Yolo County, California

Yolo County
County
Cache Creek in Guinda
Woodland
West Sacramento
Davis
Winters
Capay Valley and the Blue Ridge Mountains
Flag of Yolo County
Flag
Official seal of Yolo County
Seal
Interactive map of Yolo County
Location in the state of California
Location in the state of California
Coordinates: 38°33′14″N 121°44′17″W / 38.55389°N 121.73806°W / 38.55389; -121.73806
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
RegionSacramento Valley
CSAGreater Sacramento
IncorporatedFebruary 18, 1850
County seatWoodland
Largest cityDavis (population)
West Sacramento (area)
Government
 • TypeCouncil–CAO
 • BodyBoard of Supervisors
 • ChairSheila Allen
 • Vice ChairAngel Barajas
 • Board of Supervisors
Supervisors
  • Oscar Villegas
  • Lucas Frerichs
  • Mary Vixie Sandy
  • Sheila Allen
  • Angel Barajas
 • Chief Administrative OfficerGerardo Pinedo
Area
 • Total
1,024 sq mi (2,650 km2)
 • Land1,015 sq mi (2,630 km2)
 • Water8.9 sq mi (23 km2)
Highest elevation
3,123 ft (952 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
216,403
 • Estimate 
(2025)
224,410 Increase
 • Density213.2/sq mi (82.32/km2)
GDP
 • Total$18.735 billion (2022)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific Time Zone)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (Pacific Daylight Time)
Area codes530, 916, 279
FIPS code06-113
GNIS feature ID277321
Congressional districts4th, 7th
Websitewww.yolocounty.gov Edit this at Wikidata

Yolo County (/ˈjoʊloʊ/ ⓘ; Wintun: Yo-loy), officially the County of Yolo, is a county located in the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. Yolo County was one of the original counties of California, created in 1850 at the time of statehood. As of the 2020 census, its population was 216,403. Its county seat is Woodland. Yolo County is included in the greater Sacramento metropolitan area in the Sacramento Valley.

Etymology

In the original act of 1850, the name was spelled "Yola". Yolo is a Patwin Native American name variously believed to be a corruption of a tribal name, Yo-loy, meaning "a place abounding in rushes", the village of Yodoi, believed to be in the vicinity of Knights Landing, California, or the name of the chief of said village, Yodo.

History

Yolo County was one of the original counties of California, created in 1850 at the time of statehood.

Government

Yolo County is a California Constitution defined general law county and is governed by an elected Board of Supervisors. The Board consists of five members, elected by districts, who serve every four-year staggered terms. The county is governed by a board of five district supervisors as well the governments of its four incorporated cities: Davis, West Sacramento, Winters, and Woodland.

Geography

Aerial view of Watts Woodland Airport and surrounding area

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,024 square miles (2,650 km2), of which 8.9 square miles (23 km2) (0.9%) is covered by water.

Adjacent counties

Transportation

Major highways

County roads

Addressing in Yolo County is based on a system of numbered county roads. The numbering system works in the following way:

  1. North–south roads have numbers from 41 to 117 and increase from west to east.
  2. East–west roads have numbers from 1 to 38A, and then from 151 to 161, and increase from north to south.

Each integer road number is generally one mile (1.6 km) apart, with letters occasionally designating roads less than one mile (1.6 km) apart. County roads entering urban areas generally become named roads once they cross a city boundary. Some examples include County Road 101 in Woodland being renamed Pioneer Avenue, and County Road 102 (also known as County Route E8) in Davis being named Pole Line Road.

Public transportation

Airports

Port

The Port of Sacramento, now known as the Port of West Sacramento, is an inland port in West Sacramento, California, in the Sacramento metropolitan area. It is 79 nautical miles (146 km) northeast of San Francisco, and is centered in the California Central Valley, one of the richest agricultural regions in the world.

Crime

This table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense.

Cities by population and crime rates

Politics

Yolo is a strongly Democratic county in presidential and congressional elections. The last Republican presidential candidate to win a majority in the county was Dwight Eisenhower in 1952, which is the longest Republican drought for any California county. In fact, since 1928, Eisenhower's win in 1952 was the only time the county was carried by the Republican presidential nominee.

United States presidential election results for Yolo County, California
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
1880 1,256 47.38% 1,374 51.83% 21 0.79%
1884 1,412 48.74% 1,421 49.05% 64 2.21%
1888 1,350 44.66% 1,580 52.27% 93 3.08%
1892 1,372 40.78% 1,707 50.74% 285 8.47%
1896 1,485 44.84% 1,753 52.93% 74 2.23%
1900 1,510 45.81% 1,687 51.18% 99 3.00%
1904 1,702 51.87% 1,301 39.65% 278 8.47%
1908 1,707 49.01% 1,553 44.59% 223 6.40%
1912 9 0.23% 2,239 56.06% 1,746 43.72%
1916 2,334 42.43% 2,922 53.12% 245 4.45%
1920 3,375 61.95% 1,787 32.80% 286 5.25%
1924 2,470 45.35% 797 14.63% 2,180 40.02%
1928 3,545 56.96% 2,641 42.43% 38 0.61%
1932 2,515 29.49% 5,780 67.77% 234 2.74%
1936 2,594 29.84% 5,992 68.94% 106 1.22%
1940 4,373 40.29% 6,380 58.78% 101 0.93%
1944 4,233 41.84% 5,837 57.70% 46 0.45%
1948 5,560 43.83% 6,655 52.47% 469 3.70%
1952 9,375 53.17% 8,119 46.04% 139 0.79%
1956 9,347 47.99% 10,075 51.72% 57 0.29%
1960 10,104 44.73% 12,395 54.87% 90 0.40%
1964 7,976 30.36% 18,266 69.52% 32 0.12%
1968 11,123 38.41% 15,833 54.67% 2,004 6.92%
1972 17,969 42.04% 23,694 55.44% 1,075 2.52%
1976 18,376 42.42% 23,533 54.33% 1,408 3.25%
1980 19,603 39.45% 21,527 43.32% 8,560 17.23%
1984 24,329 47.84% 25,879 50.89% 645 1.27%
1988 22,358 41.89% 30,429 57.01% 585 1.10%
1992 17,574 28.15% 33,297 53.33% 11,565 18.52%
1996 18,807 32.38% 33,033 56.88% 6,239 10.74%
2000 23,057 37.53% 33,747 54.93% 4,632 7.54%
2004 28,005 38.75% 42,885 59.34% 1,379 1.91%
2008 24,592 30.84% 53,488 67.07% 1,669 2.09%
2012 23,368 31.29% 48,715 65.24% 2,588 3.47%
2016 20,739 25.26% 54,752 66.70% 6,599 8.04%
2020 27,292 28.05% 67,598 69.48% 2,404 2.47%
2024 27,844 30.06% 61,405 66.30% 3,372 3.64%

Yolo County has been somewhat more likely to elect Republican governors since then (Ronald Reagan carried the county in 1966, George Deukmejian in 1986, and Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2003 and 2006).

In the United States House of Representatives, Yolo County is split between California's 4th and 7th congressional districts, represented by Mike Thompson (D–St. Helena) and Doris Matsui (D–Sacramento), respectively.

In the California State Senate, the county is entirely with the 3rd Senate district, represented by Christopher Cabaldon.

In the California State Assembly, the county is entirely within the 4th Assembly district, represented by Cecilia Aguiar-Curry.

In June 1978, Yolo was one of only three counties in the entire state to reject Proposition 13 (the others being San Francisco and Kern).

In November 2008, Yolo was one of just three counties in California's interior in which voters rejected Proposition 8 to ban gay marriage. Yolo voters rejected Proposition 8 by a vote of 58.65 to 41.35%. The other interior counties in which Proposition 8 failed to receive a majority of votes were Alpine County and Mono County. In 2024, all three joined 11 other interior counties which voted in favor of Proposition 3, which repealed Proposition 8 and established an affirmative right to marriage in the constitution, with Yolo supporting Proposition 3 70.4% to 29.6%.

Cities by population and voter registration

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18501,086—
18604,716334.3%
18709,899109.9%
188011,77218.9%
189012,6847.7%
190013,6187.4%
191013,9262.3%
192017,10522.8%
193023,64438.2%
194027,24315.2%
195040,64049.2%
196065,72761.7%
197091,78839.7%
1980113,37423.5%
1990141,09224.4%
2000168,66019.5%
2010200,84919.1%
2020216,4037.7%
2025 (est.)224,410 Increase3.7%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900–1990
1990-2000 2010 2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 216,403. The median age was 33.3 years. 20.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.3 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 49.6% White, 2.8% Black or African American, 1.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 14.0% Asian, 0.5% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 15.7% from some other race, and 15.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 33.1% of the population.

92.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 8.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 76,594 households in the county, of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 28.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 23.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 80,188 housing units, of which 4.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 53.0% were owner-occupied and 47.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 3.5%.

Racial and ethnic composition

Yolo County, 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 1980 Pop 1990 Pop 2000 Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 85,194 96,825 97,942 100,240 93,911 75.14% 68.63% 58.07% 49.91% 43.40%
Black or African American alone (NH) 1,886 2,975 3,133 4,752 5,722 1.66% 2.11% 1.86% 2.37% 2.64%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 1,206 1,363 1,165 1,098 948 1.06% 0.97% 0.69% 0.55% 0.44%
Asian alone (NH) 4,597 11,455 16,390 25,640 29,872 4.05% 8.12% 9.72% 12.77% 13.80%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x x 443 817 1,079 x x 0.26% 0.41% 0.50%
Other race alone (NH) 1,149 292 396 443 1,278 1.01% 0.21% 0.23% 0.22% 0.59%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x x 5,484 6,906 11,893 x x 3.25% 3.44% 5.50%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 19,342 28,182 43,707 60,953 71,700 17.06% 19.97% 25.91% 30.35% 33.13%
Total 113,374 141,092 168,660 200,849 216,403 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

American Community Survey 2025 data

The United States Census Bureau estimated that in 2025, Yolo County’s population was 224.410. It was also estimated that the county's population was 41,23% Non-Hispanic White, 33,35% Hispanic or Latino, 2,88% Non-Hispanic Black, 15,80% Asian, 0,44% Native American, 0,57% Pacific Islander, and 5,73% Multiracial.

Total Population Percentage
Non-Hispanic White 92.531 41,23%
Hispanic or Latino 74.851 33,35%
Non-Hispanic Black 6.459 2,88%
Asian 35.467 15,80%
Native American 983 0,44%
Pacific Islander 1.268 0,57%
Non-Hispanic Multiracial 12.851 5,73%

2010

The 2010 United States census reported that Yolo County had a population of 200,849. The racial makeup of Yolo County was 126,883 (63.2%) White, 5,208 (2.6%) African American, 2,214 (1.1%) Native American, 26,052 (13.0%) Asian, 910 (0.5%) Pacific Islander, 27,882 (13.9%) from other races, and 11,700 (5.8%) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 60,953 persons (30.3%).

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, 168,660 people, 59,375 households, and 37,465 families were residing in the county. The population density was 166 inhabitants per square mile (64/km2). The 61,587 housing units had an average density of 61 per square mile (24/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 67.7% White, 2.0% Black or African American, 1.2% Native American, 9.9% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 13.8% from other races, and 5.2% from two or more races. About 25.9% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race. By ancestry, 10.0% were of German, 6.6% English and 6.4% Irish descent according to Census 2000. About 68.5% spoke English, 19.5% Spanish, 2.1% Chinese or Mandarin, and 1.8% Russian as their first language.

Of the 59,375 households, 33.6% had children under 18 living with them, 47.6% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were not families. About 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.25.

In the county, the age distribution was 25.2% under 18, 18.3% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,769, and for a family was $51,623. Males had a median income of $38,022 versus $30,687 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,365. About 9.5% of families and 18.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.0% of those under 18 and 7.4% of those 65 or over.

Education

Public schools

The Yolo County Office of Education has supervision over public schools.

School districts covering portions of the county include:

Colleges and universities

Communities

Water tower at University of California, Davis

Cities

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Yolo County.

† county seat

Rank City/town/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census)
1 Davis City 65,622
2 † Woodland City 55,468
3 West Sacramento City 48,744
4 Winters City 6,624
5 University of California Davis CDP 5,786
6 Esparto CDP 3,108
7 Monument Hills CDP 1,542
8 Dunnigan CDP 1,416
9 Knights Landing CDP 995
10 Madison CDP 721
11 Yolo CDP 450
12 Clarksburg CDP 418
13 Guinda CDP 254
14 Rumsey Indian Rancheria AIAN 77

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Only larceny-theft cases involving property over $400 in value are reported as property crimes.
  2. 1 2 Percentage of registered voters with respect to total population. Percentages of party members with respect to registered voters follow.

References

  1. ↑ "Chronology". California State Association of Counties. Archived from the original on January 29, 2016. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Board of Supervisors | Yolo County".
  3. ↑ "Little Blue Ridge". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  4. 1 2 "Quick Facts - Yolo County, CA". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Yolo County, CA". Federal Reserve Economic Data. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
  6. ↑ "Yolo County, California". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Yolo County, California: History and Information". www.ereferencedesk.com. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  9. ↑ Kroeber, Alfred Louis (1917). Arapaho Dialects, Volume 12, page 67. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  10. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  11. ↑ "This Sacramento Valley town has sunk more than 2 feet in less than 10 years". Los Angeles Times. February 5, 2019.
  12. ↑ Services, SIA Professional. "Yolobus Routes". www.yolobus.com. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  13. ↑ "About | Unitrans". unitrans.ucdavis.edu. Retrieved March 26, 2018.[dead link]
  14. 1 2 3 U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B02001. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Office of the Attorney General, Department of Justice, State of California. Table 11: Crimes – 2009 Archived December 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  16. 1 2 3 United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Crime in the United States, 2012, Table 8 (California). Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  17. ↑ Bellantoni, Christina (November 2, 2016). "Newsletter: Essential Politics: Red state, blue state, my state, your state". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  18. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  19. ↑ Bowen, Debra (December 14, 2012). "President by County" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 24, 2025. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Counties by County and by District". California Citizens Redistricting Commission. Archived from the original on September 30, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  21. ↑ "California's 4th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC.
  22. ↑ "California's 7th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC.
  23. 1 2 "Final Maps | California Citizens Redistricting Commission". Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  24. ↑ Gibson, Ross Eric (November 1, 2020). "Proposition 13: Speculators and tax gentrification". Santa Cruz Sentinel.
  25. ↑ "County-by-County Map, California Propositions: The Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. November 4, 2008. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 California Secretary of State February 10, 2013 - Report of Registration Archived July 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
  27. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2025". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  29. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
  30. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
  31. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
  32. 1 2 "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Yolo County, California". United States Census Bureau.
  33. 1 2 "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Yolo County, California". United States Census Bureau.
  34. 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  35. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  36. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  37. ↑ "California: 1980, General Social and Economic Characteristics, Part 1" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  38. ↑ "California: 1990, Part 1" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  39. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Yolo County, California". United States Census Bureau.
  40. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  41. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  42. ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
  43. ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
  44. ↑ "County Population by Characteristics: 2020-2025". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
  45. ↑ "2010 Census P.L. 94-171 Summary File Data". United States Census Bureau.
  46. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  47. ↑ Geography Division (December 18, 2020). 2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Yolo County, CA (PDF) (Map). Suitland, Maryland: U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 15, 2026. - Text list
  48. ↑ Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, California: Word Dancer Press. p. 547. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
  49. ↑ CNMP, US Census Bureau. "This site has been redesigned and relocated. - U.S. Census Bureau". www.census.gov.
  50. ↑ Staff, Website Services & Coordination. "2010 Census Interactive Population Map (Text Version) - U.S. Census Bureau". www.census.gov.