Tehama County

Tehama County lies approximately midway between Sacramento and the Oregon border. The County Seat, Red Bluff, is located on Interstate 5 and the Sacramento River and is approximately 135 miles north of Sacramento. The west boundary of the county is the Pacific Coast Range and the east boundary is the ridge line of the Sierra Nevada's. The County has an area of approximately 3,000 square miles. The climate in Red Bluff is typical of that found in the central valley, with summers being very warm and dry with mild, somewhat wet winters. The county's economy is based on agriculture, including ranching, farming and timber production. The local recreational opportunities are outstanding and include camping, hiking, water sports, fishing and hunting.

First settled in the 1840's and incorporated in 1876, Red Bluff served an important role in the early history of the north state. Originally the "head of navigation" on the Sacramento River. Steamship freight was off-loaded here for delivery to the Trinity mining camps to the northwest. Lumber and agricultural products were the primary exports. The City takes its name from the color of the terrain on the West Bank of the Sacramento River. In fact, the town was first dubbed "Red Bluffs"; this was dropped by about 1856.

Steamship transportation connected early Red Bluff with Sacramento and San Francisco. The Victorian architecture popular in the 1870's soon spread up-river to Red Bluff, where lumber was abundant, thanks to the surrounding forests and the completion of the Sierra Lumber Company Flume. The Central Pacific Railroad arrived in the 1870's and soon replaced the steamships as the primary transportation and commerce link.

Today wood products and agriculture continue to be important economically. The fertile Sacramento Valley soils produce bountiful orchard and field harvests of walnuts, almonds, prunes, corn and alfalfa. In the more upland outlying areas, livestock (cattle and sheep) production continues to dominate the landscape.

While the steamships no longer navigate the river, Interstate 5, and State Highway 99 and 36 efficiently connect the city to Redding, Chico, Sacramento and points beyond. A modern airport with a 6,000' runway is owned and operated by the City. Today over 13,000 people proudly call the city "home", while another 14,000 live in the adjacent unincorporated area

Prayer Focus for Tehama County:

Continued Unity among the Churches & Pastors
Pray that unity leads to strategic action from these groups.
Pray the Church of the City in each county will come forth.
Pray there will be collaboration for sustained prayer.
Prayer mobilization: Pray that prayer mobilization will come forth in all the cities that will lead to the multiplication of new believers, leaders and churches that leads to societal transformation.
Agricultural Industry: Pray for migrant workers and their families. Pray for the crops.
Decrease of crime: Murder, Teen Pregnancy, Abortion, Domestic Violence.
Youth/Gangs: Pray for a revelation of the Father's Heart and a spirit of adoption for youth using Malachi 4:6.
Pray for the church to engage these youth and families with the transforming gospel.
Revival: Pray for revival in all the Churches and a Spiritual Awakening to Christ in the cities.
Decrease in unemployment and the creation of new jobs. This area often has the highest unemployment in the state. Pray for a release of entrepreneurial energy that leads to the creation of new businesses that are sustainable.
Christian marriages: Pray Christian marriages to be a witness of life in Christ. There has been a GREAT spiritual attack against marriages. Pray for marriage to be affirmed and protected in this County.
Government and leadership: Pray that believers will cover government and leadership in this county in prayer that the residence of this county may live quiet and peaceable lives which will demonstrate holiness and godliness. I Tim. 1:2
Youth: Pray Malachi 4:5,6 over this area that all will know our Father’s love. Pray that the youth will be engaged by the churches and turn their hearts to the fathers. Pray for a “Fathering Spirit” among the men to have a heart for the next generation.
True Worship which enthrones Christ in this County: Because this is the first place that Masonic worship was introduced into the state, it is important that an altar of worship be lifted up which enthrones Christ over this county. Pray for the release of the Tabernacle of David foretold in Acts 15:16-17.

History

In 1843, Peter Lassen obtained a land grant of 25,000 acres from the Mexican government and laid out the town site of "Benton City" (just south of modern-day Red Bluff), in honor of Senator Thomas H. Benton of Missouri. However, the discovery of gold drew all of the first settlers into the hills, and the town folded. Lassen's original town site plan eventually attracted other settlers who later built Red Bluff, which became a distribution point for the Shasta and Trinity mines. Daily steamers ran up the Sacramento River to "Red Bluffs," as it was known then, where mule trains loaded for trips to the mines.

Tehama Country was also the home of the first and only president of the California Republic, William B. Ide. His original adobe home has been fully restored on its 5 acre site just north of Red Bluff, and is now a part of the California State Park System.

Ide organized the Bear Flag Party and issued the proclamation which declared California an independent republic. It was the Bear Flag Party which defeated a Mexican garrison at Sonoma, Sonoma County, paving the way for the occupation of California by armed forces of the United States. The famous Bear Flag of California flew for several weeks before being replaced by the Stars and Stripes on July 9, 1846. The adobe may be reached via Adobe Road which joins Historical Route 99 north of Red Bluff.

In 1840 Peter Lassen reached California and settled on a contributory to San Joaquin River, the Consumes. Lassen found an area, which greatly appealed to him near Deer Creek, and in 1844 he staked a claim for 22,000 acres and His land holdings grew and he had the idea of founding a colony along with being one of the founders of the first Masonic lodge in California. Then he journeyed to Missouri, to induce settlers to come out and also to obtain a charter for a Masonic Lodge (the first in California) which he wished to establish in his settlement. Lassen returned to his town site in the summer of 1849 with a party of settlers and with the Masonic Charter. The sight of this first Masonic Lodge is between Chico and Redbluff on Highway 99. A marker by the roadside marks its location.

Bear Flag of 1846

During the 1840s, the number of American settlers drawn to the Pacific Coast was small, but steadily increasing. Only thirty arrived in 1841; but by 1845, the year that brought William B. Ide to California, the number had increased to 250. During this period, the Mexican government was so involved with affairs closer to home that its influence over California was beginning to slip away. Many Californios-the Mexican population of California-were so dissatisfied with Mexican rule that had they decided to separate from Mexico, she would have been able to do little about it. Concerned that some foreign power might take control of California, President James K. Polk sent his "confidential agent," Thomas O. Larkin, to make it known to the Californios that they would be received as brethren should they decide to unite with the United States.

Early in 1846, U.S. Army Captain John C. Fremont arrived in California with sixty well-armed men on a "scientific expedition." Fremont began provoking the Mexican authorities and stirring up the American settlers by spreading rumors of impending action against them by the Mexican government. In June, 1846, the Americans heard that a Mexican military force led by General Jose Castro was on its way up the Sacramento Valley, destroying crops, burning houses and driving off the cattle of American settlers. Although untrue, this rumor, along with the presence of Fremont and his troops, was enough to spur the Americans into action. On June 14, 1846, a group of thirty Americans marched on Sonoma, which was then the northernmost center of Mexican authority in California. Capturing the town, they took its leading citizen, Mariano Vallejo, prisoner. They then announced the establishment of the California Republic and declared themselves independent of Mexican rule.

Upon determining that they could not count on the support of Fremont, some of the party wanted to abandon the town and retreat. At this crucial moment, William B. Ide stepped forward and made a rousing speech declaring that he would die before retreating in disgrace. The party rallied around Ide, declared him "President" of the new republic, and raised the famous Bear Flag. On July 9, 1846, after learning that the United States had declared war on Mexico, the settlers lowered the Bear Flag and raised the American flag. California became a protectorate of the United States until its admission as the 31st state on September 9, 1850.