Gold Country
The Gold Country (also known as Mother Lode Country) is a historic region in the northern portion of the U.S. state of California, primarily on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada. The region spans portions of 13 counties, from Mariposa County in the south to Yuba and Sierra counties in the north, and is defined by the Mother Lode belt of mineral deposits and gold mines.
Gold was discovered in 1848 at Sutter's Mill in El Dorado County, triggering the California Gold Rush and drawing prospectors known as the 49ers. Approximately 500 mining camps were established across the region. Between 1849 and 1855, an estimated $400 million in gold was extracted through methods including placer mining, hard-rock mining, and hydraulic mining. Most mines shut down in 1942 under War Production Board order L-208 during World War II.
California State Route 49 is the primary highway through the region, named for the 49ers. The Gold Country has a Mediterranean climate that supports over 100 wineries. Tourism and wine production are among the region's modern economic activities.
Always Be Here
- 2017-08-11T00:00:00.000000Z
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