Modoc County
California
Modoc County, California
Population
8,317
Indigenous Peoples
- Modoc Nation
- Achomawi people (a.k.a. Pit River Tribe)
- Northern Paiute people (a.k.a. Numu)
Major Waterways
Major Employers
Government
Education
Health Care
Major Attractions
- CalVada History Museum
- Fort Bidwell
- Lava Beds National Monument
- Modoc County Historical Museum
- Niles Hotel & Saloon
- Tule Lake National Monument & Wildlife Refuge
Recreational Activities
- Birding
- Camping
- Fishing
- Golf
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hunting
- Kayaking & paddleboarding
- Rockhounding
- Skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, & snowshoeing
- Wildlife viewing
Summary
California’s third least-populated county, Modoc borders both Oregon and Nevada at the northeastern tip of California.
One third of the county’s population resides in its sole incorporated city, Alturas, which is also the county seat and main center of commerce.
Modoc County’s official slogans—“Where the West still lives” and “The last best place”—capture the pristine beauty of the mountainous, high-desert landscape; volcanic terrain; cowboy culture; and quaint, nostalgic feel.
Ranging in elevation from 4,000 to 6,000 feet, the Modoc Plateau is a sweeping volcanic tableland featuring volcanic tuff and ancient lava flows estimated to have been formed during the Tertiary period up to 10 million years ago.
The county’s namesake, the Modoc people survived the rough volcanic terrain by fishing, hunting, and gathering. Europeans began arriving via the Applegate Trail in 1849 during the California Gold Rush.
The Klamath people and Yahooskin Band of Snake Indians joined the Modoc people in signing an 1864 treaty that led to their later confinement on Oregon’s Klamath Reservation.
During the 1872–73 Modoc War, Modoc leader Kintpuash (a.k.a. Captain Jack) led the resistance to relocation, fending off US Army forces for a number of months thanks to the defensive advantages of the Lava Beds. After General Edward Canby and Reverend Eleazar Thomas were killed during peace negotiations, Kintpuash became the only Native American to be charged with war crimes in history. He was hanged with three others.
In 1874, Governor Newton Booth signed legislation to establish Modoc County from territory spanning Siskiyou and Shasta Counties.
During World War II, Japanese-American citizens were incarcerated at the infamous Tule Lake segregation center following Franklin D. Roosevelt’s issuance of Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942.
The agriculture-dominated economy includes cattle ranching and alfalfa hay production with farmland spanning over haf a million acres. In 2022, Modoc County earned the distinction of ranking first for organic beef production in California.
The county’s arid climate has caused frequent droughts, sparking the development of a Drought Resilience Plan in 2025 that outlined a range of water management strategies to strengthen the region’s resistance to drought.
Tourism draws include the Lava Beds National Monument, Tule Lake Wildlife Refuge, and the Modoc National Forest, which also serves as a resource for the timber industry.
Located in Atluras, the Modoc County Historical Museum has preserved natural history treasures such as mammoth bones and historical artifacts from the Modoc, Pit River, and Paiute inhabitants as well as the European pioneers.
Fishing is among the most popular outdoor recreational activities in Modoc County, which offers some of the nation’s best fishing spots for avid anglers.
Phoenix Appraisal Network has years of experience valuing commercial, agricultural, and residential properties in some of the most rural communities in California. Contact us today to order a Real Estate Appraisal in Modoc County.