Locals in this sparsely populated portion of California describe their lifestyle as Old West, and their primary livelihoods come from alfalfa and cattle ranches. Cattle drives are part of the local scene, where special events include Squirrel Roundup, BBQs and the Modoc County Fair.
The only city in the county is Alturas, and the population of the entire county is around 10,o00 people. Surprise Valley includes a town called Cedarville, and it provides the center of commerce for the valley. The Surprise Valley Chamber of Commerce is located in Cedarville, where you'll find historic buildings and homes such as the Cedarville Grocery (opened as the Bank of Surprise in 1905) on Townsend & Main Streets in Cedarville.