Townapedia

Forest Ranch, California

Forest Ranch is a community of 1,915 people in Butte County, California.

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Population1,915 +148.1% since 2019
Elevation2,415 ft 736 m
Land area13.9 sq mi
ZIP code95942
Nearest airportChico Municipal Airport (CIC) 12 mi

Why visit Forest Ranch

Townapedia lists 1 museum or landmark, 1 park or trail, 1 place to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.

Highlights include Platte Mountain, Black Diamond Mine and Forks of Butte Creek Recreation Area.

July is the warmest month, with average highs of 91°F; December lows average 34°F.

About Forest Ranch

Forest Ranch is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Butte County, California, United States. It includes Forest Ranch Charter School (K-8), its own post office, and a CDF and Volunteer fire stations. The community's ZIP code is 95942, and is shared with the community of Butte Meadows. The area code is 530.

From the Wikipedia article Forest Ranch, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Things to do1

Platte Mountain

Scenic view · 3.0 mi

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Museums and landmarks1

Black Diamond Mine

Monument and historic site · 2.8 mi

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Parks, trails and playgrounds1

Forks of Butte Creek Recreation Area

Hiking and trails · 2.3 mi

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Where to stay1

Forks of Butte Creek Primitive Camping Area

Campground · 3.2 mi

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History

Forest 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. The town once was the site of a lumber mill, established around 1873 and operated by Elias Findley. In the mid-1870s, Findley's residence was taken over by a Mr. and Mrs. Weld, who provided accommodations for teams and travelers on the Humboldt Wagon Road. In the 1890s, Forest Ranch had an active literary society and its school hosted regular performances and athletic events for the general community. The town is now mostly a bedroom community for nearby Chico.

From the History section of Forest Ranch, California on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Churches and places of worship1

Schools, colleges and libraries4

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Map of Forest Ranch

9 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Climate by month

40°60°80°January: 11.9 in of rainFebruary: 11.8 in of rainMarch: 9.6 in of rainApril: 5.2 in of rainMay: 3.1 in of rainJune: 1.0 in of rainJuly: 0.0 in of rainAugust: 0.1 in of rainSeptember: 0.4 in of rainOctober: 3.4 in of rainNovember: 6.4 in of rainDecember: 13.0 in of rainJanuary: 53°FFebruary: 55°FMarch: 60°FApril: 66°FMay: 74°FJune: 84°FJuly: 91°FAugust: 90°FSeptember: 86°FOctober: 74°FNovember: 59°FDecember: 51°FJanuary: 35°FFebruary: 35°FMarch: 37°FApril: 40°FMay: 47°FJune: 53°FJuly: 58°FAugust: 57°FSeptember: 53°FOctober: 46°FNovember: 38°FDecember: 34°FJFMAMJJASOND
Average high Average low Rain
Monthly table
MonthHighLowRainSnow
Jan53°F35°F11.9 in0.0 in
Feb55°F35°F11.8 in0.0 in
Mar60°F37°F9.6 in0.0 in
Apr66°F40°F5.2 in0.2 in
May74°F47°F3.1 in0.0 in
Jun84°F53°F1.0 in0.0 in
Jul91°F58°F0.0 in0.0 in
Aug90°F57°F0.1 in0.0 in
Sep86°F53°F0.4 in0.0 in
Oct74°F46°F3.4 in0.0 in
Nov59°F38°F6.4 in0.0 in
Dec51°F34°F13.0 in0.0 in

U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for De Sabla (4 mi away), NOAA NCEI.

People and cost of living

$131,650median household income
$445,800median home value
43.8median age
24.8%of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
96.9%of homes are owner-occupied
23.5 minaverage commute
Age of residents
Under 1829%18 to 347%35 to 6444%65 and over20%

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.

Disaster history

Butte County has had 28 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for fires.

  • 2024-07-25: Park Fire (Fire)
  • 2024-07-02: Thompson Fire (Fire)
  • 2024-04-13: Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
  • 2023-04-03: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
  • 2023-03-10: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
  • 2023-01-14: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)

OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.

Getting there and nearby towns

Chico Municipal Airport (CIC) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 12 miles away.

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

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Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.