Virginiatown, California

Virginiatown (formerly, Virginia)[2] is a former settlement in Placer County, California.[1] Virginiatown is located on Auburn Ravine, 7.5 miles (12.1 km) west of Auburn.[2]

Virginiatown
Plaque in Virginiatown
Plaque in Virginiatown
Virginiatown is located in California
Virginiatown
Virginiatown
Location in California
Virginiatown is located in the United States
Virginiatown
Virginiatown
Virginiatown (the United States)
Coordinates: 38°54′02″N 121°12′53″W / 38.90056°N 121.21472°W / 38.90056; -121.21472
Country United States
State California
CountyPlacer County
Elevation322 ft (98 m)
Reference no.400

Virginiatown is California Historical Landmark #400.[3] The town was the site of one of California's first railroads, built in 1852 to carry gold ore from the mines to Auburn Ravine.[4] After the first wave of gold mining ended, wood-cutting became an important local industry, to support railroad construction and to fuel the kiln at the pottery mill in nearby Lincoln. A large number of Chinese miners moved into the area around this time and reworked the diggings;[5] the white residents voted to expel the Chinese from town in 1860, claiming a "fire hazard", and the Chinese resettled just west of town.[6] A Chinese temple stood outside Virginiatown as late as 1907,[7] and two rammed-earth Chinese houses were still standing as of 1957.[8]

The site of Virginiatown is now occupied by rural homes and small farms.

References

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  1. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Virginiatown, California
  2. ^ a b Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, Calif.: Word Dancer Press. p. 572. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
  3. ^ "Virginatown". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
  4. ^ Whittle, Syd (2016). "Virginiatown Historical Marker". HMDb.org. Historical Marker Database. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
  5. ^ Janssen, Jim (July 16, 1965). "Gold Era revisited". The Press-Tribune. Roseville, CA. Retrieved December 25, 2023.(subscription required)
  6. ^ Jordan, Michael J. (May 16, 1993). "Chinese mining site worth its weight in gold". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, CA. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
  7. ^ Janssen 1965.
  8. ^ Richardson, Donald M. (February 25, 1957). "Lincoln C of C seeks to restore historic building". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, CA. Retrieved December 25, 2023.