Redding, California

Redding is a city in Shasta County, California, United States. It is the biggest city in the Shasta Cascade area of Northern California. Redding is along the Sacramento River, about 162 miles north of Sacramento and 120 miles south of the border with Oregon. In 2020, the city had a population of 93,611 people. It is a busy place to live and work. It helps bring jobs, culture, and community life to the area.

Etymology

During the California gold rush, the area now called Redding was called Poverty Flats. In 1868, a man named Benjamin Bernard Redding bought land there for a train station. The railroad named the town after him.

Later, in 1874, some leaders wanted to change the name to Reading to honor another person named Pierson B. Reading. But by 1880, the name was changed back to Redding, and it has stayed that way ever since.

History

The area now called Redding has been home to the Wintu tribe of Native Americans, who had many villages there. Europeans came much later. The first settlement was made in 1844 by Pierson B. Reading, who got land from Mexico.

During the Gold Rush, gold was found nearby, but Redding did not become wealthy from it. The town was officially created in 1887 when the railroad came to the area. In the 1900s, mining helped the town grow. Later, building the Shasta Dam helped Redding grow more. In the 1950s, lumber and tourism brought more growth.

In recent years, Redding has faced challenges from wildfires. Several big fires have caused damage and evacuations.

Geography

Redding, California, covers an area of 61.2 square miles, most of it land with a small part covered by water.

The city is at the edge of the Central Valley and is surrounded by mountains, with farmland to the south. Redding’s average height above sea level is 495 feet, but some areas are higher. The Shasta Dam on the Sacramento River helps protect the city from flooding. The soil around Redding is mostly clay or gravelly loam.

Redding is home to several rare and endangered species. One example is the slender Orcutt grass, which grows near small, seasonal pools close to the airport. These pools are also important for a special type of fairy shrimp protected by law.

Climate

Redding has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate, with very hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Summer temperatures can get very high, often around 100 °F in July. Winters are rainy, and snow sometimes occurs, though it is rare. The city gets more rain than many places in the Sacramento Valley because of nearby mountains. Frost is common from December to February.

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

In 2020, Redding had 93,611 people. Many lived in homes, and others lived alone. The city had many places to live, and some were empty.

Most people in Redding were between 25 and 64 years old. About one-quarter of the people were younger than 18, and another quarter were 65 or older. There were slightly more females than males.

2016–2020 American Community Survey estimates

From 2016 to 2020, the average amount of money a family made in a year was about $68,340. Not everyone had the same amount of money, and some families had less.

2010 census

In 2010, Redding had 89,861 people. Most lived in homes with families, and some lived alone. The city had many places to live, and some were empty.

Economy

Redding is the main economic center for the Shasta Cascade area in Northern California.

The area around Redding has a strong economy with many big companies.

The Redding Cultural District is one of 14 special arts areas chosen by the California Arts Council. It includes parts of Downtown Redding, the Turtle Bay Complex, and city parks across the Sacramento River.

Top employers

According to the city's 2016 report, the biggest employers in Redding are:

Government

Redding has a council-manager form of government. The city council includes Mayor Jack Munns, Vice Mayor Mike Littau, Erin Resner, Tenessa Audette, and Paul Dhanuka. Barry Tippin is the city manager.

In the California State Legislature, Redding is part of the 1st senatorial district, represented by Republican Megan Dahle, and the 1st Assembly district, represented by Republican Heather Hadwick. In the United States House of Representatives, Redding is located in California's 1st congressional district, which is currently vacant.

Parks and recreation

Museums and public art

Redding has a nice sculpture park at City Hall and a special bridge called the Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay, made by Santiago Calatrava. There is also a sculpture by Calatrava at Domke Plaza and a place called the Shasta Historical Society.

Architecture

You can visit the Hotel Lorenz and the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Redding.

Venues

Fun places to go in Redding include the Cascade Theatre, The Dip, IOOF Hall, Riverfront Amphitheater, Old City Hall, Redding Civic Auditorium, and Axiom Repertory Theatre.

Performing arts

Redding has two great places for shows: Riverfront Playhouse and Axiom Repertory Theater.

Education

Redding has many places for students to learn, including colleges and high schools. Some colleges are Shasta College, National University, Shasta Bible College and Graduate School, and Simpson University.

There are also several high schools, such as Shasta High School, Enterprise High School, Foothill High School, Pioneer High School, and University Preparatory School. There are also charter schools like Stellar Charter School and trade schools such as Redding Institute of Technology, Shasta School of Cosmetology, and CloudWise Academy.

Media

Redding has several ways to get news and entertainment.

Print

• Redding Record Searchlight
• After Five

Television

KRCR

Radio

Transportation

Major highways

• Interstate 5 goes through the east part of Redding.
• CA 299, once U.S. 299, runs through the west, center, and northeast of the city.
• CA 44 passes through the middle and east of town, starting at Market Street (California 273) in downtown Redding.
• CA 273, formerly the Interstate 5 Business Route and also U.S. 99, goes through the city.

Rail and bus transportation

Amtrak stops at the Redding station with its Coast Starlight train each day. The train travels between Seattle, Washington, and Los Angeles, California through Portland, Oregon; Sacramento, California; Oakland, California; San Jose, California; Santa Barbara, California, and many stops in between. Amtrak Thruway runs twice a day to Stockton or Sacramento. It connects to the Gold Runner, which reaches the San Francisco Bay Area, San Joaquin Valley, and the Los Angeles area by bus.

The local bus system is called RABA (Redding Area Bus Authority). RABA serves Redding and its suburbs, and also goes to Burney. Sage Stage travels to Alturas, and Trinity Transit serves Weaverville. Redding is also served by intercity buses like Greyhound and Fronteras del Norte.

Shasta Regional Transportation Agency plans a weekday commuter bus between Redding and the Sacramento Valley Station, similar to the Amtrak Thruway route.

Air transportation

You can fly from Redding Municipal Airport and Benton Field for travel in the Redding area.

Notable people

This section lists well-known people from Redding, California. They are actors, musicians, athletes, and other important people.

Some famous people from Redding are Ashley Parker Angel, a singer and actor; Francesca Eastwood, an actor; Megan Rapinoe, an Olympic soccer player; and Mel Hein, a famous football player. Many musicians and artists also have ties to the area.