Meadow Lake, Nevada County, California
Encyclopedia
Meadow Lake is a former settlement in Nevada County
, California
, USA. Situated at an elevation of 7290 ft (2,222 m) above sea level
, the reservoir
of the same name is one of the highest lakes in elevation within the Tahoe National Forest
.
's Nevada and Sierra
counties brought attention to the Meadow Lake region as there was an inexhaustible supply of water, which could be collected in reservoirs and conducted by aqueduct
s to lower elevation mining locales. In the summer of 1858, the first permanent structure was erected in the Meadow Lake area, consisting of a stone wall across a 900 feet (274.3 m) ravine, forming the Meadow Lake reservoir. From it, Nevada City
and southwestern Nevada County, obtained their principal supply of water during several months of the year. It measures 50 feet (15.2 m) in height, 15 feet (4.6 m) width at its apex, and is built of granite
.
In 1860, Henry Hartley arrived in the locale to trap. By 1863, he noticed some quartz ledges, and incorporated the "Excelsior Company". The town's heyday occurred during the period of 1865 to 1868 with the economy built on the prospect of finding substantial gold
ore. In 1866, Meadow Lake was founded as the county's ninth township
. Also known at one time as Summit City, an excursion vessel took revelers up the lake to hurdy gurdy
houses. Hurdy gurdy halls apparently so-called because of the presence of the "hurdy gurdy girls". They appear to be the upper level of the dance hall girls of the American frontier fact and fiction.
At its peak, there were 500 buildings and the population numbered up to 5,000 residents. By 1868, the population had dropped to fewer than 100 residents.
Not much of the townsite remains. However, there are several mining sites, a few foundations, the cemetery, and the dam. A campsite
is located near the shore of the lake, and available activities include canoeing, fishing, and hiking. The Ranger Station is located in Sierraville
.
, on the south by Placer, on the east by the state of Nevada
, and on the west by the townships of Eureka and Washington
. It is reachable via California State Route 89
northbound from Truckee
, though the last nine miles are on a logging road
. About 2 miles west of Meadow Lake lies another reservoir called French Lake
.
The reservoir lies within the town limits and is discharged by a small gate at the dam. It is about 2 miles long and approximately 0.75 miles wide. Its depth ranges between ten to thirty fathoms.
Prominent landscape features include immense forests, luxuriant grasses, huge boulders, and masses of granite.
Nevada County, California
Nevada County is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of California, in the Mother Lode country. As of 2010 its population was 98,764. The county seat is Nevada City.-History:Nevada County was created in 1851 from parts of Yuba County....
, 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...
, USA. Situated at an elevation of 7290 ft (2,222 m) above sea level
Above mean sea level
The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
, the reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
of the same name is one of the highest lakes in elevation within the Tahoe National Forest
Tahoe National Forest
Tahoe National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in the state of California, northwest of Lake Tahoe. It includes the peak of Sierra Buttes, near Sierra City, which has views of Mount Lassen and Mount Shasta. It is located in parts of six counties. In descending order of forestland area...
.
History
The demand for water to work the auriferous claims scattered in the foothills and valleys of Northern CaliforniaNorthern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
's Nevada and Sierra
Sierra County, California
Sierra County is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California, northeast of Sacramento on the border with Nevada. As of the 2010 census the population was 3,240, down from 3,555 at the 2000 census. The county seat is Downieville....
counties brought attention to the Meadow Lake region as there was an inexhaustible supply of water, which could be collected in reservoirs and conducted by aqueduct
Aqueduct
An aqueduct is a water supply or navigable channel constructed to convey water. In modern engineering, the term is used for any system of pipes, ditches, canals, tunnels, and other structures used for this purpose....
s to lower elevation mining locales. In the summer of 1858, the first permanent structure was erected in the Meadow Lake area, consisting of a stone wall across a 900 feet (274.3 m) ravine, forming the Meadow Lake reservoir. From it, Nevada City
Nevada City, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Nevada City had a population of 3,068. The population density was 1,399.7 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Nevada City was 2,837 White, 26 African American, 28 Native American, 46 Asian, 0 Pacific Islander, 40 from other races,...
and southwestern Nevada County, obtained their principal supply of water during several months of the year. It measures 50 feet (15.2 m) in height, 15 feet (4.6 m) width at its apex, and is built of granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
.
In 1860, Henry Hartley arrived in the locale to trap. By 1863, he noticed some quartz ledges, and incorporated the "Excelsior Company". The town's heyday occurred during the period of 1865 to 1868 with the economy built on the prospect of finding substantial 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...
ore. In 1866, Meadow Lake was founded as the county's ninth township
Township
The word township is used to refer to different kinds of settlements in different countries. Township is generally associated with an urban area. However there are many exceptions to this rule. In Australia, the United States, and Canada, they may be settlements too small to be considered urban...
. Also known at one time as Summit City, an excursion vessel took revelers up the lake to hurdy gurdy
Hurdy gurdy
The hurdy gurdy or hurdy-gurdy is a stringed musical instrument that produces sound by a crank-turned rosined wheel rubbing against the strings. The wheel functions much like a violin bow, and single notes played on the instrument sound similar to a violin...
houses. Hurdy gurdy halls apparently so-called because of the presence of the "hurdy gurdy girls". They appear to be the upper level of the dance hall girls of the American frontier fact and fiction.
At its peak, there were 500 buildings and the population numbered up to 5,000 residents. By 1868, the population had dropped to fewer than 100 residents.
Not much of the townsite remains. However, there are several mining sites, a few foundations, the cemetery, and the dam. A campsite
Campsite
A campsite or camping pitch is a place used for overnight stay in the outdoors. In British English a campsite is an area, usually divided into a number of pitches, where people can camp overnight using tents or camper vans or caravans; this British English use of the word is synonymous with the...
is located near the shore of the lake, and available activities include canoeing, fishing, and hiking. The Ranger Station is located in Sierraville
Sierraville, California
Sierraville is a census-designated place in Sierra County, California, United States. It is at the southern end of the huge Sierra Valley which is used primarily as pasture and is also at the junction of California State Route 49 and California State Route 89 southwest of Loyalton. Sierraville has...
.
Geography
The township was bound on the north by Sierra CountySierra County, California
Sierra County is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California, northeast of Sacramento on the border with Nevada. As of the 2010 census the population was 3,240, down from 3,555 at the 2000 census. The county seat is Downieville....
, on the south by Placer, on the east by the state of Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, and on the west by the townships of Eureka and Washington
Washington, California
Washington is a census-designated place located in Nevada County, California. Washington is located on the banks of the South Fork of The Yuba River and has a population of approximately two hundred people...
. It is reachable via California State Route 89
California State Route 89
State Route 89 is a California State Highway that travels in the north–south direction, and is the major thoroughfare for many mountain communities. It starts from U.S. Route 395 near Topaz Lake, winding its way up to the Monitor Pass, down to the Carson River, and up again over the Luther...
northbound from Truckee
Truckee, California
Truckee is an incorporated town in Nevada County, California, United States. The population was 16,180 at the 2010 census, up from 13,864 at the 2000 census.-Name:...
, though the last nine miles are on a logging road
Gravel road
A gravel road is a type of unpaved road surfaced with gravel that has been brought to the site from a quarry or stream bed. They are common in less-developed nations, and also in the rural areas of developed nations such as Canada and the United States. In New Zealand, they are known as 'metal roads'...
. About 2 miles west of Meadow Lake lies another reservoir called French Lake
French Lake, California
French Lake, California , located in Nevada County, was a California Gold Rush community, now uninhabited. It was located by a lake of the same name....
.
The reservoir lies within the town limits and is discharged by a small gate at the dam. It is about 2 miles long and approximately 0.75 miles wide. Its depth ranges between ten to thirty fathoms.
Prominent landscape features include immense forests, luxuriant grasses, huge boulders, and masses of granite.