California

State Office of Rural Health

Collaborates with public and private entities statewide and at the regional and national levels to increase rural access to health care and to link small rural communities with state and federal resources.
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California Nonmetro Population

39,356,104

Estimated population

856,002 (2.2%)

People living in nonmetro areas

Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-year estimate

California Rural Healthcare Facilities

Critical Access Hospitals

270

Rural Health Clinics

326

Federally Qualified Health Centers*

Short Term/PPS Hospitals*

California Rural Healthcare Facilities map

*Sites according to data.HRSA.gov (January 2024), showing only locations outside of U.S Census Bureau Urban Areas with a population of 50,000 or more

Selected Social Determinants of Health for Rural California

Most Californians have some form of health insurance coverage, although 6.5% of its residents lack health insurance (Kaiser, 2022). According to the USDA Economic Research Service, the average per capita income for Californians in 2021 was $76,614, with the rural per capita income at $53,988. The ERS reports, based on 2021 ACS data, that the poverty rate in rural California is 15.5%, compared with 12.3% in urban areas of the state. 11.1% of the rural population has not completed high school, while 15.9% of the urban population lacks a high school diploma according to 2017-2021 ACS data reported by ERS. The unemployment rate in rural California is 4.6, while in urban California, it is 4.2% (USDA-ERS, 2022).

For a national comparison, please see an overview of the United States.

Data Sources
Kaiser Family Foundation State Health Facts; USDA Economic Research Service: State Fact Sheets

Contacts

There are more organizations related to California in the organizations section.

Last Reviewed: 8/31/2023