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Smith River, CA
Census-designated place in Del Norte County, California.
Population
898
Land area
4.4sq mi
People per sq mi
203
ZIP codes
0
Smith River and its ZIP codes
Smith River at a glance
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $382,200 (48% below California).
Local data for Smith River, CA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Smith River, CA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Poverty rate
16.9%
Median home value
$382,200
Homeownership
81.6%
Bachelor's or higher
6.6%
Median age
28.1
Average commute
13.7 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (301), Norwegian Americans (47), Puerto Ricans (19).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Del Norte County. PPP loans are for Smith River.
Unemployment rate
6.5%
Aug 2026, 0.0 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$57,699
8,382 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$50,144
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$301M
FY 2026, $10,845 per person
How people get to work
Smith River, CA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone81.5%
- Carpooled12.0%
- Public transit6.4%
- Walked0.0%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home0.0%
Average one-way commute: 13.7 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Smith River, CA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively High
Top: landslide
Storm events since 1996
153
Countywide, mostly high wind
Flood insurance policies
85
0.9% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
69° / 42°F
78.0 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Smith River, CA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
31.1%
U.S. 33.3% -2.2 pts
Diabetes
12.0%
U.S. 12.1% about the same
Smoking
13.1%
U.S. 12.8% about the same
Uninsured (18-64)
10.1%
U.S. 11.1% -1.0 pts
Cities near Smith River
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Fort DickCensus-designated place | 3.9 mi | 3.2 |
| Harbor, ORCensus-designated place | 9.5 mi | 1.9 |
| HiouchiCensus-designated place | 9.9 mi | 0.6 |
| GasquetCensus-designated place | 11 mi | 4.8 |
| Bertsch-OceanviewCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 5.3 |
| Crescent CityCity | 12 mi | 2 |
| Brookings, ORCity | 14 mi | 4.1 |
| O'Brien, ORCensus-designated place | 25 mi | 5.2 |
| KlamathCensus-designated place | 26 mi | 17.2 |
| Takilma, ORCensus-designated place | 28 mi | 5.9 |
| Pistol River, ORCensus-designated place | 28 mi | 0.6 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Smith River, CA in?
- Smith River is in Del Norte County, California.
- What is the population of Smith River, CA?
- About 898 people live in Smith River, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Smith River?
- Nearby places include Fort Dick (3.9 mi), Harbor, OR (9.5 mi), Hiouchi (9.9 mi), Gasquet (11 mi), Bertsch-Oceanview (12 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023