Portola
City in Plumas County, California

Portola is a city in Plumas County, California, with 2,100 residents (2020 Census). It sits at 4,856 ft (1,480 m) above sea level. The nearest town is Delleker, 1.0 miles SW.
- 2,100residents (2020 Census)
- 4,856 ftelevation · 1,480 m
- 5.4 sq miland area · 14.0 km²
- 388 / sq mipopulation density
- 96122ZIP code
About Portola
Portola ( por-TOH-lə) is the only incorporated city in Plumas County, California, United States. The population was 2,100 at the 2020 census, down from 2,104 at the 2010 census. Portola is located on the Middle Fork of the Feather River and was named after Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portolá, although he did not explore this area.
Portola is a crew change site on the Western Pacific Railroad (now Union Pacific Railroad) Feather River Route over the Sierra Nevada. The city is also home to the Western Pacific Railroad Museum (formerly Portola Railroad Museum), one of the largest railroad museums in the Western United States. The museum is famous for its Run A Locomotive program, where the public can participate in a "fantasy experience" program allowing them to run a railroad locomotive on the museum grounds. The railroad tradition also extends to a yearly local event called “Railroad Days”.
Portola was in the national media spotlight in 1996–1997 when a conflict occurred between the local community and the Department of Fish and Game over how to deal with an invasive species of northern pike in Lake Davis. The lake was chemically treated in 1997 to eradicate the fish, but they reappeared in 1999. In early September 2007, the California Department of Fish and Game eradicated the pike using CFT Legumine, a new liquid formulation of rotenone.
Text: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
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- Median household income
- $44,492
- Median home value
- $231,300
- Median rent
- $819/mo
- Median age
- 40.6
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Map of Portola
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Open in Google Maps ›Portola, CA population
Portola had 2,100 residents in the 2020 Census.
| 2020 Census | 2,100 |
|---|---|
| Density | 388 per sq mi (150 per km²) |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census.
Portola at a glance
| State | California (CA) |
|---|---|
| County | Plumas County |
| Type | City |
| Population | 2,100 (2020) |
| Land area | 5.41 sq mi (14.0 km²) |
| Elevation | 4,856 ft (1,480 m) |
| Coordinates | 39.8208° N, 120.4743° W |
| ZIP code | 96122 |
| Official website | ci.portola.ca.us |
| Census code (GEOID) | 0658352 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Gazetteer, ZCTA), USGS GNIS, Wikidata.
Towns near Portola
- Delleker1.0 mi SW
- Lake Davis2.3 mi N
- Iron Horse2.8 mi S
- Beckwourth3.6 mi NE
- Gold Mountain4.7 mi SW
- Mabie4.8 mi SW
- Mohawk Vista6.2 mi W
- Clio6.7 mi SW
- C-Road6.8 mi SW
- Valley Ranch7.4 mi SW
- Blairsden7.9 mi SW
- Whitehawk8.1 mi SW
Straight-line distance between town centers.
Frequently asked questions about Portola
What county is Portola in?
Portola is in Plumas County, California.
What is the population of Portola, CA?
2,100 people lived in Portola at the 2020 Census.
What is the ZIP code of Portola, CA?
The ZIP code of Portola is 96122.
What is the elevation of Portola?
4,856 feet (1,480 m) above sea level.
What towns are near Portola?
Delleker (1.0 mi), Lake Davis (2.3 mi), Iron Horse (2.8 mi), Beckwourth (3.6 mi), Gold Mountain (4.7 mi).
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