Agriculture, lumber, and
government service form the economic base for Modoc County, with a small
contribution from tourism.
In addition to the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, there
are the Modoc National Wildlife Refuge, the California Department of Forestry,
county and city governments, Caltrans, Modoc Indian Health Services, two
modern
hospitals, four libraries, three banks, a weekly newspaper, AM and
FM radio stations, five school systems with a community college outreach located
in Alturas, and local manpower training through JTPA.
Modoc Joint Unified School District has been determined
to be one of the top one hundred schools in the nation, according to Offspring
Magazine, "The Magazine of Smart Parenting." The ranking was determined by an
Ohio based firm, School Match. Using living cost data, standardized test scores,
income and property values, the firm found MJUSD to rank among the top 100 in
the nation and the top seven in California, along with Palo Alto, Beverly Hills,
Carmel, and Laguna Beach.
Youth opportunities are outstanding, with an excellent school system
that provides high quality education, organized activities, and a top athletic
program both summer and winter. Modoc Joint Unified School district has FOUR
California Distinguished Schools:
Modoc High School, Alturas Elementary School, under the leadership of former Principal
Randy Wise; South Fork Elementary School, also under Mr. Wise's
leadership; and Modoc Middle School. Alturas Elementary School has the
exceptional distinction of being selected as a California Distinguished
School twice.
Community supported activities include little league, youth soccer,
church
sponsored summer camp at Blue Lake, a junior livestock show and sale
involving both 4H and FFA, a very active Boy Scout troop, a community
run Nordic and alpine skiing facility on Cedar Pass, and youth
activities at the county fair.
Swimming at the Alturas public pool, water skiing, backpacking in the
Warner Mountain wilderness area, hunting, fishing, and horseback
riding provide additional recreational and instructional
opportunities. There are also two excellent nine hole golf courses, with
no waiting.
Modoc County remains close to its history. Many residents'
grandparents arrived with the first settlers in the 1870s. Wagon
tracks on the Applegate Trail to Oregon are still visible when Goose
Lake is dry, and the western lifestyle is reminiscent of the turn of
the century era. Cattle drives still fill county highways in spring
and summer, one in Alturas, one just outside of Likely.
The
Modoc County Historical Museum sits at the south end of Main
Street.
A multitude of artifacts and documents
representing the history of Modoc County are available for view.
Modoc County remains close to its history. Many residents'
grandparents arrived with the first settlers in the 1870s. Wagon
tracks on the Applegate Trail to Oregon are still visible when Goose
Lake is dry, and the western lifestyle is reminiscent of the turn of
the century era. Cattle drives still fill county highways in spring
and summer.
Artifacts in the county museum and narrations in the Modoc
County Historical Journal
recall the "early days." An annual production, produced by a local
theater arts group portrays the events of the last major Indian war,
in which 70 men, women, and children of the Modoc tribe bravely fought
off 1,000 U. S. troops for over six months in 1872-73.
if you want a home in a land with charm and beauty away from
the crush of traffic, the taste of smog, and a hectic pace swallowing
up your life, visit Modoc County where the roots go deep.
