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- Written by: KRISTIE WILDER AND JACK BYERLY
But even within Florida, the age structure varies widely, from 32.1 in Leon County to 68.3 in Sumter County — the highest median age of any county in the nation.
A new U.S. Census Bureau interactive visualization shows the broad variations in age structure by state and county.
The June release of population estimates by age, sex, race and Hispanic origin for 2020 and 2021 provides the most recent county-level estimates by demographic characteristics.
In California, the new information shows that the median age in Lake County is 43.9 years.
The state’s youngest county by media age is Merced, at 31.7, versus the oldest, Sierra County, at 53.2 years.
Hovering over a county on the map below will give you the county’s population and its median age — the midpoint at which one-half the population is older and one-half is younger. Clicking on a county gives you more details of the county’s age and sex structure, and population by race and ethnicity (race alone or in combination and by Hispanic origin).
Population characteristics at the county level reveal unique population attributes and varied demographic compositions within each state.
For example, variations in age distribution within a state are common:
• In South Dakota, county median ages in 2021 ranged from 23.0 in Todd County to 56.3 in Custer County. The median age for the state was 37.7.
• Virginia, Washington, Texas, Georgia, New Mexico and Idaho also show wide-ranging median age. Virginia had the widest range in county median age, from 22.2 in Lexington city to 59.3 in Highland County, a difference of 37.1 years.
Population pyramid
Median age is one way to represent an area's age distribution. Another way is using population pyramids providing the age and sex structure.
Population pyramids in the data visualization below are commonly used in demographic research because they provide a condensed but powerful illustration of a population’s age distribution by sex.
A population pyramid is essentially two bar charts, one for the male population on the left and the other for the female population on the right. The base of the pyramid, or bottom of the chart, has the youngest population (ages 0-4) and the top has the oldest (ages 85 and older).
The pyramid can reveal differences in age structure between two counties that have the same median age. For example, the median age in both Leon County, Florida, and Davis County, Utah, was 32.1 years in 2021. Their population pyramids, however, show differences in their age structures.
The relatively low median age in Leon County, Florida, was primarily due to a large population between the ages of 20 and 24, while in Davis County, Utah, the largest age group was the population ages 10 to 14.
Similarly in California, Orange County and Santa Cruz County both had a median age of 39.1 in 2021, but the underlying age structure in each county was different.
Orange County had comparably sized age groups that become smaller at older ages with the largest segment of the county’s population in ages 30 to 34. In contrast, Santa Cruz County had the largest share of its population in the younger age group of 20 to 24.
The visualization provides estimates for July 1, 2020, and July 1, 2021. The panel on the bottom-right shows the selected county’s population by race and Hispanic origin. The race groups shown are for race alone or in combination.
Because some people identify as multiracial and indicate more than one race on their census form, the race numbers add up to more than the total population for the county. The visualization also shows estimates for the Hispanic population that can be of any race.
When considering data by race, it is important to note that the race categories used for the Population Estimates Program differ from the decennial census.
The 2020 Census included the category “Some Other Race,” but the input data used to produce the population estimates do not have that category.
Responses of “Some Other Race” from the decennial census are reclassified into the five racial categories included in the 1997 Office of Management and Budget’s standards, either alone or in combination with another race category. This process produces a “Modified Race” file that allows data users to connect the two.
In addition, the race and Hispanic origin distributions in the “blended base” used for the Vintage 2021 estimates were developed using data from the Vintage 2020 estimates. Vintage 2020 used the 2010 Census as the estimates base.
Improvements in how the Census Bureau collected and processed race information for the 2020 Census led to notable differences in the racial and ethnic composition of the population compared to what was measured in the 2010 Census.
The 2020 Census results revealed our country is much more multiracial and much more diverse than in previous decades. This also contributes to differences between the population estimates for specific race categories shown and those published from the 2020 Census.
For these reasons, comparisons between the estimates by race released today and the results of the 2020 Census by race will not be valid. For insight into the complex racial and ethnic diversity and composition of the U.S. population we advise using the 2020 Census race and ethnicity statistics.
Work is underway to develop a “modified race” variable for the 2020 Census data. This will allow us to use race and Hispanic origin information from the 2020 Census to produce the population estimates and will also enable us to make meaningful comparisons between the two sources. In the meantime, for more information see Using Demographic Benchmarks to Help Evaluate 2020 Census Results.
Kristie Wilder is a demographer in the Population Estimates Branch. Jack Byerly is a demographer in the Coordination, Dissemination, and Outreach Branch.
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- Written by: OFFICE OF ASSEMBLYMEMBER JAMES RAMOS
The measure, AB 1703, the California Indian Education Act, introduced by Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-Highland), was approved on a bipartisan vote of 37-0. Ramos is the first and only California Native American serving in the state’s legislature.
“I’m excited that this bill is one step closer to the governor. Now it’s important for Indian country to send letters urging him to sign the bill,” Ramos said. “It’s critical that we teach all students about the diversity of California’s more than 100 tribes. Our state’s tribes each have different languages, customs, culture, and history. Without this interaction, we cannot develop the more complete and high quality curriculum we seek, and we will continue to see incidents like that involving the Riverside math teacher. AB 1703 also provides teachers with more instructional tools and forges understanding among students and between local tribal families and their children’s campuses.”
“I am proud to join Assemblymember Ramos as a coauthor on AB 1703, which celebrates and encourages the accurate teaching of the history, culture, and government of local tribes,” said Sen. Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara). “This bill will help to shine a light on the true contributions of Native American people to our state and help preserve their rich history. I look forward to the end product that will benefit all students by providing a curriculum that ensures students are academically engaged, contribute to an increase in performance on academic tests, and improve graduation rates.”
Ramos noted that presenters at an October 2021 informational hearing by the Select Committee on Native American Affairs and the Education Committee also stressed the importance for local educators to collaborate with their tribes to bring Native American history and culture into the classroom.
AB 1703 calls for curriculum and instructional materials developed by the California Indian Education Task Forces to be shared with the California Department of Education so as to assist in sharing that knowledge statewide.
The education department is one of two sponsors of the bill, along with the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.
Johnny Hernández Jr, vice chairman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and chair of that tribe’s education board testified, “From a young age, we find ourselves balancing between two worlds: the world of our tribe and our ancestors, and the world we come to know through school, work, and our peers.”
He cited a movement in San Bernardino County that began in 1998 with four young fathers, Ramos among them, to collaborate with San Bernardino County area schools and California State University, San Bernardino.
The group organized large-scale week-long trips of students and teachers to teach them about California Indian culture in honor of the state’s Native American Day.
Hernández added, “I am pleased to say that this model has reached tens of thousands of students, teachers, and parents in 20-plus years. It has proven so successful that we believe now is the time for tribes and the state to take the next step together to introduce this concept to all Californians.”
In addition to encouraging local engagement between tribes and schools, AB 1703 would require that local districts identify the extent of the achievement gap between Native American students and their non-Native peers and come up with strategies to close them. These findings would be submitted to the Assembly and Senate Education committees.
Legislative co-authors include Assemblymembers Lisa Calderon (D-Whittier), Steve Bennett (D-Ventura), Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles), Sabrina Cervantes (D-Corona), Cristina Garcia Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella), Mike Gipson (D-Carson); Alex Lee (D-San Jose); Devon Mathis (R-Visalia), Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento), Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance), Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton), Eloise Reyes (D-San Bernardino); Carlos Villapudua (D-Stockton) and Senators Maria Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles), Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) and Monique Limon (D-Santa Barbara).
AB 1703 is sponsored by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians and California Department of Education.
Supporters include the California Teachers Association, California Association for Bilingual Education, California Calls, California Charter Schools Association, California Native Vote Project, California State Parent Teacher Association, Californians Together, Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake, Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians, Tachi Yokut Tribe, Tule River Tribe, Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Redlands Unified School District and Riverside Unified School District.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The National Weather Service issued the red flag warning for parts of California, including Lake County, through 11 p.m. Wednesday.
A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly due to a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures that can contribute to extreme fire behavior.
Forecasters said mid level moisture and a hot unstable atmosphere will aid in scattered thunderstorm development this afternoon and evening as an upper level disturbance moves across the region.
“Abundant lightning combined with little if any rainfall will increase the threat for fire starts across dry vegetation. In addition, gusty erratic thunderstorm winds will create dangerous fire weather
conditions for ongoing fires,” the forecast noted.
In Lake County, the forecast predicts scattered showers and thunderstorms Wednesday afternoon with light winds.
Shifting into Wednesday evening, there is a prediction for widespread haze, with conditions clearing into Thursday, when daytime temperatures will remain in the high 90s.
At the same time, due to the hot temperatures, the California Independent System Operator, or Cal ISO, is requesting Californians voluntarily conserve electricity on Wednesday afternoon and evening due to the stress placed on the state’s energy grid due to higher demand and tighter energy supply.
The voluntary flex alert will be in effect from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday.
Cal ISO is predicting an increase in electricity demand, primarily from air conditioning use, and is asking for a reduction in electricity usage to avoid emergency measures such as rotating power outages.
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. is urging Californians to precool their workspaces, set thermostats and at 78 degrees or higher, health permitting; close shades and curtains; not use major appliances during the flex alert; and turn off all unnecessary lights.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The council voted 3-1 — with Councilman Michael Green voting no and Mayor Stacey Mattina recusing — to award the project to Builder Solutions Inc.
Builder Solutions Inc. and Granite Construction Construction Co. were the only two bidders on the project. Builder Solutions submitted the lowest bid, $4,399,381, while Granite came in at $5,396,669.50.
The regular meeting followed a nearly hour-long special closed session meeting called due to the city having received a threat of litigation from the Construction Industry Force Account Council, or CIFAC, which began raising issues about the park project’s bidding last month.
Mattina also recused herself from that closed session and waited in the council chambers for the rest of the council, who emerged shortly after 6:20 p.m. to announce that no reportable action had been taken.
It was not disclosed on Tuesday if the discussion directly related to the Lakefront Park matter.
The city received a $5.9 million grant from the state in January 2020 to purchase the 7-acre park property at 800 and 810 N. Main St. and develop it. When completed, it will feature a number of amenities, chief among them, a lakeside promenade that will link it with Library Park.
The state has a tight timeline for the park’s purchase, planning and development. By the time the city received the grant, it already had done significant planning and public outreach on turning the property, formerly the home of Natural High School, into a premier public facility.
With an extension given by the state due to COVID-19, the city’s fund expenditure deadline has been moved back to June 30, 2024, said Assistant City Manager/Finance Director Nick Walker.
The bid award had originally been on the council’s agenda for July 19, but Granite Construction submitted a bid protest, which led to the council pulling the item at the request of City Manager Kevin Ingram.
Granite argued that Builder Solutions’ bid was not responsive and should be rejected because Builder Solutions failed to provide the Public Works Contractor Registration number for themselves and all the subcontractors. Ingram said staff concluded that matter was immaterial because they were able to confirm those numbers through the California Department of Industrial Relations’ online registration portal.
However, on July 20, CIFAC submitted a letter to the city which Ingram said was considered a bid protest. CIFAC also raised issues with Builder Solution Inc.’s failure to provide Public Works Contractor Registration numbers as well as reporting that one of the subcontractors was not registered at the time of bidding, in violation of state labor code.
Regarding the issue with the subcontractor, Ingram said Public Contract Code allows for substitution of such contractors with consent of all parties, and the procedure for substituting the subcontractor “has been finalized without objections, with Builder Solutions electing to self perform the work of the subcontractor in question, which constitutes less than 1% of the total project cost,” Ingram wrote in his report to the council.
On Aug. 5, the city received a “bid advisory” from the Foundation for Fair Contracting, which Ingram said “addressed concerns of patterns of labor code and prevailing wage violations resulting in penalties, historical non-compliance with apprenticeship requirements, OSHA violations resulting in fines and discrepancies in Builder Solutions’ filing of an exemption from the requirement to have workers’ compensation insurance.”
For its part, Builder Solutions submitted a July 22 letter explaining that the city’s contract documents did not require that the completed bid form include the Public Works Contractor
Registration, or the Department of Industrial Relations Number of either the prime contractor or the subcontractors, but only that they be “currently registered with the California Department of Industrial Relations.”
Regarding the Foundation for Fair Contracting’s allegations, in a separate response letter Builder Solutions said the information presented by the foundation regarding wage infraction and violation documentation was for a separate company, and went on to answer the rest of the claims, saying they were wrong.
They did acknowledge having two OSHA violations regarding failure to notify the agency of permit-required activity and failure to ensure an employee wore a seat belt on a skip loader. The company paid fines totaling $770 and the cases were closed.
After having reviewed the matter and investigated the claims, Ingram said staff recommended awarding the bid to Builder Solutions.
Because the company claims no employees and utilizes a professional employment organization which leases employees to the company as a form of “co-employment,” Ingram recommended the council approving hiring labor compliance consultant at a cost of no more than $100,000 to avoid the potential for violations and claims.
Ingram said the city has a small, limited staff. “This is a very large project for us,” he said, adding that hiring the consultant is a good move to protect the city.
He added that on Monday the city had received another contact from CIFAC, which didn’t agree with the city’s findings on the matter. He said staff prepared a written response and provided it to CIFAC.
During public comment, Michelle Pickens, CIFAC’s executive director, explained that the organization’s purpose is to monitor state and local agencies with compliance with bidding laws.
Pickens said there has been ongoing concern from the construction industry about the city’s plans to award the bid to Builder Solutions. She said the company’s bid was clearly deficient and it should be rejected.
The company’s failure to list subcontractor information and contractors that are licensed and registered should be a major concern to the city, Pickens said.
She said Builder Solutions may be assessed fines due to failure to finish a project for the city of Redding.
Pickens encouraged the city to vet Builder Solutions thoroughly before awarding it the contract.
“Are you really willing to take a chance with the Lakefront Park project?” she asked.
Thomas Adams Jr., Builder Solutions’ chief executive officer, appeared before the council to explain that they had addressed the issues raised about the company’s performance.
Green questioned Adams about the large differences in the cost differences between his company and Granite Construction in the bid breakdown.
Councilman Michael Froio wanted to know if Adams was going to be on site regularly and if the subcontractors would be monitored.
Green said he wanted to reject both bids and put the project out to bid again. He said he didn’t want to punish the low bidder for irregularities but didn’t want to reward them either.
However, Councilman Kenny Parlet moved to award the bid to Builder Solutions, with Froio seconding. Mayor Pro Tem Mireya Turner joined Parlet and Froio in voting to pass the motion, with Green voting no. Mattina had recused herself due to owning property near the park.
The council voted 4-0 to authorize Ingram to hire the labor compliance consultant.
In other business, the council held a public hearing to introduce changes to the city’s sign ordinance to allow signs to be seen from State Route 29 for Major Centers, as well as clarify the maximum height requirements for signage, received the after action report on Independence Day fireworks operations and heard an update from Utilities Superintendent Paul Harris on drought conditions and voted to direct staff to create a drought response plan.
The council also adopted a resolution approving the Forbes Creek Neighborhood Improvement Project Study and authorized the city manager to implement the plan, and approved the purchase of a new Daihatsu mini dump truck for the parks department.
Email Elizabeth Larson at