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Coloma, California

Coordinates: 38°48′09″N 120°53′41″W / 38.80250°N 120.89472°W / 38.80250; -120.89472
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Coloma, California
census-designated place
Coloma, 2008
Coloma, 2008
Location of Coloma in El Dorado County, California
Location of Coloma in El Dorado County, California
Coloma, California is located in California
Coloma, California
Coloma, California
Position in California
Coordinates: 38°48′09″N 120°53′41″W / 38.80250°N 120.89472°W / 38.80250; -120.89472
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountyEl Dorado
Area
[1]
 • Total
3.35 sq mi (8.69 km2)
 • Land3.35 sq mi (8.69 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)  0%
Elevation
[2]
764 ft (233 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
2,025
 • Density155.29/sq mi (59.96/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
Area code(530)
GNIS feature ID1655915; 2582981
U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Coloma, California; U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Coloma, California
Coloma
Sutter's Mill 1850
Nearest cityPlacerville, California[4]
Areac. 250 acres (100 ha)
Built1848
NRHP reference No.66000207[3]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPOctober 15, 1966[3]
Designated NHLDJuly 4, 1961[5]

Coloma (Nisenan: Cullumah, meaning "beautiful") is a census-designated place[6] in El Dorado County, California, US. It is approximately 36 miles (58 km) northeast of Sacramento, California. Coloma is most noted for being the site where James W. Marshall found gold in the Sierra Nevada foothills, at Sutter's Mill on January 24, 1848,[4] leading to the California Gold Rush. Coloma's population is 529.

The settlement is a tourist attraction known for its ghost town and the centerpiece of the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. Coloma was designated a National Historic Landmark District on July 4, 1961.[4][5]

It lies at an elevation of 764 feet (233 m).[2]

Etymology

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The name comes from the Nisenan Native Americans name for the valley in which Coloma is located: Cullumah, meaning 'beautiful.' Coloma is on the South Fork American River that runs through the valley and was built on the original Indian village of Koloma.[7] Former spellings include "Colluma" and "Culloma".[8]

History

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Coloma grew around Sutter's Mill following the finding of gold.[8] A post office was established in 1849 under the name Culloma, changing to Coloma in 1851.[8]

One of Coloma's earliest settlers was Silas Sanderson (1824–1886), who went on to become the 7th Chief Justice of California.[9] Another was Nancy Gooch, who was one of the first black women to succeed in California.

Ghost town

[edit]
Robert Bell's store in Coloma

While some people still live in the area, Coloma is considered something of a ghost town because civic buildings such as the jail have been abandoned and left to decay, and other buildings from its boom era (1847–1852) have been converted into museums and other historical displays. The tailrace of Sutter's Mill remains, as does a nearby reconstruction.[10]

In reality the meaningfulness of the township of Coloma has dissipated as residents who live in the wider Coloma Valley area generally share a community spirit.[11]

The local economy is based predominantly on agriculture[12] and tourism. Of particular note is the rafting industry as the South Fork American River is one of the most popular white-water trips in North America.[13]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
2020521—
U.S. Decennial Census[14]
2010[15]

Coloma first appeared as a census designated place in the 2010 U.S. Census.[15]

Post Office
James Marshall cabin in Coloma

The 2010 United States Census[16] reported that Coloma had a population of 529. The population density was 157.7 inhabitants per square mile (60.9/km2). The racial makeup of Coloma was 462 (87.3%) White, 4 (0.8%) African American, 3 (0.6%) Native American, 8 (1.5%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 15 (2.8%) from other races, and 37 (7.0%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 63 people (11.9%).

The Census reported that 429 people (93.6% of the population) lived in households, 34 (6.4%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

Rich Gold ore, Stuckslacker Mine, Coloma

There were 216 households, out of which 44 (20.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 116 (53.7%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 14 (6.5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 10 (4.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 22 (10.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 2 (0.9%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 51 households (23.6%) were made up of individuals, and 20 (9.3%) had someone living alone. The average household size was 2.29. There were 140 families (64.8% of all households); the average family size was 2.64.

The population was spread out, with 69 people (13.0%) under the age of 18, 31 people (5.9%) aged 18 to 24, 127 people (24.0%) aged 25 to 44, 200 people (37.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 102 people (19.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 115.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 120.1 males.

There were 251 housing units at an average density of 74.8 units per square mile (28.9 units/km2), of which 216 were occupied, of which 153 (70.8%) were owner-occupied and 63 (29.2%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 12.5%. 355 people (67.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units, and 140 people (26.5%) lived in rental housing units.

Politics

[edit]

In the state legislature, Coloma is in the 1st Senate District, represented by Republican Megan Dahle,[17] and the 5th Assembly District, represented by Republican Joe Patterson.[18]

Federally, Coloma is in California's 5th congressional district, represented by Republican Tom McClintock.[19]

Climate

[edit]

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Coloma has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csa" on climate maps.[20]

Sister cities

[edit]

Coloma is sister cities with Clunes, Australia.[21]

Notable people

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Coloma, California
  3. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  4. ^ a b c Allen W. Welts (February 1970). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park / Coloma" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved June 22, 2009. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) and Accompanying one image, from 1850s (213 KB)
  5. ^ a b "Coloma". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on October 8, 2012. Retrieved June 29, 2008.
  6. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Coloma, California
  7. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Koloma
  8. ^ a b c Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, Calif.: Word Dancer Press. p. 468. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
  9. ^ The State Register and Year Book of Facts: 1859. Henry G. Langley and Samuel A Morison. 1859.
  10. ^ "Marshall Gold Discovery SHP". California Department of Parks and Recreation. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  11. ^ "Coloma-Lotus News". Archived from the original on June 14, 2015. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  12. ^ "After the Gold Rush: Agriculture". Archived from the original on June 10, 2015. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  13. ^ "NO on El Dorado County Measure W – Coloma-Lotus Association of Merchants Opposes". Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  14. ^ "Decennial Census by Decade". United States Census Bureau.
  15. ^ a b "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  16. ^ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA – Coloma CDP". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  17. ^ "Senators". State of California. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  18. ^ "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  19. ^ "California's 5th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  20. ^ "Coloma, California Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase.
  21. ^ "STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS: Ballarat Electorate: Coloma Day". Parliament of Australia. February 14, 2005. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  22. ^ Gold, Marshall (February 5, 2018). "Living History celebrates contributions of African American settlers to the Coloma Valley". Placerville Mountain Democrat. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  23. ^ Harvey, Antonio (August 22, 2022). "In Coloma, 'Fact-Finding Mission' Leads To More Questions About Family's Lost Land". The Sacramento Observer. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
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