Folsom included a significant Chinese American community when it was first incorporated, but arsonists burned Folsom's Chinatown in March 1886, driving Chinese Americans out of town.[10]
The establishment of Folsom Prison came in 1880, when the Livermore family made an agreement with the state to donate land for the prison in exchange for prison labor. They planned to build a hydro-electric dam from the American River for a sawmill. Though the sawmill did not work out, the Livermores soon realized that the natural force of running water could provide enough power to transmit to Sacramento, and the Folsom Powerhouse, now a National Historic Landmark, was opened. At the time it was opened, it had the longest overhead run of electricity (22 miles) in the country. The powerhouse operated until 1952.
Folsom Dam was built in 1956, providing flood control and water rights for the Sacramento Valley and created Folsom Lake. The dam is located on the southwest corner of the lake. The lake is an estimated 4.8 miles (7.7 km) from Granite Bay to the most southern point of Folsom Lake.
The Folsom Plan Area allows the construction of 11,000 homes resulting in 25,000 additional residents enlarging the city of Folsom by one-third. The planned community development area of 3,250 acres (1,320 ha) south of Highway 50 includes additional housing, schools and parks along with office and commercial buildings.[11][12]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 34 square miles (88 km2), of which, 31.9 square miles (83 km2) of it is land and 2.4 square miles (6.2 km2) of it (9.69%) is water. Folsom is located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada.
Carpenter Hill in Folsom has the highest elevation in Sacramento County.[13]
Climate
Folsom's climate is characterized by long, hot, dry summers and cool, rainy winters.
Climate data for Folsom, California (Folsom Dam), 1981–2010 normals
Folsom, 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.
At the 2010 census Folsom had a population of 72,203. The population density was 2,971.2 inhabitants per square mile (1,147.2/km2). The racial makeup of Folsom was 53,627 (74.3%) White, 4,140 (5.7%) African American, 427 (0.6%) Native American, 9,000 (12.5%) Asian, 173 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 1,818 (2.5%) from other races, and 3,018 (4.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8,064 persons (11.2%).[19]
The census reported that 65,243 people (90.4% of the population) lived in households, 188 (0.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 6,772 (9.4%) were institutionalized.
There were 24,951 households, 9,796 (39.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 14,399 (57.7%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 2,195 (8.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,006 (4.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,150 (4.6%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 137 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 5,788 households (23.2%) were one person and 1,930 (7.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.61. There were 17,600 families (70.5% of households); the average family size was 3.13.
The age distribution was 17,570 people (24.3%) under the age of 18, 5,344 people (7.4%) aged 18 to 24, 23,022 people (31.9%) aged 25 to 44, 19,358 people (26.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 6,909 people (9.6%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 37.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 114.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 117.9 males.
There were 26,109 housing units at an average density of 1,074.4 per square mile, of the occupied units 17,442 (69.9%) were owner-occupied and 7,509 (30.1%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.2%. 47,982 people (66.5% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 17,261 people (23.9%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
At the 2000 census there were 51,884 people in 17,196 households, including 12,518 families, in the city. The population density was 2,386.7 inhabitants per square mile (921.5/km2). There were 17,968 housing units at an average density of 826.5 per square mile (319.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 77.89% Caucasian, 5.99% African American, 0.58% Native American, 7.19% Asian, 0.19% Pacific Islander, 4.71% from other races, and 3.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.47%.[20]
Of the 17,196 households 39.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.7% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.2% were non-families. 21.8% of households were one person and 7.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.08.
The age distribution was 24.2% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 39.0% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.8% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 123.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 131.0 males.
According to a 2007 estimate, The median household income was $87,542, and the median family income was $109,032.[21] Males had a median income of $60,616 versus $42,434 for females. The per capita income for the city was $30,210. About 2.6% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Top employers
According to the city's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[22] the top employers in the city are:
The total Folsom labor force is 35,500. Approximately 59.6% of the total adult population asset, of around 59,740.[23]
Arts and culture
The city operates the Folsom Public Library, located in the Georgia Murray Building.[24]
Parks and recreation
Livermore Community Park is located in Folsom and offers a bike trail, sports facilities and a water park.[25] Bike trails include Humbug-Willow Creek Trail, Folsom Rail Trail, Folsom Lake Trail, and Oak Parkway Trail. Folsom is the endpoint of the American River Bike Trail, which starts in Sacramento.[26] Bridges located in Folsom include the Lake Natoma Crossing; the Rainbow Bridge, a historic truss bridge; and Folsom Lake Crossing. There is also a pedestrian bridge over East Bidwell Street that opened on November 6, 2010, as part of a new segment on the Humbug-Willow Creek Trail called the Johnny Cash Trail and a Johnny Cash Bridge crossing over near the intersection of Folsom Lake Crossing and East Natoma that was unveiled on October 4, 2014.
Looking east from Lake Natoma Crossing Bridge. Historic Folsom is on the right.
In February 2020, 75 project customers, including the City of Folsom, received permanent federal water contracts for the Central Valley Project.[30][31]