Mariposa County is a county in California located in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It lies north of Fresno and southeast of Stockton. As of 2000, its population was 17,130. The county seat is Mariposa. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,789 km² (1,463 mi²). 3,758 km² (1,451 mi²) of it is land and 30 km² (12 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.80% water. As of the census2 of 2000, there were 17,130 people, 6,613 households, and 4,490 families residing in the county. The population density was 5/km² (12/mi²). There were 8,826 housing units at an average density of 2/km² (6/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.93% White, 0.67% Black or African American, 3.51% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 2.67% from other races, and 3.38% from two or more races. 7.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.