Data / Rankings / Establishment entry rate / Counties in California

Counties in California by establishment entry rate

Alpine County had the highest establishment entry rate of 58 counties in 2021, at 21.429%. Inyo County had the lowest, at 5.044%. The median was 10.803% and the figure for California was 11.835%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest21.429Alpine County
Lowest5.044Inyo County
Median10.80358 counties
California11.835History

Map of counties, 2021

Alameda County: 10.876 %Alpine County: 21.429 %Amador County: 8.098 %Butte County: 8.633 %Calaveras County: 12.121 %Colusa County: 7.837 %Contra Costa County: 11.168 %Del Norte County: 7.21 %El Dorado County: 12.766 %Fresno County: 11.109 %Glenn County: 9.406 %Humboldt County: 10.048 %Imperial County: 9.93 %Inyo County: 5.044 %Kern County: 11.246 %Kings County: 9.419 %Lake County: 9.059 %Lassen County: 11.064 %Los Angeles County: 13.155 %Madera County: 12.356 %Marin County: 10.29 %Mariposa County: 9.043 %Mendocino County: 10.219 %Merced County: 11.406 %Modoc County: 17.518 %Mono County: 12.334 %Monterey County: 9.54 %Napa County: 9.475 %Nevada County: 12.045 %Orange County: 12.001 %Placer County: 11.342 %Plumas County: 11.1 %Riverside County: 13.042 %Sacramento County: 11.876 %San Benito County: 9.42 %San Bernardino County: 12.575 %San Diego County: 11.854 %San Francisco County: 10.37 %San Joaquin County: 12.049 %San Luis Obispo County: 9.948 %San Mateo County: 10.125 %Santa Barbara County: 9.839 %Santa Clara County: 10.614 %Santa Cruz County: 9.706 %Shasta County: 10.985 %Sierra County: 18.868 %Siskiyou County: 10.73 %Solano County: 11.07 %Sonoma County: 9.782 %Stanislaus County: 10.25 %Sutter County: 12.454 %Tehama County: 10.515 %Trinity County: 14.486 %Tulare County: 10.55 %Tuolumne County: 9.139 %Ventura County: 10.918 %Yolo County: 10.409 %Yuba County: 13.226 %
  • Under 9.4
  • 9.4 to 10
  • 10 to 11
  • 11 to 12
  • 12 and over
%, 2021. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment entry rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All counties, 2021

Alpine County: 21.429 %Alpine County21.429Sierra County: 18.868 %Sierra County18.868Modoc County: 17.518 %Modoc County17.518Trinity County: 14.486 %Trinity County14.486Yuba County: 13.226 %Yuba County13.226Los Angeles County: 13.155 %Los Angeles County13.155Riverside County: 13.042 %Riverside County13.042El Dorado County: 12.766 %El Dorado County12.766San Bernardino County: 12.575 %San Bernardino County12.575Sutter County: 12.454 %Sutter County12.454Madera County: 12.356 %Madera County12.356Mono County: 12.334 %Mono County12.334Calaveras County: 12.121 %Calaveras County12.121San Joaquin County: 12.049 %San Joaquin County12.049Nevada County: 12.045 %Nevada County12.045Orange County: 12.001 %Orange County12.001Sacramento County: 11.876 %Sacramento County11.876San Diego County: 11.854 %San Diego County11.854Merced County: 11.406 %Merced County11.406Placer County: 11.342 %Placer County11.342Kern County: 11.246 %Kern County11.246Contra Costa County: 11.168 %Contra Costa County11.168Fresno County: 11.109 %Fresno County11.109Plumas County: 11.1 %Plumas County11.1Solano County: 11.07 %Solano County11.07Lassen County: 11.064 %Lassen County11.064Shasta County: 10.985 %Shasta County10.985Ventura County: 10.918 %Ventura County10.918Alameda County: 10.876 %Alameda County10.876Siskiyou County: 10.73 %Siskiyou County10.73Santa Clara County: 10.614 %Santa Clara County10.614Tulare County: 10.55 %Tulare County10.55Tehama County: 10.515 %Tehama County10.515Yolo County: 10.409 %Yolo County10.409San Francisco County: 10.37 %San Francisco County10.37Marin County: 10.29 %Marin County10.29Stanislaus County: 10.25 %Stanislaus County10.25Mendocino County: 10.219 %Mendocino County10.219San Mateo County: 10.125 %San Mateo County10.125Humboldt County: 10.048 %Humboldt County10.048San Luis Obispo County: 9.948 %San Luis Obispo County9.948Imperial County: 9.93 %Imperial County9.93Santa Barbara County: 9.839 %Santa Barbara County9.839Sonoma County: 9.782 %Sonoma County9.782Santa Cruz County: 9.706 %Santa Cruz County9.706Monterey County: 9.54 %Monterey County9.54Napa County: 9.475 %Napa County9.475San Benito County: 9.42 %San Benito County9.42Kings County: 9.419 %Kings County9.419Glenn County: 9.406 %Glenn County9.406Tuolumne County: 9.139 %Tuolumne County9.139Lake County: 9.059 %Lake County9.059Mariposa County: 9.043 %Mariposa County9.043Butte County: 8.633 %Butte County8.633Amador County: 8.098 %Amador County8.098Colusa County: 7.837 %Colusa County7.837Del Norte County: 7.21 %Del Norte County7.21Inyo County: 5.044 %Inyo County5.044Alpine County: 21.429 %Alpine County21.429Sierra County: 18.868 %Sierra County18.868Modoc County: 17.518 %Modoc County17.518Trinity County: 14.486 %Trinity County14.486Yuba County: 13.226 %Yuba County13.226Los Angeles County: 13.155 %Los Angeles County13.155Riverside County: 13.042 %Riverside County13.042El Dorado County: 12.766 %El Dorado County12.766San Bernardino County: 12.575 %San Bernardino County12.575Sutter County: 12.454 %Sutter County12.454Madera County: 12.356 %Madera County12.356Mono County: 12.334 %Mono County12.334Calaveras County: 12.121 %Calaveras County12.121San Joaquin County: 12.049 %San Joaquin County12.049Nevada County: 12.045 %Nevada County12.045Orange County: 12.001 %Orange County12.001Sacramento County: 11.876 %Sacramento County11.876San Diego County: 11.854 %San Diego County11.854Merced County: 11.406 %Merced County11.406Placer County: 11.342 %Placer County11.342Kern County: 11.246 %Kern County11.246Contra Costa County: 11.168 %Contra Costa County11.168Fresno County: 11.109 %Fresno County11.109Plumas County: 11.1 %Plumas County11.1Solano County: 11.07 %Solano County11.07Lassen County: 11.064 %Lassen County11.064Shasta County: 10.985 %Shasta County10.985Ventura County: 10.918 %Ventura County10.918Alameda County: 10.876 %Alameda County10.876Siskiyou County: 10.73 %Siskiyou County10.73Santa Clara County: 10.614 %Santa Clara County10.614Tulare County: 10.55 %Tulare County10.55Tehama County: 10.515 %Tehama County10.515Yolo County: 10.409 %Yolo County10.409San Francisco County: 10.37 %San Francisco County10.37Marin County: 10.29 %Marin County10.29Stanislaus County: 10.25 %Stanislaus County10.25Mendocino County: 10.219 %Mendocino County10.219San Mateo County: 10.125 %San Mateo County10.125Humboldt County: 10.048 %Humboldt County10.048San Luis Obispo County: 9.948 %San Luis Obispo County9.948Imperial County: 9.93 %Imperial County9.93Santa Barbara County: 9.839 %Santa Barbara County9.839Sonoma County: 9.782 %Sonoma County9.782Santa Cruz County: 9.706 %Santa Cruz County9.706Monterey County: 9.54 %Monterey County9.54Napa County: 9.475 %Napa County9.475San Benito County: 9.42 %San Benito County9.42Kings County: 9.419 %Kings County9.419Glenn County: 9.406 %Glenn County9.406Tuolumne County: 9.139 %Tuolumne County9.139Lake County: 9.059 %Lake County9.059Mariposa County: 9.043 %Mariposa County9.043Butte County: 8.633 %Butte County8.633Amador County: 8.098 %Amador County8.098Colusa County: 7.837 %Colusa County7.837Del Norte County: 7.21 %Del Norte County7.21Inyo County: 5.044 %Inyo County5.044
%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment entry rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2021 (%)Change on 2020
1Alpine County21.429+7.14 pts
2Sierra County18.868+1.05 pts
3Modoc County17.518+6.95 pts
4Trinity County14.486+4.23 pts
5Yuba County13.226+2.67 pts
6Los Angeles County13.155+0.33 pts
7Riverside County13.042+0.44 pts
8El Dorado County12.766+0.28 pts
9San Bernardino County12.575+0.29 pts
10Sutter County12.454+0.66 pts
11Madera County12.356+0.72 pts
12Mono County12.334+0.25 pts
13Calaveras County12.121+1.26 pts
14San Joaquin County12.049+1.78 pts
15Nevada County12.045+0.1 pts
16Orange County12.001-0.04 pts
17Sacramento County11.876+0.46 pts
18San Diego County11.854+0.15 pts
19Merced County11.406+1.8 pts
20Placer County11.342-0.48 pts
21Kern County11.246+0.54 pts
22Contra Costa County11.168+0.22 pts
23Fresno County11.109+1 pts
24Plumas County11.1-1.71 pts
25Solano County11.07+0.79 pts
26Lassen County11.064+1.57 pts
27Shasta County10.985+0.88 pts
28Ventura County10.918+0.56 pts
29Alameda County10.876-0.17 pts
30Siskiyou County10.73+0.27 pts
31Santa Clara County10.614-0.46 pts
32Tulare County10.55+0.23 pts
33Tehama County10.515+1.16 pts
34Yolo County10.409+0.14 pts
35San Francisco County10.37-0.45 pts
36Marin County10.29+0.74 pts
37Stanislaus County10.25+0.24 pts
38Mendocino County10.219+0.83 pts
39San Mateo County10.125-0.05 pts
40Humboldt County10.048+1.6 pts
41San Luis Obispo County9.948+0.04 pts
42Imperial County9.93+1.64 pts
43Santa Barbara County9.839+0.42 pts
44Sonoma County9.782+0.23 pts
45Santa Cruz County9.706-0.65 pts
46Monterey County9.54-0.06 pts
47Napa County9.475+0.8 pts
48San Benito County9.42-1.14 pts
49Kings County9.419-1.03 pts
50Glenn County9.406-1.2 pts
51Tuolumne County9.139-0.38 pts
52Lake County9.059-0.14 pts
53Mariposa County9.043-0.02 pts
54Butte County8.633-1.76 pts
55Amador County8.098-0.93 pts
56Colusa County7.837-1.21 pts
57Del Norte County7.21-2.49 pts
58Inyo County5.044-2.02 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

Establishments that opened during the year (employees in March of the year and none a year earlier), as a percentage of the average number of establishments in the two years. United States: Census Bureau Business Dynamics Statistics.

An establishment is a single physical location, so a new branch of an existing firm counts as an entry: this is not the rate of new firms. Not comparable with enterprise_birth_rate, which counts new enterprises in Europe. The year is the twelve months to March: 2023 compares March 2022 with March 2023.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment entry rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2025). Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment entry rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010 (Counties in California by establishment entry rate, 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv

MLA 9

Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment entry rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010, Counties in California by establishment entry rate, 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 25 Sept. 2025, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/establishment-entry-rate/california-counties?period=2021. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2025. Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment entry rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Counties in California by establishment entry rate, 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/establishment-entry-rate/california-counties?period=2021.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2025) Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment entry rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010, Counties in California by establishment entry rate, 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/establishment-entry-rate/california-counties?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_california_by_2021,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment entry rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010: Counties in California by establishment entry rate, 2021}},
  year = {2025},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/establishment-entry-rate/california-counties?period=2021. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment entry rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023\_st\_cty.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment entry rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010: Counties in California by establishment entry rate, 2021
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/09/25
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/establishment-entry-rate/california-counties?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/establishment-entry-rate/california-counties?period=2021.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment entry rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
Embed this chart

Paste this code into a web page or a blog post. The chart shows the latest figures as they are published, with the source and a link back to this page.

Sites that read oEmbed links, such as WordPress, can show the chart when you paste the link to this page.

Use this data in your AI agent

Invokely serves this figure to AI assistants through MCP and to code through a REST API, with the source and citation attached. Ask your assistant:

Rank Counties in California by establishment entry rate using official data, and cite the source.
rank_places {"indicator":"establishment_entry_rate","level":"province","within":"California","limit":10}
GET https://invokely.ai/api/v1/rank?indicator=establishment_entry_rate&level=province&within=California&limit=10

Connect Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor in one step. The trial answers 25 calls a day without an account.

Questions

Which county has the highest establishment entry rate?

Alpine County, with 21.429% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest establishment entry rate?

Inyo County, with 5.044% in 2021.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment entry rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Establishment entry rate: other rankings

Counties in California: more rankings