Calaveras County, California

A. Brosemer Building Albert A. Michelson Altaville Foundry & Machine Works Altaville Grammar School Angels Camp Angels Hotel Archie D. Stevenot Archie Stevenot Attempted Stage Robbery Avery Hotel Avery One-Room School House Bells Black Bart at Funk Hill Board's Crossing Buena Vista Cemetery Calaveras County Courthouse and Leger Hotel Calaveras County Hospital Cemetery Calaveras County War Memorial Calaveras Telephone Calaveritas California Big Trees State Park California Pioneers Reinterred from Poverty Bar Cemetery Camanche Camp 9 Powerhouse Pelton Wheel Camp Nine Bell Camp Tamarack Campo Seco Carson Hill Chili Gulch Chinatown Claussen’s Corner Congregational Church Copperopolis Copperopolis Copperopolis Armory Copperopolis Cemetery Copperopolis Historical Plaza Copperopolis Park Dinkelspiel Store Discovery and Exploitation Doc S.C. Linebaugh Park Dorrington Hotel Double Springs Double Springs Douglas Flat Dunbar House E Clampus Vitus E Clampus Vitus Ebbetts Pass Veterans Memorial Emily Peek's Saloon First Restaurant in Town Fourth Crossing Giovanni Lavagnino Gold Furnace Hanging On By A Branch Hogarth Stamp Mill HOSTAGE: A most painful experience of human suffering Independent Order of Odd Fellows Building Independent Order of Odd Fellows Hall James H. Carson Jenny Lind John Murphy Jones Apothecary – Cheap Cash Store Joseph Schachten Just Jenny Keepers of the Land! Lightner Mine Madame Josephine Felix Maj. James D. Savage Mark Twain Masonic Hall Mercer Caverns Milton Masonic Hall Model 1841 12-Pound Field Howitzers Mokelumne Hill Mokelumne Hill Murphy Brothers Murphys Murphys Grammar School Murphys Hotel Native Sons of the Golden West O'Bryne Ferry Ol' Beth Old Segale Building Old Sperry Hotel Our Vietnam Era Veterans Paloma (Fosteria) Peter L. Traver Building Prince-Garibardi Building Robinson's Ferry San Andreas Sandy Gulch Serpentine Drill Core Section Sheep Ranch Sheep Ranch Mine Signal Cannon/Utica Mine Ore Car/Arrastra Model Site of Brownsville Site of E.C.V. Saloon Sourgrass Bridge St. Patrick's Catholic Church Stalactite/Stalagmite Stangetti – Solari – Cademartori Store The Avery Hotel The Compere Store The Copperopolis Bell and Cannon The Costa Store The Heinsdorff Bakery The Hogarth Family The Hogarth Stamp Mill The Italian Store The Monitor The Old Corner Saloon The Old Fisk Building The Red Barn The Story Under the Lake Thomas McCarty Thompson Building Utica Mine North Shaft Valente Building Vallecito Valley Spring Veterans Memorial Hall Water Wheel West Point Whim White Pines History William Gordon Huff
Calaveras County, located in Northern California, has a rich and vibrant history that dates back thousands of years. The area was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Miwok and Yokut people, who lived off the land and utilized its abundant natural resources.

In the early 1800s, Calaveras County became the epicenter of the California Gold Rush. When gold was discovered in 1848 at Sutter's Mill, thousands of fortune seekers flocked to the region, hoping to strike it rich. The town of Angels Camp, in particular, gained prominence as a booming mining town. The Gold Rush brought both prosperity and chaos, as people from all over the world flocked to Calaveras County, creating a diverse and bustling community.

As the Gold Rush waned, the county transitioned to other industries such as agriculture and logging. The rich soil and favorable climate made Calaveras County an ideal location for farming and ranching, with crops such as grapes, apples, and livestock becoming important economic drivers. The timber industry also flourished, with vast forests providing resources for logging operations.

Today, Calaveras County is renowned for its natural beauty and recreational opportunities. The county is home to stunning landscapes, including the towering sequoias in Calaveras Big Trees State Park, as well as numerous lakes, rivers, and hiking trails. The county also embraces its rich cultural heritage with annual events like the famous Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee, celebrating the county's connection to Mark Twain's famous short story, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County."

Overall, Calaveras County's history is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of its inhabitants, who have thrived through different eras, from the Native Americans and the Gold Rush pioneers to the modern-day residents who continue to appreciate and preserve the county's natural and cultural treasures.
Brief timeline of the history of Calaveras County, California:

  • 1848 - The California Gold Rush begins and leads to a population explosion in the area that eventually becomes Calaveras County.
  • 1850 - Calaveras County is established as one of California's original 27 counties.
  • 1856 - Mark Twain publishes his famous short story, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County," which brings worldwide attention to the region.
  • 1861 - The town of Murphys is founded and quickly becomes a prosperous mining town.
  • 1864 - The town of Angels Camp is established and becomes an important supply center for miners.
  • 1866 - Construction of the Stockton and Copperopolis Railroad begins, connecting Calaveras County to the Central Pacific Railroad network.
  • 1872 - The Calaveras County Courthouse, a historic landmark, is built in San Andreas.
  • 1933 - The Mark Twain Cabin and Regi

    This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Calaveras County, California.

Audiobooks about the history of California.