Alpine California Information

As the name of the county suggests, Alpine County has snow-covered peaks, high alpine meadows and beautiful forests. This ‘California Alps” lies along the crest of the central Sierra Nevada, south of Lake Tahoe and north of Yosemite. The counties of El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras, Tuolomne and Mono in California and Douglas County in Nevada border Alpine county.

Offering more than 739 square miles of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, the county offers all year alpine recreation, two destination ski resorts and a variety of lodging and dining facilities ranging from rustic to modern.

The county has the smallest population of all counties in California and its population is concentrated around a few mountain communities: Markleeville, Woodfords, Bear Valley and Kirkwood. Residents enjoy a rural lifestyle with the convenience of several city areas in the neighboring counties. However, it has an average household income of $52,067 relatively higher than some of its fellow counties with much higher population and land area.

The county is accessible through state highways 88, 89 and 4. Markleeville is the county seat and home to many of the county’s offices. It has 16 cities and since Alpine County has no incorporated cities, most public services are provided by county departments and agencies.

Alpine County's history parallels the exploration of the West itself, and played an important role in the settlement of both California and Nevada.

The first to call Alpine County home were the native Washo people, who occupied the mountains and valleys of western Nevada and eastern California. However, it was John Fremont and Kit Carson, which brought attention to Alpine regarding possible travel routes across the range in 1844, notably the Carson Route of the California Emigrant Road, now Highway 88.

However, it took silver, not gold, to bring settlement to Alpine County. Following the discovery of the Comstock Lode near Virginia City in 1859, thousands of prospectors swarmed into the eastern Sierra Nevada looking for riches.

The excitement was short-lived. As the Silver Mountain ore proved too stubborn to recover at a profit, men began to leave the area. The finishing blow came with the demonetizations of silver in 1873, collapsing prices and closing the remaining mines.

Markleeville became County seat in 1875. Despite its own loss of population, the town had begun to develop into a trade center for the ranching and lumber business. Through the rest of the 19th century, Markleeville continued its role as the supply and shipping center for local ranchers and farmers.

It wasn't until the late 1960's with the development of ski resorts at Bear Valley and Kirkwood that Alpine County's population began to grow. Today, Alpine County maintains its distinction as the least populated County in California and most of its lands are in public ownership. Despite its limitations, residents of Alpine County are quite content in their relaxed rural lifestyle.

Today, most of the County's income is derived from visitors from the booming tourism communities of Lake Tahoe and western Nevada, who seek out the County for its rich outdoor recreation. Fishing, camping, hiking, rafting, skiing and winter snow sports all contribute to an economy dependent on tourism.

And yet, signs remain of Alpine County's colorful past. From the ruined foundations at Silver Mountain, to the sagging headframes of long abandoned mines to the wagon ruts of the Emigrant Road, Alpine County is a living reminder of the ever persistent western frontier.

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