History

The Maidu and Washoe Indians were the first residents of this area of the Sierra Nevada.  The discovery of gold in January 1848 at Sutter's Mill on the American River at Culluma (later changed to Coloma) drew those in search of the precious yellow metal.  Coloma is northeast of Sacramento, and only about  85 miles from Downieville.

Downieville began as a mining town with a few log cabins.  Gold was discovered in the North Fork of the Yuba River in November 1849.  In January of 1850, a Scottish immigrant, Major William Downie, camped his small party here calling it "The Forks."  Downie's party found the gravel beds rich with placer gold and within a year the area had boomed to a population of 5,000.  The town prospered and soon boasted a flourishing tent city with saloons and stores.  The town site was laid out and named Downieville, in honor of its founder.

By the mid-1850's, Downieville was one of the largest towns in California -- surpassed only by San Francisco, Sacramento, Grass Valley, and Nevada City.  It served as a trading center for the Northern mines. It missed becoming the state capital by only ten votes!  The population soared to 16,000 between 1848 and 1860.
One of the world's largest nuggets,  the "Monumental Nugget," was found in 1869 at Sierra City, just north of Downieville.  Gold production in Sierra County from lode mining operations totals nearly 3 million ounces, and placer gold production has been recorded at more than 2 million ounces.

A county of 959 square miles, Sierra County ranges in elevation from 2,200 to 8,900 feet.  With a current population of just over 3,300 it is California's second least populated county.  The county seat of Sierra County, Downieville, lies in a forested canyon in the middle of the Tahoe National Forest at an altitude of about 2,900 feet.  The small town of five or six blocks, located at the confluence of the Downie River and the north fork of the Yuba River, invites visitors to step back in time to the days of the gold rush.

Located in Northern California, Sierra County can be reached via several routes.  State Highway 49 leaves Interstate 80 at Auburn (about 30 miles east of Sacramento) and travels through Grass Valley and Nevada City en route to Downieville.  State Highway 89 can be taken north from Interstate 80 at Truckee or south from Graeagle, off State Highway 70 between Quincy and Portola.  Further east on Highway 70, you can drive south on State Highway 49 from Vinton.  Downieville is about a two hour (100 mile) drive from Sacramento and Reno.

The beautiful 100,000 acre Sierra Valley is located in portions of Sierra and Plumas counties.  It is the largest alpine valley in North America.

Today, the county's industry includes gold mining, lumber, cattle, dairy, agriculture, tourism, and recreation. Downieville is home to the Mountain Messenger, California's oldest weekly newspaper, published continuously since 1853.