Forest Ranch, California

Forest Ranch is a census-designated place in Butte County, California. It includes Forest Ranch Elementary School (K-6), its own post office, and a CDF fire station. The community's ZIP code is 95942, and is shared with the community of Butte Meadows. The area code is 530. Forest Ranch's population was 1,184 at the 2010 census.The US Geological Survey reports the town's elevation as 2415ft above mean sea level. The eastern end of the community is about 3500ft: about 1000ft higher. This is high enough that residents occasionally get "snowed in." Residents east of the center of the community report the snowfall is heavy enough to prevent driving about one to three days each year. This is only true of homes not located along State Route 32. Some residents commute to work in Chico, about fifteen driving miles west on SR32.HistoryForest Ranch post office was opened in 1878, closed in 1926, and re-established in 1932, and moved several times in 1938 to its present location.DemographicsThe 2010 United States Census reported that Forest Ranch had a population of 1,184. The population density was 85.0 people per square mile (32.8/km²). The racial makeup of Forest Ranch was 1,116 (94.3%) White, 8 (0.7%) African American, 6 (0.5%) Native American, 4 (0.3%) Asian, 1 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 20 (1.7%) from other races, and 29 (2.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 52 persons (4.4%).