Jefferson (proposed Pacific state)

The State of Jefferson is a proposed U.S. state that would span the contiguous, mostly rural area of southern Oregon and northern California, where several attempts to separate from Oregon and California, respectively, have taken place.

This article is about a proposed U.S. state on the Pacific coast. For other proposed states with the same name, see Jefferson Territory and Jefferson (proposed Southern state).
See also: Partition and secession in California
Jefferson
Proposed U.S. state
State of Jefferson
Flag
Seal
Nickname(s): 
State of Mind, SJ (State of Jefferson)
Map of the United States with Jefferson highlighted
CountryUnited States
Admitted to the Union(Proposed 51st state)
CapitalYreka (1941 initiative)
Largest cityModesto
Largest metroModesto
LegislatureHouse and Senate (proposed)
U.S. House delegationTo be defined (list)
Area
 • Total83,178 sq mi (215,430 km2)
Area rank15th (hypothetical)
Dimensions
 • Length471 mi (758 km)
 • Width279 mi (449 km)
Elevation
7,081 ft (2,158.29 m)
Highest elevation14,179 ft (4,316.58 m)
Lowest elevation
(Sea level)
0 ft (0 m)
Population
 • Total2,869,685
 • Rank34th (hypothetical)
 • Density34.50/sq mi (13.32/km2)
 • Density rank42nd (hypothetical)
Demonym(s)Jeffersonian
Language
 • Official languageEnglish
Time zoneUTC-08:00 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-07:00 (PDT)
USPS abbreviation
JF
ISO 3166 codeNot listed in ISO
Traditional abbreviationJeff.
Latitude38°45'N to 43°57'N
Longitude119°18'W to 124°25'W
Websitesoj51.org

This region on the Pacific Coast is the most famous of several that have sought to adopt the name of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States. Jefferson, who sent the Lewis and Clark expedition into the Pacific Northwest in 1803, envisioned the establishment of an independent nation in the western portion of North America that he dubbed the "Republic of the Pacific";[1] hence, the association of his name with regional autonomy. The independence movement, rather than statehood, is known as Cascadia.

This region encompasses most of Northern California's land but does not include San Francisco or other Bay Area counties that account for the majority of Northern California's population.

The name "Jefferson" has also been used for other proposed states: the name was proposed in the 19th century for Jefferson Territory (roughly modern Colorado), as well as in 1915 in a bill in the Texas Legislature for a proposed state that would be created from the Texas Panhandle region.[2][3]

If the proposal were ever approved, the new state's capital city would have to be determined by a constitutional convention. Yreka, California, was named the provisional capital in the original 1941 proposal,[4] although Port Orford, Oregon, had also been up for consideration.[4] Some supporters of the more recent revival have also identified Redding, California, as a potential capital,[4] even though Redding is not included in all versions of the proposal and its City Council voted in 2013 to reject participation in the movement.[5]

20th century
A pavilion near Yreka, California

In October 1941, the Mayor of Port Orford, Oregon, Gilbert Gable, said that the Oregon counties of Curry, Josephine, Jackson, and Klamath should join with the California counties of Del Norte, Siskiyou, and Modoc to form a new state, later named Jefferson.[6]

He was motivated by the belief that these heavily rural areas were underrepresented in state government, which tended to cater to more populous areas.[7]

On November 27, 1941, a group of young men gained national media attention when, brandishing hunting rifles for dramatic effect, they stopped traffic on U.S. Route 99 south of Yreka, the county seat of Siskiyou County, and handed out copies of a Proclamation of Independence, stating that the State of Jefferson was in "patriotic rebellion against the States of California and Oregon" and would continue to "secede every Thursday until further notice."[8]

The state split movement ended quickly, though not before Del Norte County District Attorney John Leon Childs (1863–1953) of Crescent City was inaugurated as the Governor of the State of Jefferson on December 4, 1941.[9]

The first blow was the death of Mayor Gable on December 2, followed by the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7. Those in favor of splitting the state focused their efforts on the war effort, which crippled the movement.

San Francisco Chronicle journalist Stanton Delaplane won the 1942 Pulitzer Prize for Reporting for his articles on the State of Jefferson.[10][11]

In 1989, KSOR, the National Public Radio member station based at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, near Medford, rebranded itself as Jefferson Public Radio. It had built a massive network of low-powered translators earlier in the 1980s. By the time KSOR began building full-power stations later in the decade, it realized that the combined footprint of its translator network was roughly coextensive with the original State of Jefferson. It thus felt "Jefferson Public Radio" was an appropriate name when it decided to rebrand itself as a network.[12]

In 1992, California State Assemblyman Stan Statham placed an advisory vote[13] in 31 counties asking if the state should be split into two. All of the proposed Jefferson counties voted in favor of the split[14] (except Humboldt County which did not have the issue on the ballot). Based on these results, Statham introduced legislation in California[15] in an attempt to split the state, but the bill died in committee.

In the late 1990s, the movement for statehood was promoted by a group called the State of Jefferson Citizens Committee, which was originally formed in 1941. Two of the members, Brian Helsaple and Brian Petersen, gathered an extensive collection, including both verbal and written accounts mostly surrounding the 1941 movement. They published a book, "Jefferson Saga," in 2000. This, along with revealing the lack of representation and over-regulations, fanned the flame.

21st century

Jefferson is commemorated by the State of Jefferson Scenic Byway between Yreka and O'Brien, Oregon, which runs 109 miles (175 km) along State Route 96 and U.S. Forest Service Primary Route 48. Near the California – Oregon border, a turnout provides scenic views of the Klamath River valley and three informative display signs about the republic. The region retains this identity reinforced by institutions such as Jefferson Public Radio.

As of the 2010 Census, if the Jefferson counties were a state (original 1941 counties), the state's population would be 457,859: smaller than any state at the time. Approximately 82% of those residents live in Oregon. Its land area would be 21,349.76 square miles (55,295.6 km2) – a little smaller than West Virginia. The area was almost evenly divided between Oregon and California. Its population density would be 21.44 inhabitants per square mile (8.28/km2) – a little more than Idaho.[16] With the addition of the more modern Jefferson movement (Coos and Douglas and Lake Counties in Oregon, and Humboldt, Trinity, Shasta, Lassen, Mendocino, Lake, Tehama, Plumas, Glenn, Butte, Colusa, Sierra, Sutter, Yuba, Nevada, Placer and El Dorado Counties in California), the population as of the 2010 Census would be 2,313,958, making it the 36th most populous state in the United States.

Counties intending to leave California

On September 3, 2013, the Siskiyou County, California Board of Supervisors voted 4 to 1 in favor of withdrawal from California to form a proposed state named Jefferson.[17][18][19] The proposal was joined by the Modoc County Board of Supervisors (September 24)[20] and Glenn County Board of Supervisors (January 21, 2014).[21][22] On April 15, 2014 Yuba County Supervisors joined the State of Jefferson movement to separate from California and create a new U.S. state.[23] On July 15, 2014 the Tehama County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to adopt a resolution supporting the declaration of withdrawal from California[24] based on an advisory vote taken on June 6, 2014 where the public voted 56% to 44% in favor of splitting the state.[25] On July 22, 2014 the Board of Supervisors of Sutter County unanimously adopted a resolution supporting a declaration and petition to the Legislature to withdraw from California to redress a lack of representation.[26] On March 3, 2015, Lake County supervisors voted 3 to 2[27][28] to submit the question of secession to voters and on March 17, Lassen County supervisors made a similar declaration[29] that also has the voters deciding in 2016.[30] The Jefferson Declaration Committee is reportedly aiming to get at least 12 counties in support.[17]

On October 24, 2014, Modoc and Siskiyou Counties delivered their declarations[31] for independence from the state of California to the California Secretary of State's office. On January 15, 2015, three more counties, Glenn, Tehama, and Yuba, submitted their official declarations as well.[32]

The 2013 revival was based almost entirely in California.[33] It includes all major parts of California north of 39°. Although some individual residents in Oregon have lobbied for the movement, no county government in that state has endorsed the proposal to date.[34] As of January 6, 2016, 21 northern California counties have sent a declaration or have approved to send a declaration to the State of California with their intent of leaving the state and forming the State of Jefferson.[35] The population of the 21 California counties was 1,747,626 as of the 2010 U.S. Census, which would be 39th most populous state in the Union.

2016 presidential election
2016 presidential election results, showing a strong Republican presence in the proposed State of Jefferson

After the 2016 presidential election, it was noted that most of the rural California counties which would belong to the State of Jefferson were won in a landslide by Republican nominee Donald Trump, whereas Democrat Hillary Clinton enjoyed an unprecedented level of support in the rest of California, indicating a growing demographic and political divide between the proposed State of Jefferson and the rest of California. While Clinton beat Trump by almost 80 points in San Francisco, he led her by more than 50 points in Lassen County.[36][37] The election of Trump led to calls for a secession of California and a similar proposal in Oregon, where Clinton won the popular vote while Trump captured the majority of counties.[38][39][40]

With the election of President Donald Trump, some who are considering joining the modern State of Jefferson or are observing the movement have stated that if California secedes, the movement's supporting counties could appeal directly to the United States Congress for statehood, similar to how West Virginia was formed, claiming California would be in insurrection and petitioning to rejoin the Union as an independent state.[41]

On May 8, 2017, the State of Jefferson as "Citizens for Fair Representation" filed a lawsuit against the California Secretary of State Alex Padilla.[42] The suit alleges that California's 1862 law limiting Senators to no more than 40, and Assembly Members to no more than 80, creates an unconstitutional imbalance of representation that precludes effective "self-governance" as protected by the 14th Amendment. The desired result of suing California, for lack of representation and dilution of vote, is better representation across all of California, and ultimately an independent State of Jefferson.[43] The case was dismissed by the lower court and appealed to the Ninth Circuit. [44]

Flag and seal
Jefferson state flag

The field of the flag is green, and the charge is the Seal of the State of Jefferson: a gold mining pan with the words "The Great Seal Of State Of Jefferson" engraved into the lip, and two Xs askew of each other.[45]

The two Xs are known as the "Double Cross" and signify the two regions' "sense of abandonment" by the central state governments, in both Southern Oregon and Northern California.[35]

The gold pan is on display at the Yreka California Siskiyou Museum.[46]

See also

References
  1. "Beginnings of Self-Government". End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. Archived from the original on 2008-10-12. Retrieved 2011-07-21.
  2. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/mqd01
  3. Division of Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online
  4. Peter Laufer, The Elusive State of Jefferson: A Journey Through the 51st State. TwoDot, 2013. ISBN 978-0762788361.
  5. "Redding City Council rejects "State of Jefferson" proposal". KRCR-TV, October 2, 2013.
  6. Hall, Christopher (September 2003). "Jefferson County: The State that Almost Seceded". Via: AAA Traveler's Companion. AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah. Retrieved 2015-02-21.
  7. Michael J. Trinklein (2010). Lost States: True Stories of Texlahoma, Transylvania, and Other States That Never Made It. Quirk Books. ISBN 978-1-59474-410-5
  8. D'Souza, Tony (December 11, 2008). "State of Jefferson dreams were dashed by Pearl Harbor". Mount Shasta Herald. Retrieved 2015-02-21.
  9. Holt, Tim (June 24, 2011). "A modest proposal – downsize California!". The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2015-02-21.
  10. Gunther, John (1947). Inside U.S.A. New York, London: Harper & Brothers. pp. 62–63.
  11. "Stanton Delaplane, 80; San Francisco Writer". The New York Times. April 21, 1988. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
  12. "State of Jefferson – Jefferson Public Radio".
  13. "CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS '92 : 31 Counties to Vote on the Divisive Issue of Splitting the State: Government: Secession has backers in the rural north, but the advisory plebiscite has no legal effect". Los Angeles Times. May 30, 1992. Retrieved 2015-04-25.
  14. "Historical Efforts to Split California into Multiple States". Gary and Deborah Aufdenspring. Retrieved 2015-04-25.
  15. "The "Upstate California" campaign is déjà vu all over again for Stan Statham". Sacramento News & review. January 3, 2002. Retrieved 2015-04-25.
  16. Using the 2010 Census QuickFacts figures for each of the following counties: Curry, Josephine, Jackson, Klamath, Del Norte, Siskiyou, Modoc.
    "DataSet.txt". State & County QuickFacts. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on September 30, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2012. (See "Download the Database Archived 2012-11-11 at the Wayback Machine" for an explanation of this data set.)
  17. Longoria, Sean, Siskiyou supervisors support withdrawal from California Archived 2014-06-20 at the Wayback Machine, Redding Record Searchlight, September 4, 2013, accessed September 4, 2013.
  18. Mather, Kate, Siskiyou County votes to pursue secession from California, Los Angeles Times, September 4, 2013, accessed September 4, 2013
  19. Northern California County Board Votes For Secession From State, CBS, San Francisco, September 4, 2013.
  20. "Modoc County joins Siskiyou in state of Jefferson bid for secession". 2013-09-24. Retrieved 2013-09-25.
  21. "Supervisors vote to join secession effort". 2014-01-21. Retrieved 2014-01-22.
  22. "State of Jefferson takes root in Glenn County". 2014-01-21. Retrieved 2014-01-22.
  23. "Yuba County supervisors endorse State of Jefferson". 2014-04-16. Retrieved 2014-07-31.
  24. "Supervisors approve of Jefferson". 2014-07-15. Retrieved 2014-07-31.
  25. "Tehama County Voters Approve Advisory Measure To Secede From California". 2014-06-14. Retrieved 2015-04-25.
  26. "Sutter County votes for State of Jefferson". 2014-07-23. Retrieved 2014-07-31.
  27. "Board votes for Jefferson". Record Bee Community News. 2015-02-17. Retrieved 2015-04-25.
  28. "Lake County voters to weigh in on secession". The Press Democrat. 2015-03-15. Retrieved 2015-04-25.
  29. "Lassen County Declaration" (PDF). 2015-03-17. Retrieved 2015-04-25.
  30. "Lassen County Meeting Summary". 2015-03-17. Retrieved 2015-04-25.
  31. "2 California counties ask to form separate state". USA Today. 2014-08-28. Retrieved 2015-04-25.
  32. "State of Jefferson brings three more California counties on board". Sacramento Bee. 2015-01-15. Retrieved 2015-04-25.
  33. "Secession: Realistic hope or illusion?". Medford Mail Tribune, September 8, 2013.
  34. "California secession vote fails in two counties bordering Oregon; passes in one other county". The Oregonian, June 4, 2014.
  35. Koseff, Alexei (January 6, 2016). "State of Jefferson supporters plan bill seeking independence from California". Sacramento Bee. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  36. Reese, Phillip (November 16, 2016). "Clinton may have won California – but Trump carried its white rural north". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
  37. Miller, Jim (November 10, 2016). "California hasn't always been so blue in presidential races". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
  38. Silva, Cristina (November 12, 2016). "Will California And Oregon Leave The Union? Facts About CalExit And Democrats' Secession Movement". International Business Times. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
  39. Garcia, Arturo (November 11, 2016). "Oregon Secession Petition Withdrawn After 'Threats' To Organizers". Snopes.com. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
  40. Acker, Lizzy (November 10, 2008). "After Donald Trump victory, Oregonians submit ballot proposal to secede from the union". The Oregonian/OregonLive. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
  41. "unity-declaration - Official State of Jefferson Movement". Official State of Jefferson Movement. Retrieved 2017-05-15.
  42. "A verified complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief for misapportionment and unconstitutional vote dilution and abridgment in the California Assembly and state Senate" (PDF).
  43. "CFR - Official State of Jefferson Movement". Official State of Jefferson Movement. Retrieved 2017-05-15.
  44. https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/344/cfr-v-alex-padilla/
  45. The real history and meaning behind the State of Jefferson, retreat.com.
  46. https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/original-model-for-the-jefferson-state-seal-dating-to-1941-news-photo/696291964#/original-model-for-the-jefferson-state-seal-dating-to-1941-its-on-picture-id696291964

Further reading
  • James T. Rock. The State of Jefferson: the Dream Lives on! Siskiyou County Museum, 1999.

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