Mother Lode Climate And Scenery Ranks High
Sonora, CA — Based solely on the weather and beautiful views, the Mother Lode counties are among the most desirable to live in the country.
That is according to a federal report that was recently brought to light in a Washington Post article. Counties across the country were ranked several years ago by the USDA based on a “natural amenities index.” Counties that ranked the highest typically have mild and sunny winters, temperate summers, low humidity, topographic variation, and easy access to a body of water. California counties held all of the top 10 spots, with Ventura, Humboldt and Santa Barbara in the top three.
Calaveras County ranked 14th, Mariposa County 15th, Mono County 16th, Stanislaus County 30th and Tuolumne County 34th.
Areas that ranked at the bottom were typically found in the Midwest and Great Lakes region. Hawaii and Alaska were not included in the rankings. 3,111 counties were included on the list.