Colusa

Colusa is a city in Colusa County, California, United States. It is the county seat of Colusa County and is located in the Sacramento Valley of Northern California. The 2020 census put the population at approximately 6,000 residents. Colusa serves as a local government and agricultural service center for the surrounding rural region.

Indigenous peoples inhabited the area for thousands of years before European-American settlement. The community developed in the mid-19th century as a river trade and farming hub during the California Gold Rush era. Colusa was incorporated as a city in the late 19th century. The origin of the name Colusa is not known with certainty.

Colusa sits in the agriculturally rich Sacramento Valley, with a hot, dry-summer climate and mild winters. The area features floodplains and farmlands that support extensive irrigation-based agriculture. The city is in a rural part of Northern California, with nearby towns including Williams and Arbuckle.

Economy is based primarily on agriculture, with rice, alfalfa, and other crops produced in the surrounding county. Irrigation and agricultural services are important to the local economy. The city also provides government services and serves as a marketplace for the surrounding farms.

The Colusa Unified School District operates the public schools serving Colusa and nearby communities. Higher education options are available in the wider region.

Colusa is accessible by regional highways and is served by a rail line that connects to broader freight networks. The city is within reach of intercity road networks that connect to Northern California urban centers.