Arbuckle is a census-designated place (CDP) in Colusa County, California, United States. The population was 3,484 at the 2020 census. Arbuckle is situated in the southerly portion of Colusa County, approximately southwest of the City of Colusa, the county seat. The town is characterized by single-family residences, multiple-family units, some mobile homes, commercial activities, and a lack of barns. Land surrounding Arbuckle is agriculture including cultivated annual crops, and both active and unmaintained orchards (primarily almond). Various almond hullers may be found near the area. Regional access is provided by the north–south running Interstate 5, along with Old Highway 99 West running alongside Interstate 5.

History Tacitus R. Arbuckle initially established a ranch here in 1866. The railroad came in 1875 and the town was founded and named for Arbuckle, on whose land it was built. The post office was established the following year, 1876.

Geography Two streams drain the area, the Salt and Elk Creeks. The Salt Creek flows north in the area, then bends east, and is joined by Elk Creek. Both streams join Sand Creek a half mile northeast of the town and flow in a northeast direction.Wagner, D.L., and Bortugno, E.J., California Department of Mines and Geology Report, 1982 Salt Creek is subject to periodic flooding during heavy rainfall.Arbuckle Estates Environmental Impact Report, Earth Metrics Inc, City of Arbuckle report, 1990

The town sank between 2008 and 2017 according to a report issued by the California Department of Water Resources in coordination with 19 local and state agencies. A study that analyzed over 300 sites across the Sacramento Valley found that this area had sunk due to groundwater-related subsidence more than any other area in the study. Subsidence occurred as water was removed from the underground aquifers and the surrounding soil collapsed upon itself.

Demographics

Arbuckle first appeared as an unincorporated community in the 1970 U.S. census; and as a census-designated place in the 1980 United States census.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Arbuckle had a population of 3,484 and a population density of . The median age was 32.8 years. The age distribution was 31.1% under the age of 18, 8.4% aged 18 to 24, 28.7% aged 25 to 44, 21.7% aged 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 103.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.6 males age 18 and over.

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas. The whole population lived in households. There were 1,000 households, out of which 51.6% included children under the age of 18. Of all households, 64.1% were married-couple households, 4.9% were cohabiting couple households, 18.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present, and 12.6% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 13.0% of households were one person, and 4.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.48. There were 834 families (83.4% of all households).

There were 1,049 housing units at an average density of , of which 1,000 (95.3%) were occupied. Of these, 65.1% were owner-occupied and 34.9% were occupied by renters. 4.7% of housing units were vacant, with a homeowner vacancy rate of 0.9% and a rental vacancy rate of 0.0%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 1,347 38.7% Black or African American 35 1.0% American Indian and Alaska Native 40 1.1% Asian 30 0.9% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 5 0.1% Some other race 1,194 34.3% Two or more races 833 23.9% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 2,560 73.5%

Income and poverty

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $83,677, and the per capita income was $26,964.

Politics In the state legislature, Arbuckle is in , and . Federally, Arbuckle is in .

Education The CDP is served by the Pierce Joint Unified School District. - Text list

Notable people Frederick C. Weyand (1916–2010) was general in the United States Army who served as the 28th Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1972 to 1974.

References