The population of Tehama City was 418 at the 2010 census, down from 432 in the 2000 census. The name Tehama is believed to come from the Wintun language, meaning "high water". The city was once a small settlement on the western bank of the Sacramento River. It became the county seat of Tehama County in 1856. There are a number of interesting stories about the area, including the construction of an Indian temple and the creation of the river.
The FBI reports that crime in Tehama City is 0.499, down from 0.48 percent in the previous year. This is slightly less even than the national average. The reason for the disparity is that California's economy has been deteriorating. The county's population has experienced a sharp decline since the last census, with only 3% of residents earning over $100,000. Despite this, crime rates are still very low compared to those in other California counties.
The average household income in Tehama is $27,500, and the median income for a family is $35,125. The median household income for males was $25,333 and for females, $21,667. The per capita income in Tehama is $13,044. The population was primarily composed of people between the ages of 18 and 65. Republican Doug LaMalfa represents Tehama City in the state legislature. Tehama is located in the 4th Senate district and the 2nd Assembly District.