Covelo (/ˈkoʊvəloʊ/ KOH-və-loh) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Mendocino County, California, United States. Covelo is located 14 miles (23 km) east-northeast of Laytonville, at an elevation of 1,398 feet (426 m). The population was 1,394 at the 2020 census, up from 1,255 at the 2010 census. 405 acres (1.64 km) of Covelo is part of the Round Valley Indian Reservation.

Covelo is located in northeastern Mendocino County at 39°47′35″N 123°14′53″W / 39.79306°N 123.24806°W / 39.79306; -123.24806. It is accessible via California State Route 162, which leads southwest 29 miles (47 km) to U.S. Route 101 at Longvale. To the east, Mendocino Pass Road (becoming Alder Springs Road) leads 66 miles (106 km) over the mountains of Mendocino National Forest to Elk Creek, for much of its length a gravel road.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Covelo CDP has a total area of 7.1 square miles (18 km), 99.40% of it land and 0.60% of it water. Covelo and Round Valley are drained by Mill Creek, which flows east to the Middle Fork of the Eel River.

Covelo is the location of the Covelo American Viticultural Area.

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Covelo has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated Csa on climate maps. Covelo also has a four-season climate, with the dry part of the year during summer and the rainy part in the winter. Winters are also mild in Covelo. Although snow often falls on the nearby mountains such as Anthony Peak in the winter, it rarely falls in the valley. Diurnal temperature variation is strong year round, albeit the most severe in summer. During winter, the variation still results in very frequent air frosts.

Covelo began in 1860, with the opening of the town's first store. The post office opened in 1870. Some sources claim that the town was named after a village in Switzerland. However, there is no village in Switzerland by that name. Covelo may be a misspelling of Covolo, a fort in Pederobba, Veneto, Italy, which is near Switzerland. Alternatively, it could be named after Covelo, a village in Galicia, Spain. There is also a Covello in Basilicato, in the south of Italy.

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	183		—
1980	1,448		—
1990	1,057		−27.0%
2000	1,175		11.2%
2010	1,255		6.8%
2020	1,394		11.1%
2021 (est.)	1,317		−5.5%
U.S. Decennial Census 1850–1870 1880-1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Race and Ethnicity

Racial and ethnic composition	2000	2010	2020
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)	8.09%	12.99%	35.01%
White (non-Hispanic)	48.26%	43.35%	33.86%
Native American (non-Hispanic)	36.6%	35.78%	24.46%
Two or more races (non-Hispanic)	5.96%	6.14%	6.1%
Other (non-Hispanic)	0.0%	0.24%	0.36%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	0.77%	1.04%	0.07%
Asian (non-Hispanic)	0.34%	0.48%	0.07%
Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic)	0.0%	0.0%	0.07%

At the 2010 census Covelo had a population of 1,255. The population density was 175.8 inhabitants per square mile (67.9/km). The racial makeup of Covelo was 611 (48.7%) White, 14 (1.1%) African American, 475 (37.8%) Native American, 10 (0.8%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 49 (3.9%) from other races, and 96 (7.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 163 people (13.0%).

The census reported that 1,247 people (99.4% of the population) lived in households, no one lived in non-institutionalized group quarters and 8 (0.6%) were institutionalized.

There were 481 households, 148 (30.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 146 (30.4%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 81 (16.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 56 (11.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 70 (14.6%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 0 (0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 148 households (30.8%) were one person and 53 (11.0%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.59. There were 283 families (58.8% of households); the average family size was 3.25.

The age distribution was 339 people (27.0%) under the age of 18, 105 people (8.4%) aged 18 to 24, 320 people (25.5%) aged 25 to 44, 299 people (23.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 192 people (15.3%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 35.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.6 males.

There were 542 housing units at an average density of 75.9 per square mile, of the occupied units 314 (65.3%) were owner-occupied and 167 (34.7%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.4%. 791 people (63.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 456 people (36.3%) lived in rental housing units.

At the 2000 census there were 1,175 people, 442 households, and 301 families in the CDP. The population density was 164.9 inhabitants per square mile (63.7/km). There were 512 housing units at an average density of 71.8 per square mile (27.7/km). The racial makeup of the CDP was 50.21% White, 0.85% Black or African American, 40.26% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 1.96% from other races, and 6.21% from two or more races. 8.09% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 442 households 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.2% were married couples living together, 20.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 26.0% of households were one person and 7.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.17.

The age distribution was 28.9% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.

The median household income was $27,639 and the median family income was $31,875. Males had a median income of $21,146 versus $17,014 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $12,628. About 17.1% of families and 27.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.4% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.

In the state legislature, Covelo is in the 2nd Senate District, represented by Democrat Mike McGuire, and the 2nd Assembly District, represented by Democrat Chris Rogers.

Federally, Covelo is in California's 2nd congressional district, represented by Democrat Jared Huffman.

Round Valley Elementary and Round Valley High School serve as the town's schools. There is also a charter school: Eel River Charter School.

• Michelle Lambert, pop singer
• Thomas J. and Joseph M. Long, brothers who co-founded Longs Drugs Stores; born and raised in Covelo