Downieville, California

Downieville is a census -designated place and the county seat in Sierra County in the U.S. state of California. 2010, the population was 282 inhabitants.

History

Founded in 1849, the town was during the California Gold Rush. The settlement was called first because of its geographical location at the confluence of the Downie River and the North Fork in the northern Yuba " The Forks " ( = confluence ), but was renamed after the Scots Major William Downie ( 1820-1893 ), the first mayor the city. 1851 Downieville had, however, a number of more than 5,000 inhabitants, the figure dropped after 1865 declines rapidly after the private gold prospecting had come practically to a standstill. While many gold mining settlements in the northern hinterland of the city, such as fire City, Whiskey Diggins, Poverty Hill Poker Flat or were abandoned and fell into disrepair, to Downieville was able to maintain because of its favorable geographical location and its status as the seat of government of Sierra County.