Bootjack, California

{{Short description|Unincorporated community in California, United States}} {{Redirect|Bootjack|the tool used to assist taking off boots|Boot jack}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox settlement |official_name = Bootjack |settlement_type = [[Census-designated place]] |image_skyline = |imagesize = |image_caption = |image_map = Mariposa_County_California_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Bootjack_Highlighted.svg |mapsize = 250x200px |map_caption = Location in [[Mariposa County, California|Mariposa County]] and the state of [[California]] |pushpin_map = USA |pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States  |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = {{USA}} |subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]] |subdivision_name1 = {{flag|California}} |subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in California|County]] |subdivision_name2 = [[Mariposa County, California|Mariposa]]  |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name = |established_date =  | unit_pref = Imperial | area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021">{{cite web |title=2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files: California |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2021_Gazetteer/2021_gaz_place_06.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=July 12, 2022}}</ref> | area_total_sq_mi = 3.86 | area_land_sq_mi = 3.83 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.03 | area_total_km2 = | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 =  |population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]] |population_footnotes = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=&g=1600000US0607525&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=P1. Race – Bootjack CDP, California: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=July 8, 2022}}</ref> |population_total = 661 |population_density_km2 = |population_density_sq_mi = 172.49  |timezone = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific (PST)]] |utc_offset = -8 |utc_offset_DST = -7 |coordinates = {{coord|37|28|01|N|119|52|45|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}} |elevation_ft = 2264 |elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/> |timezone_DST = PDT  |postal_code_type = [[ZIP code]] |postal_code = 95338 ([[Mariposa, California|Mariposa]]) |area_code = [[Area code 209|209]] |blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]] |blank_info = {{FIPS|06|07525}} |blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID |blank1_info = 2407885<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2407885}}</ref> |footnotes = |website = }}

'''Bootjack''' is an [[Unincorporated area|unincorporated community]] and [[census-designated place]] in [[Mariposa County, California]], United States.<ref name=gnis/> The population was 661 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref name="Census 2020"/> down from 960 in 2010 and 1,588 in 2000, largely due to reductions in the area of the CDP.

==Geography== Bootjack is located south of the center of Mariposa County at an elevation of {{convert|2264|ft}}<ref name=gnis/> in the foothills of the [[Sierra Nevada]]. [[California State Route 49]] passes through the community, leading west-northwest {{convert|4.5|mi}} to [[Mariposa, California|Mariposa]], the [[county seat]],<ref name=CGN>{{California's Geographic Names|749}}</ref> and southeast {{convert|21|mi}} to [[Oakhurst, California|Oakhurst]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|3.86|sqmi|2}}, of which {{convert|0.03|sqmi|2}}, or 0.80%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021"/> In 2010 the CDP had an area of {{convert|7.1|sqmi|km2}}, and in 2000 the area was {{convert|18.0|sqmi|km2}}.

==History== Bootjack began as a mining camp during the California Gold Rush following the discovery of gold in 1849. Contemporary accounts describe it as "a collection of tents, brush shacks and log huts."<ref name="Bootjack Name">White, Joe (March 15, 1953). "How Bootjack Got Its Name". *Fresno Bee*. Retrieved from [https://mariposacounty.sfgenealogy.org/bootjackname.html](https://mariposacounty.sfgenealogy.org/bootjackname.html)</ref>

The origin of the name "Bootjack" is debated. One theory suggests it refers to a fork in the road resembling a boot jack; another refers to a tree with a similar shape. A third, more colorful story involves a gambler known as “Texas Pete” who was hanged for theft, allegedly requesting the removal of his boots using a plank as a bootjack.<ref name=CGN /><ref name="Bootjack Name"/>

In its early years, Bootjack remained a minor settlement compared to regional boomtowns like [[Agua Fria, California|Agua Fria]] and [[Mormon Bar, California|Mormon Bar]].<ref name="Bootjack Name"/> By the 1870s, it gained prominence as a stop on the stagecoach route between Mariposa and [[Wawona, California|Clark's Station]], leading to [[Mariposa Grove]] and [[Yosemite Valley]].<ref>John Hoagland, Obituary – Published March 15, 1879 in *Mariposa Gazette*. Retrieved from [https://mariposacounty.sfgenealogy.org/DISVIT1c.html](https://mariposacounty.sfgenealogy.org/DISVIT1c.html)</ref>

In the early 20th century, Bootjack developed modestly. A post office opened on February 19, 1903, replacing the nearby "Chowchilla" post office. It operated until late 1912, when service was consolidated to Mariposa.<ref name="BootjackPostOffice">{{Cite web |title=Mariposa County, California – Genealogy & Historical Research: Post Offices |url=https://mariposacounty.sfgenealogy.org/postoffices.html#Bootjack |website=Mariposa County Genealogy & Historical Research |access-date=May 24, 2025}}</ref>

The local economy relied on timber, subsistence farming, and small-scale mining. By the 1930s, the Merrill Lumber Company operated a sawmill west of Bootjack.<ref name="BootjackPostOffice"/> In 1939, a wildfire threatened the area, and crews from a local [[Civilian Conservation Corps|CCC]] camp helped contain the blaze—indicating a CCC presence in Bootjack during the New Deal era.<ref name="FireCCC">{{Cite web |title=Mariposa County – Genealogy & Historical Research: Fires and CCC Camps |url=https://mariposacounty.sfgenealogy.org |website=Mariposa County Genealogy & Historical Research |access-date=May 24, 2025}}</ref>

Infrastructure improvements followed with the creation of [[California State Route 49]], the “Golden Chain Highway,” in the 1930s. By mid-century, the highway was paved and brought increased tourism and commerce through Bootjack, linking it to [[Mariposa, California|Mariposa]] and [[Oakhurst, California|Oakhurst]].{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}

===Postwar Community Life=== After World War II, Bootjack retained its rural character while Mariposa County experienced gradual population growth. Improved transportation allowed residents to live in Bootjack while working in nearby towns or in forestry and national park services.

In 1949, the Bootjack Stompers Square Dance Club was founded and became a central part of local cultural life. The club held weekly dances at a community hall near the Bootjack Store and marked its 75th anniversary in 2024, making it one of California's oldest active square dance groups.<ref name="StompersHistory">{{Cite web |title=Bootjack Stompers celebrate 75 years |url=https://www.mariposagazette.com |website=Mariposa Gazette |access-date=May 24, 2025}}</ref>

Public services also expanded. A volunteer fire company formed during the 1950s and later became Mariposa County Fire Company 37, headquartered along Highway 49.<ref name="FireCompany">{{Cite web |title=Mariposa County Fire Department |url=https://www.mariposagazette.com |website=Mariposa Gazette |access-date=May 24, 2025}}</ref> In 1967, several Bootjack residents joined the county's newly created mounted search-and-rescue posse.<ref name="SARPosse">{{Cite web |title=Mariposa Sheriff's Mounted Posse Formed |url=https://mariposacounty.sfgenealogy.org |website=Mariposa County Genealogy & Historical Research |access-date=May 24, 2025}}</ref>

As the logging industry declined by the 1970s, Bootjack residents shifted to employment in tourism, construction, and commuting to nearby cities. Agriculture, including ranching and apple orchards in areas like [[Jerseydale, California|Jerseydale]], continued on a smaller scale.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}

By the late 20th century, Bootjack was one of the more populous areas of the county despite lacking formal incorporation.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} Its census-designated place (CDP) population reached 1,588 in 2000, surpassing that of Mariposa's CDP at the time.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} Today, Bootjack remains a largely residential community with a mix of pioneer families and newer residents seeking a rural foothill lifestyle.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}

==Demographics== {{US Census population |1990= 1295 |2000= 1588 |2010= 960 |2020= 661 |align-fn=center |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census by Decade|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=}}</ref> 1850–1870<ref name=1870CensusCA1>{{Cite web|title= 1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-12.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><ref name=1870CensusCA2>{{Cite web|title= 1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-13.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1880-1890<ref name=1890CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1890 Census of Population - Population of California by Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1890/bulletins/demographics/134-population-of-ca.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1900<ref name=1900CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1900/bulletins/demographic/10-population-ca.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1910<ref name=1910CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-ca.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1920<ref name=1920CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1920/bulletins/demographics/population-ca-number-of-inhabitants.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1930<ref name=1930CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1930/population-volume-1/03815512v1ch03.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1940<ref name=1940CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch03.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1950<ref name=1950CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-1/vol-01-08.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1960<ref name=1960CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/vol-01-06-d.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1970<ref name=1970CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1970a_ca1-01.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1980<ref name=1980CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_caAB-01.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1990<ref name=1990CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-6.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 2000<ref name=2000CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2003/dec/phc-3-6.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-6.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> | align = right }}

===2020 census===

As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], Bootjack had a population of 661. The population density was {{convert|172.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The median age was 50.5 years. 20.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 30.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 118.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 119.7 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0133P,DP1_0137P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=place%3A07525&in=state%3A06|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 28, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=place%3A07525&in=state%3A06|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 28, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=place%3A07525&in=state%3A06|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=April 28, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 283 households in Bootjack, of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 58.3% were married-couple households, 6.0% were [[cohabitation|cohabiting]] couple households, 16.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 19.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 12.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34. There were 228 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (80.6% of all households).<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 315 housing units at an average density of {{convert|82.2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}, of which 10.2% were vacant and 283 (89.8%) were occupied. Of these, 220 (77.7%) were owner-occupied and 63 (22.3%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 0.0%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

{| class="wikitable" |+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census<ref name="Census2020PL"/> ! Race !! Number !! Percent |- | [[White Americans|White]] || 528 || 79.9% |- | [[African Americans|Black or African American]] || 7 || 1.1% |- | [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian and Alaska Native]] || 33 || 5.0% |- | [[Asian Americans|Asian]] || 23 || 3.5% |- | [[Native Hawaiians|Native Hawaiian]] and [[Pacific Islander|Other Pacific Islander]] || 0 || 0.0% |- | Some other race || 9 || 1.4% |- | [[Multiracial Americans|Two or more races]] || 61 || 9.2% |- | ''[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (of any race)'' || 58 || 8.8% |} ==Government== In the [[California State Legislature]], Bootjack is in {{Representative|casd|4|fmt=sdistrict}}, and {{Representative|caad|8|fmt=adistrict}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Final Maps {{!}} California Citizens Redistricting Commission |url=https://wedrawthelines.ca.gov/final-maps/ |access-date=July 29, 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

In the [[United States House of Representatives]], Bootjack is in {{Representative|cacd|5|fmt=district}}.<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|5|access-date=July 29, 2025}}</ref>

==References== <references/>

[[Category:Unincorporated communities in Mariposa County, California]] [[Category:Census-designated places in Mariposa County, California]] [[Category:Census-designated places in California]] [[Category:Unincorporated communities in California]]