County Histories

Placer County

“Valley, foothill and mountain lands are found within the confines of Placer County.  The county extends from the floor of the Sacramento Valley across the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the western boundary line of the State of Nevada.

“Its general direction is northeast and southwest; it is about 100 miles long and varies in width from ten to thirty miles, this being determined by the course of rivers that mark its northern and southern boundaries.

“The total area of the county is 1,395 square miles, of which 810 square miles are mountains, 450 foothills and the remainder valley lands.  The altitude ranges from 40 feet above sea level in the Sacramento Valley to 8,000 or more at the summit of the mountains.  From an elevation of 2,500 feet to the summit of the Sierras snow falls in winter, increasing in depth as the altitude becomes greater.

“Placer is one of the most noted fruit producing counties in California.  The fruit belt extends from the western boundary lines to Colfax and a considerable distance beyond.  In this belt is produced practically every horticultural product known to the temperate zones.  The list includes oranges, lemons, limes, pomellos, peaches, plums, prunes, cherries, apricots, pears, persimmons, nectarines, loquats, grapes, figs, olives, almonds, walnuts, apples, etc.

“Roseville, Rocklin, Loomis, Penryn, Newcastle, Auburn, Lincoln, Bowman, Applegate, Weimar, Colfax, Dutch Flat and Towle are all important fruit shipping points during the fruit season.  In the lower altitudes of the fruit belt the principal horticultural products are oranges, peaches, plums, cherries, pears and grapes.  In the higher altitudes fine winter apples are raised, also Hungarian prunes and Bartlett pears that are the equal of any.

“The soil of the western portion of the county is of alluvial composition, as is all the soil in the Sacramento Valley, and is very productive.  In the foothills the prevailing soil is a decomposed granite, rich in all essentials for plant production.

“Placer County orchardists are prosperous and contented.  Some of the prettiest farms in the State are to (be) found here.  Most of the product is shipped to Eastern markets in carload lots.  Several thousand cars are shipped annually.

“As in all counties whose boundaries extend into the heart of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, lumbering is an industry of considerable importance in Placer County.  The sugar pine, yellow pine, fir and cedar are the commercial trees that compose the great forests on the divides.  There are several large lumber mills in operation, and there is a wealth of uncut timber on the mountain plateaus.

“Placer is rich in minerals.  Its gold production since 1849 is estimated at more than $75,000,000.  Several large drift mines are now in operation and they are among the largest in California.  There are great bodies of gold, copper and iron ore, and valuable deposits of asbestos, lime, clay, and other useful minerals.

“In the vicinity of Lincoln are great deposits of potter’s clay and one of the leading industries of the county is the manufacture of pottery.  At Rocklin are quarries that produce granite that ranks with the best in the United States as a building material.

“Placer County is well watered, its northern and southern boundaries being mountain streams fed by numerous tributaries that rise within the confines of the county.  These streams furnish water for three purposes – domestic use for cities, irrigation and power development.  For the generation of electric energy by water power, Placer is in the very front rank of the counties of California.  A great electrical development and irrigation project has just been completed in the higher altitudes of Placer County.  By the construction of great dams an immense quantity of water has been impounded.  This water is used to turn the wheels of generators to create electricity for lights and power in the cities of Sacramento, Oakland, San Francisco and elsewhere, and after it passes through the power houses, it is again taken from the streams and conveyed in canals to the foothill and valley farms, where it is used to irrigate the growing crops.  There is an abundance of water for irrigation in every part of this rich and resourceful county.

“Placer County is sometimes spoken of as the gateway to the Sacramento Valley.  The appellation is not inappropriate, as the county is the first through which the tourist passes while en route to California from the East over the lines of the Southern Pacific Railroad.  The visitor’s first glimpse of California is of the rugged Sierra Nevada Mountains with their deep canyons, timbered plateaus and snow-capped peaks.  As the train winds down from the mountain, the visitor next sees the pretty foothill orchards and finally the fertile valley lands.

“The mountain scenery of Placer County is magnificent.  From the peaks are presented views as awe-inspiring as can be seen from the world famous Alps.  Lake Tahoe lies partly in Placer County many of the resorts on the shores of that magnificent body of water are in this county.  Mountain streams and lakes are numerous and here the gamey trout awaits the skillful angler’s fly.  This is also a huntsman’s paradise.  Grouse, valley and mountain quail, doves, wild pigeon and deer are found, and for those who wish to test their skill and courage against big game, bear and California lion are to be had by penetrating into the depths of the mountains.

“The freight terminal of the Southern Pacific Company is located at Roseville, where the eastern and northern main lines of the railroad converge.  A pre-cooling and icing plant, by which deciduous fruit is cooled and iced before being shipped East, is located here.

“Near Loomis, the United States Government maintains an experimental station for fig raising, which promises to become an important industry in California within a few years.  Figs grow readily in California and begin to bear the second year, producing an abundant crop by the fifth year.

“The county seat is Auburn, situated in the heart of the foothills.  It is a delightful little city surrounded by thriving orchards.

“The climate of the foothill section of Placer County is delightful at all seasons of the year, and the air being laden with a balsamic ozone is a tonic to those with weak heart or lungs.”