Altaville, California
| Altaville | |
|---|---|
| — Unincorporated community — | |
 Altaville
|
|
| Coordinates: 38°05′02″N 120°33′43″W / 38.08389°N 120.56194°WCoordinates: 38°05′02″N 120°33′43″W / 38.08389°N 120.56194°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Calaveras County |
| Elevation[1] | 1,542 ft (470 m) |
| Reference #: | 288 |
Altaville (formerly, Cherokee Flat, Forks-of-the Road, Low Divide, and Winterton[2]) is a former unincorporated community in Calaveras County, California, now located in the northwest portion of the city of Angels Camp. It sits at an elevation of 1,542 feet (470 m) above sea level and is located at 38°05′02″N 120°33′43″W / 38.08389°N 120.56194°W, at the intersections of SR 49 and SR 4. The community is in ZIP code 95221 and area code 209.
The town was established in 1852 on Cherokee Creek. Notorious bandit Joaquin Murrieta supposedly spent so much time here that a mountain northwest of the creek was named Joaquin Mountain. Although gold was discovered here in 1854, it didn't last long, but the town survived due to its position as an important point for supplies and machinery. D.D. Demerest established a foundry here in 1854, and others soon followed. Most of the stamp mills and a large part of the mining machinery erected in Calaveras and Tuolumne Counties were built at the Altaville Foundry. A brick schoolhouse was built at Altaville in 1858 and the townsite was established in 1873.
A post office was established in 1904, closed it in 1943, and re-established it in 1944.[2]
Altaville was also the site of an archaeological hoax, the Calaveras Skull.
The town today is registered as California Historical Landmark #288.
[edit] Politics
In the state legislature Altaville is located in the 1st Senate District, represented by Republican Dave Cox, and in the 25th Assembly District, represented by Republican Kristin Olsen. Federally, Altaville is located in California's 3rd congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of R +7[3] and is represented by Republican Dan Lungren.
[edit] References
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Altaville, California
- ^ a b Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Quill Driver Books. p. 740. ISBN 9781884995149.
- ^ "Will Gerrymandered Districts Stem the Wave of Voter Unrest?". Campaign Legal Center Blog. http://www.clcblog.org/blog_item-85.html. Retrieved 2007-10-20.
 |
This Calaveras County, California-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
