Modoc County, California

Modoc County
Location in the U.S. state of California
Location in the U.S. state of California
Interactive map of Modoc County
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
RegionShasta Cascade
IncorporatedFebruary 17, 1874
Named forthe Modoc people
County seatAlturas
Largest cityAlturas
Government
 • TypeCouncil–manager
 • ChairGeri Byrne
 • Vice ChairKathie Rhoads
 • Board of Supervisors
Supervisors
  • Ned Coe
  • Shane Starr
  • Kathie Rhoads
  • Casey Cockrell
  • Geri Byrne
 • County Administrative OfficerChester Robertson
Area
 • Total
4,203 sq mi (10,890 km2)
 • Land3,918 sq mi (10,150 km2)
 • Water286 sq mi (740 km2)
Highest elevation
9,892 ft (3,015 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
8,700
 • Estimate 
(2025)
8,426 Decrease
 • Density2.2/sq mi (0.86/km2)
GDP
 • Total$0.580 billion (2022)
Time zoneUTC-08:00 (PST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-07:00 (PDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.co.modoc.ca.us
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Modoc County (/ˈmoʊdɒk/ ⓘ) is a county located in the far northeastern corner of the U.S. state of California. Its population was 8,700 as of the 2020 census, down from 9,686 from the 2010 census. This makes it California's third-least-populous county. The county seat and only incorporated city is Alturas. Previous County seats include Lake City and Centerville. The county borders Nevada and Oregon. Much of Modoc County is federal land. Several federal agencies, including the United States Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, have employees assigned to the area, and their operations are a significant part of its economy and services. The county's official slogans include "The last best place" and "Where the West still lives".