Tehama, CA

With fewer than 500 residents, Tehama is one of the smallest incorporated cities in California. Set right along the Sacramento River just south of Red Bluff, it offers a quiet, rural lifestyle surrounded by orchards and open valley farmland. The area has a long history tied to the water, from early Nomlaki settlements to the 19th-century steamboat era. Over the decades, the river has even reshaped the street grid itself, eroding the original waterfront road and leaving behind a peaceful, slow-paced neighborhood right along the riverbank.

ATTRGuy Churchward / CC BY 2.0

The entire town covers less than one square mile, making it easy to navigate on foot or by bike. Everyday life revolves around a handful of local landmarks, including Habert Park, the Tehama County Museum, and Belbeck Park, where a historic brick schoolhouse now serves local families. Residents head into nearby Red Bluff or Corning for major shopping and services, but Tehama itself remains a calm, scenic choice for anyone looking for space, quiet surroundings, and easy access to river fishing.