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Mariposa County

Residents 17,048Deaths 2024 1–2Deaths 2015–2024 31Latest data year 2024

FARS data are based on police crash reports and other sources; the drunk-driving measure is based on the highest BAC of any driver in the crash. Latest data year: 2024. Figures are aggregates from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System; no individual crash is identified.

In 2024, the latest year in FARS, Mariposa County (California) had fewer than three fatal crashes with fewer than three deaths. Across the ten years 2015–2024 the county recorded 29 fatal crashes and 31 deaths.

With 17,048 residents, that is 18.0 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, 78% higher than the California rate of 10.1 and above the national rate of 11.8.

The ten-year death toll fell 44% from 55 in 2005–2014 to 31 in 2015–2024.

Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is alcohol (a driver reported as drinking): 48.3% against 27.9% for California.

52% of the county's fatal crashes happened between noon to 6pm, and Monday was the most common day (21%).

1–2deaths in 20241–2 fatal crashes
8deaths, 2020–202431 over ten years
18.0per 100,000 residents a year2015–2024; 2024 alone: 11.7
+78%vs California ratestate 10.1 · US 11.8

Trend since 1975

0714197519801985199019952000200520102015202020241975: 10 deaths1976: 7 deaths1977: 9 deaths1978: 8 deaths1979: 4 deaths1980: 6 deaths1981: 12 deaths1982: 6 deaths1983: 11 deaths1984: 11 deaths1985: 5 deaths1986: 9 deaths1987: 13 deaths1988: 9 deaths1989: 7 deaths1990: 8 deaths1991: 8 deaths1992: 8 deaths1993: 1–2 deaths1994: 14 deaths1995: 10 deaths1996: 6 deaths1997: 6 deaths1998: 7 deaths1999: 7 deaths2000: 5 deaths2001: 4 deaths2002: 13 deaths2003: 4 deaths2004: 8 deaths2005: 4 deaths2006: 6 deaths2007: 6 deaths2008: 5 deaths2009: 9 deaths2010: 7 deaths2011: 4 deaths2012: 6 deaths2013: 3 deaths2014: 5 deaths2015: 3 deaths2016: 5 deaths2017: 7 deaths2018: 4 deaths2019: 4 deaths2020: 1–2 deaths2021: 1–2 deaths2022: 1–2 deaths2023: 3 deaths2024: 1–2 deaths
People killed in crashes in Mariposa County by year, 1975–2024. Latest point: 2024, 1–2 deaths.

Ten-year total down 44% (55 in 2005–2014, 31 in 2015–2024). The shaded band is the ten-year window used for rates and shares. County codes are matched to today's Census county list; a few historic code changes are merged.

Compared with California and the nation

MeasureMariposaCaliforniaUnited States
Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–202418.010.111.8
Deaths per 100,000 residents, 202411.79.811.5
Deaths, 2015–20243139,702389,190
Fatal crashes, 2015–20242936,640358,460
Deaths per fatal crash1.11.11.1
Change vs previous ten years-44%+17%+7%
Crashes on rural roads97%30%43%

Rates divide deaths by Census Bureau population estimates for each year (residents, not road users; through traffic on major routes raises the rate of small counties). Population 17,048 in 2024.

Factors

Alcoholcrashes with a driver reported as drinking48.3%
Speedingcrashes with a speeding-related driver17.2%
Pedestriansshare of people killed0%
Motorcyclistsshare of people killed9.7%
Unrestrainedoccupant deaths with no restraint used36%
In darknesscrashes after dark24.1%
Rural roadscrashes on rural roads96.6%

tick marks the California share. Bars are shares of fatal crashes (alcohol, speeding, darkness, rural) or of people killed (pedestrians, motorcyclists, unrestrained occupants) over the ten-year window.

"Alcohol" counts crashes where police reported at least one driver as drinking (FARS DR_DRINK), not the BAC-based alcohol-impaired measure NHTSA publishes separately. "Speeding" counts crashes with a driver coded as racing, exceeding the limit or too fast for conditions. Details in the methodology. Factor pages: alcohol, speeding, pedestrians, motorcycles, unrestrained occupants.

Time of day and day of week

12am3am6am9am12pm3pm6pm9pm
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat

Fatal crashes in Mariposa County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 29 crashes with a known hour and weekday.

By weekday

Monday21%
Tuesday17%
Friday17%
Sunday14%
Wednesday14%
Thursday10%
Saturday7%

Light condition

Daylight76%
Dark, not lighted24%
Dark, lighted0%
Dawn0%
Dusk0%
Dark, lighting unknown0%

Road type

Other principal arterial31%
Other freeways and expressways21%
Minor arterial21%
Minor collector10%
Local10%
Major collector7%
Interstate0%

FHWA functional classes as coded in FARS (FUNC_SYS), share of fatal crashes with a reported class; tick marks the California share. Interstates and other principal arterials carry the most traffic, so a high share there is expected. See what the road classes mean.

Weather

Clear82%
Rain11%
Cloudy7%
Snow, sleet or freezing rain0%
Fog, smog or smoke0%
Crosswinds or blowing sand/snow0%

Routes with the most fatal crashes in Mariposa

#RouteTypeIn countyFatal crashesDeathsAlcoholSpeeding
1State Route 140State highway11303537%10%
2State Route 49State highway615316533%26%
3State Route 120State highway28910227%32%
4State Route 132State highway2829732%22%

Signed routes (Interstate, US and state highways) that have a page on this site, ranked by fatal crashes in this county over 2015–2024; "fatal crashes" and "deaths" columns are the statewide totals for the route. Local streets and county roads are not listed.

By year, 2015–2024

YearFatal crashesDeathsDrinking-driver crashesPer 100,000
20241–21–20—CA 2024
2023331–217.6CA 2023
20221–21–21–2—CA 2022
20211–21–20—CA 2021
20201–21–21–2—CA 2020
2019441–223.5CA 2019
2018441–223.5CA 2018
201767441.1CA 2017
2016451–229.3CA 2016
2015331–217.6CA 2015

Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule). Per-100,000 uses the 2024 population for every year in this table; the ten-year rate above uses each year's estimate.

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Mariposa County, California?

fewer than three people died in fewer than three fatal crashes in 2024; 8 over 2020–2024 and 31 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

How does Mariposa compare with California?

18.0 deaths per 100,000 residents a year over 2015–2024, against 10.1 for California and 11.8 nationally. Rates use Census Bureau population estimates.

What share of fatal crashes in Mariposa involved alcohol?

48.3% of fatal crashes in 2015–2024 had at least one driver reported by police as drinking, against 27.9% in California. The factor furthest above the state share was alcohol (a driver reported as drinking) at 48.3%.

Which roads in Mariposa see the most fatal crashes?

Among signed routes with a page on this site, State Route 140 (11 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024), State Route 49 (6 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and State Route 120 (2 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).

When do fatal crashes happen in Mariposa?

Most often between noon to 6pm (52% of crashes) and on Mondays (21%); 24.1% happened after dark.

Where does this data come from?

NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System annual files (1975–2024) and Census Bureau county population estimates. Figures are aggregates; no individual crash is identified. See the methodology page for definitions.

Provenance

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Fatality Analysis Reporting System, annual national CSV files 1975–2024 (accident table for every year; vehicle and person tables for 2015–2024), public domain. Population: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, county totals (vintages 2000–2010, 2010–2020 and 2020–2024). Data through 31 Dec 2024; page generated 30 Sep 2026. Processing errors are corrected at the next build; see corrections and sources.