How large were most Indigenous California tribelets?

Most Indigenous California tribelets typically ranged in size from approximately one hundred to a few thousand people. The specific population of these independent geopolitical units was largely determined by the richness of the economic resources available in their local environment.1

In regions where resources were sparse, people often lived in smaller, seminomadic bands of 20 to 30 individuals, gathering into larger groups only temporarily for specific activities like harvests or communal drives. Conversely, in more resource-rich areas such as coastal or riverine environments, populations were generally more settled and stable.23