded in 1852. The county derives its name from the Sierra Nevada.

Sierra County, California
County
Images, from top down, left to right: Downieville, Conifer forest in the Tahoe National Forest, Stampede Dam
Seal
Interactive map of Sierra County
Location in the state of California
Country	United States
State	California
Region	Sierra Nevada
Incorporated	April 16, 1852
Named for	Sierra Nevada
County seat	Downieville
Largest city	Loyalton
Area
• Total	962 sq mi (2,490 km2)
• Land	953 sq mi (2,470 km2)
• Water	9 sq mi (20 km2)
Highest elevation	8,844 ft (2,696 m)
Population  (April 1, 2020)[1]
• Total	3,236
• Density	3.4/sq mi (1.3/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific Standard Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (Pacific Daylight Time)
Area code	530
Website	www.sierracounty.ca.gov

Geography

The county has a total area of 962 square miles (2,490 km²).

Bordering counties

• Nevada County, California - south
• Yuba County, California - west
• Plumas County, California - north
• Lassen County, California - northeast
• Washoe County, Nevada - east

Communities

City

• Loyalton

Census-designated places

• Alleghany
• Calpine
• Downieville
• Goodyears Bar
• Pike
• Sattley
• Sierra Brooks
• Sierra City
• Sierraville
• Verdi

Unincorporated communities

• Forest
• Gibsonville
• Bassetts

Ghost towns

• Eureka City
• Howland Flat
• Pine Grove
• Poker Flat
• Potosi
• Shady Flat