City of Redding

City of Redding Municipal Water Report Info

Historical Background of Redding
Modern-day Redding originated from the Rancho Buena Ventura land grant awarded to Pierson B. Reading in 1844 by then-California Governor Manuel Micheltorena. This grant encompassed what are now the communities of Anderson, Cottonwood, and Redding in northern California. Interestingly, the town wasn't named after the land grant recipient, but instead after Benjamin B. Redding, a Southern Pacific Railroad land agent who routed tracks through the area in 1872.

Before modern development, the Wintu Tribe of Native Americans inhabited the region. Their settlements stretched from the northwestern Sacramento River down to present-day Chico area.

Early Development
With just 600 pioneers, Redding was incorporated on October 4, 1887, as a general law city governed by state legislative guidelines. By 1910, the local economy relied heavily on mineral extraction, primarily copper and iron, with the population growing to 3,572. When this industry declined by 1920, the population dropped to 2,962, only to rise again to 4,188 by 1930 with the construction of Shasta Dam. According to the California Department of Finance, Redding's population was estimated at 91,110 as of January 1, 2015.

Water Infrastructure Development
Flood control became crucial as Redding expanded. Heavy winter rains would cause devastating flooding that drowned livestock. Shasta Dam resulted from this need and the potential for hydroelectric power generation. Judge Francis C. Carr and John McColl lobbied for funding in Washington, D.C. in the 1930s, helping incorporate Shasta Dam into the emerging State Water Plan as the cornerstone of the Central Valley Project. Completed in September 1944, Shasta Dam stands taller than the Washington Monument with spillways exceeding Niagara Falls in height by five times.

Expanding Water Resources
Built as part of the larger Trinity River Project, Whiskeytown Dam spurred a construction boom in Redding through much of the 1960s. The project created a lake with a 36-mile shoreline that hosts the annual Whiskeytown Regatta, attracting hundreds of sailing participants during Memorial Day weekend. In 1962, Shasta County residents voted overwhelmingly to develop Whiskeytown as a National Recreation Area under federal jurisdiction. By summer 1963, this vision became reality for Northern California residents.

With the creation of Shasta and Whiskeytown Lakes, plus Redding's proximity to Mt. Shasta, Lassen Peak, and the Trinity Alps, the city evolved into a tourist destination. Railroad expansion, improved air travel, and enhanced communications brought visitors to Redding for various recreational activities, including the iconic Sundial Bridge.