Cedarville (formerly Surprise Valley and Deep Creek)[3](Northern Paiute: pasɨɨbi) is a census-designated place[4] located 20 miles (32 km) east of Alturas,[3] at an elevation of 4,652 feet (1,418 m),[2] in Modoc County, California.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP covers an area of 5.4 square miles (14 km2), 99.92% of it land, and 0.08% of it water.

The largest town in Surprise Valley, Cedarville is located on the alluvial apron at the mouth of Cedar Canyon, on the eastern base of the Warner Mountains, near the western shore of Middle Alkali Lake.

[5] Originally known as Deep Creek, Cedarville was founded around 1864 as a stopping place for wagon trains.

In 1867 a trading post was being run by William Cressler and John Bonner, who later also built the first road over Cedar Pass, which connected Surprise Valley to Alturas and the rest of Modoc County.

However, by 1880 Cedarville was the largest town in the valley, with a population of around 220,[6] and once Fort Bidwell, 20 miles (32 km) to the north, was demilitarized Cedarville's central location and access to Cedar Pass made it the natural population and business center of the valley.

[11] California Historical Landmark number 14 reads: The 2010 United States Census[29] reported that Cedarville had a population of 514.

There were 294 housing units at an average density of 54.0 per square mile (20.8/km2), of which 146 (61.6%) were owner-occupied, and 91 (38.4%) were occupied by renters.

At the United States 2000 Census,[30] there were 849 people, 374 households, and 236 families residing with a population density of 3.2 per 1 square mile (2.6 km2) within Zip Code 96104, not all of which is within Cedarville.

[39] Federally, Cedarville is in California's 1st congressional district, represented by Republican Doug LaMalfa.

Cedarville Airport is located along Surprise Valley Road, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of California State Route 299.