Coloma, California
Encyclopedia
Coloma is a census-designated place
in El Dorado County, California
, USA
. It is approximately 36 miles (57.9 km) northeast of Sacramento, California
. Coloma is most noted for being the site where James W. Marshall
first discovered gold
in California
, at Sutter's Mill
on January 24, 1848, leading to the California Gold Rush
. Coloma's population is 529.
Today it 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
It lies at an elevation of 764 feet (233 m).
, Coloma is considered something of a ghost town
, as 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 museum
s and other historical displays. The foundation of Sutters Mill remains, along with a nearby reconstruction.
Currently the town counts approximately 300 inhabitants, mainly consisting of some hopeful modern-day miners who pan the American River
and others who run the museums and tours in the area. In fact, Coloma's economy is based on the money generated from its museums and students who take field trips with their schools to learn about the California Gold Rush
. The local economy is also supported by various businesses and organizations tied to rafting and kayaking the South Fork American River. While the water sports are a seasonal industry, the class II-III rapids
attract tourists from all over the world.
The name comes from the original natives' (Nisenan
Native Americans) name for the valley Coloma is in: Cullumah, meaning "beautiful." Coloma is on the South Fork American River
that runs through the valley, and was built on an original Native American village of Koloma
.
was 157.7 people 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 persons (11.9%).
The Census reported that 495 people (93.6% of the population) lived in households, 34 (6.4%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
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 who was 65 years of age or older. 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 per square mile (28.9/km²), 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.
Coloma is located in the 1st Senate
District, represented by Republican
Dave Cox
, and in the 4th Assembly
District, represented by Republican Ted Gaines
. Federally, Coloma is located in California's 4th congressional district
, which has a Cook PVI
of R +11 and is represented by Republican Tom McClintock
.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
in El Dorado County, California
El Dorado County, California
El Dorado County is a county located in the historic Gold Country in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and foothills of the U.S. state of California. The 2010 population was 181,058. The El Dorado county seat is in Placerville....
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is approximately 36 miles (57.9 km) northeast of Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
. Coloma is most noted for being the site where James W. Marshall
James W. Marshall
James Wilson Marshall was an American carpenter and sawmill operator, whose discovery of gold in the American River in California on January 24, 1848 set the stage for the California Gold Rush. The mill property was owned by Johan Sutter who employed Marshall to build his mill...
first discovered gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, at Sutter's Mill
Sutter's Mill
Sutter's Mill was a sawmill owned by 19th century pioneer John Sutter in partnership with James W. Marshall. It was located in Coloma, California, at the bank of the South Fork American River...
on January 24, 1848, leading to the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
. Coloma's population is 529.
Today it a tourist attraction known for its ghost town
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
and the centerpiece of the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park is a California state park near Placerville, California, USA. It marks the discovery of gold by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in 1848...
. Coloma was designated a National Historic Landmark District on July 4, 1961
It lies at an elevation of 764 feet (233 m).
History
Coloma grew around Sutter's Mill following the discovery of gold. A post office was established in 1849 under the name Culloma, changing it to Coloma in 1851.Ghost Town
While some people still live in this unincorporated areaUnincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
, Coloma is considered something of a ghost town
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
, as 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 museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
s and other historical displays. The foundation of Sutters Mill remains, along with a nearby reconstruction.
Currently the town counts approximately 300 inhabitants, mainly consisting of some hopeful modern-day miners who pan the American River
American River
The American River is a California watercourse noted as the site of Sutter's Mill, northwest of Placerville, California, where gold was found in 1848, leading to the California Gold Rush...
and others who run the museums and tours in the area. In fact, Coloma's economy is based on the money generated from its museums and students who take field trips with their schools to learn about the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
. The local economy is also supported by various businesses and organizations tied to rafting and kayaking the South Fork American River. While the water sports are a seasonal industry, the class II-III rapids
International Scale of River Difficulty
The International Scale of River Difficulty is a standardized scale used to rate the safety of a stretch of river, or a single rapid. The grade reflects the technical difficulty and skill level required associated with the section of river...
attract tourists from all over the world.
The name comes from the original natives' (Nisenan
Nisenan
The Nisenan, also known as the Southern Maidu and Valley Maidu, are one of many native groups of the Central Valley. The name Nisenan, derives from the ablative plural pronoun nisena·n, "from among us"...
Native Americans) name for the valley Coloma is in: Cullumah, meaning "beautiful." Coloma is on the South Fork American River
American River
The American River is a California watercourse noted as the site of Sutter's Mill, northwest of Placerville, California, where gold was found in 1848, leading to the California Gold Rush...
that runs through the valley, and was built on an original Native American village of Koloma
Koloma, California
Koloma is a former Nishinam settlement in El Dorado County, California. It lay at an elevation of 764 feet . It was located between the American River and the South Fork of the Yuba River; its site is occupied by Coloma....
.
Demographics
The 2010 United States Census reported that Coloma had a population of 529. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 157.7 people 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
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 37 (7.0%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 63 persons (11.9%).
The Census reported that 495 people (93.6% of the population) lived in households, 34 (6.4%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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
POSSLQ
POSSLQ is an abbreviation for "Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters," a term coined in the late 1970s by the United States Census Bureau as part of an effort to more accurately gauge the prevalence of cohabitation in American households....
, 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 who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29. There were 140 families
Family (U.S. Census)
A family or family household is defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes as "a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. They do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state...
(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 per square mile (28.9/km²), 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
In the state legislatureCalifornia State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
Coloma is located in the 1st Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
District, represented by Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Dave Cox
Dave Cox
David E. Cox was an American politician from Holdenville, Oklahoma. A Republican, he served as a California State Senator, representing the 1st district from December 2004 until his death in July 2010, and also served as an California State Assemblyman for the six years immediately before his...
, and in the 4th Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
District, represented by Republican Ted Gaines
Ted Gaines
Edward M. Gaines is a California State Senator, representing the 1st Senate district. He won a January 4, 2011, special election to replace the late Dave Cox and took office two days later...
. Federally, Coloma is located in California's 4th congressional district
California's 4th congressional district
California's 4th congressional district is a congressional district located in the U.S. state of California. It covers the northeastern corner of California along Route 395, encompassing El Dorado, Placer, Nevada, Sierra, Plumas, Lassen, and Modoc counties, as well as parts of Butte County...
, which has a Cook PVI
Cook Partisan Voting Index
The Cook Partisan Voting Index , sometimes referred to as simply the Partisan Voting Index , is a measurement of how strongly an American congressional district or state leans toward one political party compared to the nation as a whole...
of R +11 and is represented by Republican Tom McClintock
Tom McClintock
Thomas Miller McClintock II is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party. He is a former Assemblyman and state Senator...
.
External links
- Nine photosets of Coloma sites available by searching on "Coloma CA" here, at Historic American Buildings SurveyHistoric American Buildings SurveyThe Historic American Buildings Survey , Historic American Engineering Record , and Historic American Landscapes Survey are programs of the National Park Service established for the purpose of documenting historic places. Records consists of measured drawings, archival photographs, and written...
- Local visitor's guide
- Coloma Campground