Redding, California

Indigenous culture

Before European settlers came to the area, it was inhabited by a tribe of Native Americans called the Wintu. At their height, the Wintu had as many as 239 villages in the Shasta County area.^[8]

First settlers

Although Europeans had been to California as early as 1542, when Juan Cabrillo sailed to what is now the San Diego Bay, the indigenous Indians were probably the only inhabitants of far Northern California region until Russian fur trappers came through the area in 1815.

The first European settlement in the area was established in 1844 by Pierson B. Reading, an early California pioneer who received a Rancho Buena Ventura Mexican land grant for 26,632 acres (10,778 ha) that is now covered by Redding and Cottonwood, California. At the time, it was the northernmost nonnative settlement in California.

Founding of Redding

During the gold rush, the area that is now Redding was called Poverty Flats. In 1868 the first land agent for the Central Pacific Railroad, a former Sacramento politician named Benjamin Bernard Redding, bought property in Poverty Flats on behalf of the railroad for a northern terminus. In the process of building the terminus, the railroad also built the town of Redding which was officially incorporated on October 4, 1887.^[9]

Early 20th century

In the early twentieth century the town's economic growth was spurred by the significant copper and iron mineral extraction industry nearby. However, the mining industry eventually declined, causing the economy and population to falter by 1920. It recovered in the thirties as the economy boomed due to the construction of Shasta Dam to the northwest. The building of the dam, which was completed in 1945, caused Redding's population to nearly double, also spurring the growth and development of other towns in the area.^[10]

Mid to late 20th century

Redding continued to grow steadily in the nineteen fifties due to the region's growing lumber industry and tourism brought about by the newly completed dam. The constructions of Whiskeytown and Keswick dams also helped boost the economy by bringing new workers to the area. Highway Interstate 5 was built during the sixties and seventies, which added to development and tourism in the region.

Growth in Redding during the 60s and 70s was also caused by annexation of an area east of the Sacramento River made up of the unincorporated community of Enterprise. Enterprise residents voted to support the annexation primarily to acquire less expensive electricity via Redding's municipal utility, which receives power from the dam.

During the 1970s, the lumber industry suffered from decline. Lumber mills in the area closed down and heavily impacted the Redding area. Things later picked up, due to a retail and housing boom in the late 1980s that continued until the mid-1990s.

21st century

In 2017, the city adopted a new flag after holding a redesign contest.^[11]

In late July 2018, the Carr Fire in Shasta county seriously impacted the Redding area with the destruction of at least 1100^[12] buildings, with several thousand more threatened, and 38,000 people instructed to evacuate.^[13]

Location

Redding is located at 40°34′36″N 122°22′13″W / 40.57667°N 122.37028°W / 40.57667; -122.37028 (40.576606, −122.370325).^[14] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 61.2 square miles (159 square kilometers). 59.6 square miles (154 km²) of it is land, and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) of it (2.50%) is beneath water.

Redding is located at the very northwestern end of the Central Valley, which transitions into the Cascade foothills. The city is surrounded by mountains to the north, east, and west and fertile farm land to the south. Outermost parts of the city are part of the Cascade foothills, whereas southern and central areas are in the Sacramento Valley.

The elevation in Redding is 495 feet (151 meters) on average, whereas anywhere to the north, east, or west of downtown ranges between 550 feet (170 m) and 800 feet (240 m) feet. Southern portions range between 400 feet (120 m) and 500 feet (150 m).

The Shasta Dam on the Sacramento River provides a considerable level of flood protection for Redding. The dam is capable of controlling flows up to 79,000 cubic feet (7,300 cubic meters) per second. The flow rate exceeded this threshold in both 1970 and 1974.^[15]

Soils in and around town are composed mostly of clay or gravelly loam texture, with red or brown mineral horizons. They are slightly or moderately acidic in their natural state.^[16]

Subdivisions / Areas

Ecology

There are several rare and endangered species in Redding and its immediate vicinity. The Redding Redevelopment Plan EIR notes the California State listed endangered species, slender Orcutt grass (Orcuttia tenuis), occurs in eastern Redding near the municipal airport, where vernal pools are known to exist. This endemic grass is a Federal Candidate for listing and is endangered throughout its range, confined to several populations, and seriously threatened by agriculture, overgrazing, and residential development. Vernal pools provide the preferred habitat for this plant, which the California Native Plant Society considers a rare and endangered species. These same vernal pools also support federally protected species such as the federally threatened vernal pool fairy shrimp (Branchinecta lynchi).

Climate

Redding has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa), with very hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Winter (October–April) provides the most precipitation of any season in Redding—the weather tends to be either rainy or foggy and at times, snow occurs. Summers are hot and dry, but rain is possible, usually with a thunderstorm. The average daily maximum temperature in July stays near 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). The highest official recorded temperature in Redding was 118 °F (48 °C) on July 20, 1988. That was recorded at the nearby Redding airport. Some people in town recorded as high as 122 °F (50 °C) that same day. Redding has an average possible sunshine of 88%, the second-highest percentage (after Yuma, Arizona) of any US city.^[17]

The city receives an average of 4.8 inches (12 centimeters) of snow annually.^[18] It rarely gets sleet or freezing rain. Frost occurs commonly in December through February, less often in March or November. In spring, rain is common. The city is located near the southernmost point of the influence of the westerlies, and it therefore gets much more rain than most places in the Sacramento Valley; temperature differentials between land and sea cause moist air from the latter to flow over the city, producing precipitation, cloud and fog in the winter. The direction of this wind reverses in the summer, as hot, high-pressure air flows from land to sea, making the area very dry. Tornadoes are extremely rare; flooding occurs only around the area near the Sacramento River. The coldest temperature recorded in Redding was 17 °F (−8 °C).

2010

The 2010 United States Census^[5] reported that Redding had a population of 89,861. The population density was 1,468.9 people per square mile (567.2/km²). The racial makeup of Redding was 77,117 (85.8%) White, 1,092 (1.2%) African American, 2,034 (2.3%) Native American, 3,034 (3.4%) Asian, 156 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 2,307 (2.6%) from other races, and 4,121 (4.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7,787 persons (8.7%).

The Census reported that 87,841 people (97.8% of the population) lived in households, 1,138 (1.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 882 (1.0%) were institutionalized.

There were 36,130 households, out of which 11,012 (30.5%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 16,001 (44.3%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 4,806 (13.3%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,984 (5.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 2,570 (99.0%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 204 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 10,344 households (28.6%) were made up of individuals and 4,622 (12.8%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43. There were 22,791 families (63.1% of all households); the average family size was 2.94.

The population was spread out with 20,518 people (22.8%) under the age of 18, 9,436 people (10.5%) aged 18 to 24, 21,725 people (24.2%) aged 25 to 44, 23,424 people (26.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 14,758 people (16.4%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.

There were 38,679 housing units at an average density of 632.3 per square mile (244.1/km²), of which 19,968 (55.3%) were owner-occupied, and 16,162 (44.7%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.9%. 48,179 people (53.6% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 39,662 people (44.1%) lived in rental housing units.

Top employers

According to the City's 2016 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR),^[21] these are the top employers in the city:

State and federal representation

In the California State Legislature, Redding is in the 1st Senate District, represented by Republican Ted Gaines,^[22] and the 1st Assembly District, represented by Republican Brian Dahle.^[23]

In the United States House of Representatives, Redding is in California's 1st congressional district, represented by Republican Doug LaMalfa.^[24]

Municipal government

The city council is composed of Mayor Brent Weaver, Vice Mayor Kristen Schreder, Adam McElvain, Francie Sullivan, and Julie Winter.^[25] The city manager is Barry Tippin.^[26]

Redding is a general law city operating under the council-manager form of government.^[25][25]

Museums and public art

• Calatrava Sculpture
• Sculpture park at City Hall
• Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay

Architecture

• Carnegie Library
• Cascade Theatre
• Hotel Lorenz
• Pilgrim Congregational Church
• Sundial Bridge

The Cascade Theater

Venues

• Redding Civic Auditorium
• Cascade Theatre
• Riverfront Amphitheater
• Old City Hall

Performing arts

• Riverfront Playhouse
• Redding Improv Players

Higher education

High schools

Charter schools

• Monarch Learning Center
• Stellar Charter School
• Academy of Personalized Learning
• Redding Collegiate Academy
• Redding School of the Arts
• Rocky Point Charter School
• Shasta Charter Academy

Other schools

• Redding Adventist Academy
• Bethel Christian School

Trade schools

• Redding Institute of Technology
• Shasta School of Cosmetology

Non-academic learning

• Code IT
• Build It
• Shasta County Public Library

Print

• Redding Record Searchlight
• After Five

Broadcast

Major highways

• Interstate 5 runs through the east central portion of this city.
• CA 299, formerly U.S. 299, runs through the western, central, and northeastern parts of the city.
• CA 44 runs through the middle and eastern part of town. Its western terminus is at Market Street (California 273) in downtown Redding.
• CA 273, was formerly the Interstate 5 Business Route, and also formerly the U.S. 99, directly through the city.

Rail and bus transportation

Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Redding, operating its Coast Starlight daily in both directions between Seattle, Washington, and Los Angeles, California VA Portland, Oregon; Sacramento, California; Oakland, California; San Jose, California; Santa Barbara, California and all Intermediate station stops. Amtrak California also provides Thruway Motorcoach service to Stockton or Sacramento for connections to the San Joaquins, which serve the San Francisco Bay Area, San Joaquin Valley and the Los Angeles area via bus connections.

Redding provides a city bus transportation system called RABA (Redding Area Bus Authority). RABA provides routes throughout the city of Redding and also provides transportation throughout Redding's suburbs. Transportation is also available by Sage Stage to Alturas and Trinity Transit to Weaverville.^[30] Redding is also served by the intercity bus companies Greyhound and Fronteras del Norte.^[31]

Air transportation

Air transportation for the Redding area is provided by two general aviation airports. Redding Municipal Airport, located south of Redding, has scheduled flights from SkyWest (United Express). The smaller Benton Airpark is located on the western side of Redding.

Actors and entertainment industry

• Ashley Parker Angel – recording artist and Broadway actor
• David de Berry – theater composer and actor
• Kathleen Kennedy – film producer
• Shane Drake – music video director
• Rich Eisen – sportscaster
• Francesca Eastwood – actor

Authors

• Bill Johnson, author and Senior Pastor of Bethel Church in Redding
• Matthew Kennedy – author

Business leaders and entrepreneurs

• Kevin Rose – Internet entrepreneur

Musicians and bands

• Duffy Bishop – electric blues singer and songwriter
• Randy Miller – drummer of the Myriad
• Roy Rogers – guitarist
• Craig Padilla – ambient electronic musician and film score composer

Athletes

• Bill Plummer – MLB player, coach and manager
• Greg Cadaret – MLB player
• Mark Parent – MLB player and coach
• Rick Bosetti – professional baseball player
• Mel Hein – football player, 1938 MVP, NFL Hall of Fame inductee
• Eddie Machen – heavyweight boxer
• Buck Martinez – professional MLB player, manager, broadcaster
• Matt Nichols – player in Canadian Football League
• Ryan O'Callaghan – NFL football player
• Megan Rapinoe – professional soccer player, Olympic gold medalist
• Ricky Ray – football player in the Canadian Football League
• Lynne Roberts – college basketball coach
• D. J. Seeley – basketball player in Israeli Premier League and Euroleague
• Jason Sehorn – former NFL player

Politicians, civil servants and activists

• Raymond Jacobs – US Marine, said to be in photo of first flag raised on Iwo Jima
• Brian Sandoval – 29th governor of Nevada

Other people

• Ruggles brothers – stagecoach robbers
• Sam Butcher – Artist, Precious Moments