Newcomer's Guide

Climate

Surprise Valley is located within the high desert region known as the Great Basin. We enjoy a four-season climate with dry, warm summers and cold, wet winters. High/low temperatures average 40/16 in January and 88/45 in July. Annual precipitation: 12-16” valleys, 35” mountains. Valley elevation averages 4,700’.

Population

The total population of Modoc County is 9,499 (2000 Census) with 5580 registered voters. Most county residents live in outlying areas and in small, unincorporated communities. Cedarville has a population of approximately 800 residents with Surprise Valley as a whole having approximately 1,500 residents.

Agriculture

The local growing season is 100 to 130 days. Most vegetables and many fruit trees thrive in the valley. The most popular commercial crops include alfalfa and grass hay, various grains, onions, garlic and potatoes. Cattle, sheep and horses are raised here commercially as well.

Local Government

The valley elects a supervisor every four years to serve on the five-member County Board of Supervisors. The county seat is Alturas, 23 miles west of Cedarville.

Taxes

Property Assessment: 1% of assessed valuation.
Personal income tax: progressive
State sales tax: 8.25%
Special taxes per household (pursuant to a Mello-Roos Community Facility Act): $225 for the Surprise Valley Health Care District; $18 for the Modoc County Library; $45 for solid waste operation and management.

Area Code: The area code for all Modoc County
phone numbers is (530).

Schools

Public education is offered at an elementary school and high school located in Cedarville. A community college outreach program and university extension courses are available either online or in Alturas. Local manpower training and job assistance are available through the Alliance for Workforce Development in Alturas.

Surprise Valley Joint Unified School District
470 Lincoln
Cedarville, Ca 96104 (530) 279-6141

Surprise Valley Elementary School: 279-6161
Surprise Valley High School: 279-6141
Surprise Valley Pre-School: 279-2030
Great Basin School: 279-2387

Churches

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Cedarville: 279-6347
Church of Saint James (Roman Catholic), Cedarville: 233-2119
Church of the Trumpet, Cedarville: 279-6103
Community Bible Church of Lake City: 279-2228
Fort Bidwell Peoples’ Church: 279-2160
Cowboy Church of Surprise Valley, Cedarville: 279-2198
Surprise Valley Community Church, Cedarville: 279-6225
Surprise Valley Seventh Day Adventist Church, Cedarville: 279-2169

Housing

Homes in town range from $100,000 to $200,000. Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment countywide is $400 per month. The value of rural property is determined to a large extent on total acreage, water availability, location, usage and improvements and varies tremendously. Consult a local realtor for current listings.

Transportation

Ground: Highway 299 traverses Cedar Pass (elev: 6,305’) into the heart of Surprise Valley. It bisects Modoc County Road 1 in Cedarville then continues 8 miles east to the Nevada state border. Modoc County Road 1 runs the length of the 70+-mile long valley, from Ft. Bidwell in the north, through Eagleville at the southern end, terminating at the Nevada border where it becomes Nevada State Route 447. In the valley, the speed limit on MC Road 1 is 55 MPH unless otherwise posted; the posted limit on Hwy 299 is 65 MPH.

Distances: Alturas –23 miles
Klamath Falls, OR –123 miles
Lakeview, OR –74 miles
Reno, NV – 188 miles
Redding – approx 170 miles.
Susanville – approx 124 miles
San Francisco -- approximately 400 miles via Redding and approximately 420 miles via Reno

Air: Cedarville Airport (279-2111)
This county airport has a 4400’ lighted runway, fuel, and overnight parking.
There is a 3000’ gravel airstrip near Ft. Bidwell.

Other airports serving the Modoc County area include: Alturas Municipal Airport, Reno Tahoe International Airport, Kingsley International Airport (Klamath Falls, OR). Major west coast terminals include San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Portland and Seattle-Tacoma International Airports.

Utilities

Water: Cedarville County Water District for Cedarville residents; private wells in outlying areas.

Electricity: Pacific Power and Light; Surprise Valley Electrification Corporation.

Community Facilities

Cedarville Branch Library
Cedarville Park, site of the historic Cressler and Bonner Trading Post
Eagleville Community Hall
Fort Bidwell Civic Club and Community Hall
Modoc District Fairgrounds, RV Park, and
Four Seasons Banquet and Meeting Facility
Surprise Valley Community Health Care District
Surprise Valley Senior Center

Medical and Veterinary Services

Surprise Valley Health Care District: 279-6111
     (Hospital, Skilled Nursing Facility, Medical Clinic)
Cedarville Dental: 279-2189
Surprise Valley Veterinary Clinic: 279-2141

Government Offices

Bureau of Land Management, Surprise Field Office: 279-6101
California Department of Motor Vehicles: (800) 777-0133 (Alturas)
Cedarville Rancheria Tribal Office: 233-3969
Cedarville Water District: 279-2310
Cedarville Volunteer Fire Department: 279-2311
Fish and Wildlife Department: 233-3572
Fort Bidwell Indian Community Council: 279-6310
Modoc County Public Health Services: 233-6311
Modoc County Public Works Department: 233-6430
Modoc County Road Department: 233-6403
Modoc County Sheriff: 233-4416
US Forest Service, Warner Mountain Ranger District: 279-6116

US Post Offices:
Cedarville: 279-2316
Eagleville: 279-2440
Fort Bidwell: 279-2196
Lake City: 279-2309

Warner Mountain Indian Health Project: 279-6194
Water and Power Department: 279-2571

Communications

The Modoc County Record is published weekly.
Rick and Jane Holloway, Publishers.
Excerpts are available online at: www.modocrecord.com 

The Modoc Independent News is published monthly.
Ray and Barbara March, Publishers.

The Herald and News is a daily paper published in Klamath Falls, Oregon and serves all of Modoc County. Many local events and historical articles are archived at their website and may be accessed by typing in the name of the pertinent town: www.heraldandnews.com 

KDUP 88.1 FM, Cedarville
Radio: KKFJ 570AM, Alturas
KCNO 94.5 FM, Alturas
KALT 106.5 FM , Alturas
KVIP 89.3FM, Redding

Cable: Almega Cable (877) 725-6342.
Outlying areas use satellite dish systems successfully.

Phone: Frontier Communications (Phone): 1-800-921-8101
Internet Providers:
Charter Communications: (866) 731-5420
Frontier Communications: (866) 716-1619
High Desert Online: 233-4000

Community Organizations

Beta Sigma Phi Sorority: 279-6382
Boy Scout Troop 48: 279-6376
Cedarville Country Jam: 279-2375
Eagleville Community Hall: 279-2203
Fort Bidwell Civic Club: 279-2443
Fort Bidwell Indian Community Council: 279-6310
Scarlet Starlets, SV Chapter of the Red Hat Association: 279-2050
Surprise Valley 4-H: 233-6400
Surprise Valley Quilters Club: 279-2182
Surprise Valley Acoustic Jam Sessions: 279-2375
Surprise Valley Chamber of Commerce: 279-2001
Surprise Valley High School FFA Chapter: 279-6141
Surprise Valley Hospital Auxiliary: 279-6155 or 279-6121
Surprise Valley “Valley 50” Club: 279-2355
Surprise Valley Chapter of Rotary International: 279-6364
Veterans of Foreign Wars: 279-2286
VFW Women’s Auxiliary: 279-2531
 

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