Belden, California

Belden, California
Unincorporated community
Census designated place
The Belden Town Hotel in February 2022
The Belden Town Hotel in February 2022
Location in Plumas County and the state of California
Location in Plumas County and the state of California
Belden, California is located in California
Belden, California
Belden, California
Location in the United States
Belden, California is located in the United States
Belden, California
Belden, California
Belden, California (the United States)
Coordinates: 40°0′23″N 121°15′9″W / 40.00639°N 121.25250°W / 40.00639; -121.25250
Country United States
State California
CountyPlumas
Area
 • Total
0.73 sq mi (1.88 km2)
 • Land0.61 sq mi (1.58 km2)
 • Water0.12 sq mi (0.30 km2)  15.95%
Elevation
2,221 ft (677 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
15
 • Density25/sq mi (9.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
95915
Area codes530, 837
FIPS code06-04856
GNIS feature IDs266440; 2407822
U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Belden, California; U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Belden, California

Belden is a unincorporated community in Plumas County, California, United States. Belden is located on the Feather River Route and the North Fork Feather River, 7 miles (11.3 km) southwest of Caribou. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Belden as a census-designated place (CDP). The population was 15 at the 2020 census, down from 22 in 2010.

History

1915 postcard of Belden station

The Belden post office opened in 1909. The name honors Robert Belden, its first postmaster.

Prospector Ivan Coffman bought the community in 1989 and put it up for sale in 2026.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2), of which 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (15.95%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
200026—
201022−15.4%
202015−31.8%
U.S. Decennial Census
1850–1870 1880-1890
1900 1910 1920
1930 1940 1950
1960 1970 1980
1990 2000 2010

Belden first appeared as a census designated place in the 2000 U.S. census.

Racial and ethnic composition

Belden CDP, California – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000 Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 26 20 8 100.00% 90.91% 53.33%
Black or African American alone (NH) 0 0 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 0 0 1 0.00% 0.00% 6.67%
Asian alone (NH) 0 0 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) 0 0 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Other race alone (NH) 0 0 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 0 2 0 0.00% 9.09% 0.00%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0 0 6 0.00% 0.00% 40.00%
Total 26 22 15 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Belden had a population of 15. The population density was 24.6 inhabitants per square mile (9.5/km2). The median age was 35.5 years. 26.7% of residents were under the age of 18, 46.7% were aged 25 to 64, and 26.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 15.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 10.0 males age 18 and over.

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 9 households in Belden, of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 11.1% were married-couple households, 33.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 44.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 55.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 44.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 11 housing units, of which 18.2% were vacant. Of occupied units, 5 were owner-occupied and 4 were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 0.0%.

Media

The primary local news source is The Plumas Sun, a nonprofit news website. The century-old Feather River Bulletin newspaper shuttered in 2023.

Government

In the state legislature Belden is located in the 1st senatorial district, represented by Republican Megan Dahle, and the 1st Assembly district, represented by Republican Heather Hadwick.

Federally, Belden is in California's 3rd congressional district, represented by Independent Kevin Kiley.

Education

The school district is Plumas Unified School District.

References

  1. ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  2. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Belden, California
  3. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Belden, California
  4. 1 2 3 Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, California: Word Dancer Press. p. 355. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
  5. ↑ Brown Davis, Julie (September 21, 2026). "An eclectic Sierra compound is for sale for $4.75M". SFGate. Retrieved September 27, 2026.
  6. ↑ Knowles, Hannah (September 25, 2026). "'Be your own mayor': For $4.75 million, you could buy a California town: After nearly four decades, the 87-year-old owner of this tiny enclave along the Pacific Crest Trail is ready to hand over the keys". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 2, 2026. Closed access icon
  7. ↑ "Decennial Census by Decade". United States Census Bureau.
  8. ↑ "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  9. ↑ "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  10. ↑ "1890 Census of Population - Population of California by Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  11. ↑ "1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  12. ↑ "1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 23, 2024. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  13. ↑ "1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  14. ↑ "1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  15. ↑ "1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  16. ↑ "1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  17. ↑ "1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  18. ↑ "1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  19. ↑ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  20. ↑ "1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  21. 1 2 "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  22. ↑ "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  23. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Belden CDP, California". United States Census Bureau.
  24. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Belden CDP, California". United States Census Bureau.
  25. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Belden CDP, California". United States Census Bureau.
  26. 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  27. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  28. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Senators". State of California. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  30. ↑ "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  31. ↑ "California's 3rd Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  32. ↑ Geography Division (December 18, 2020). 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Plumas County, CA (PDF) (Map). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 22, 2025. - Text list