Newcastle, California

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Newcastle is an unincorporated town in Placer County, California.

It is nestled in the Sierra Nevada foothills, 31 miles northeast of Sacramento. Newcastle generally has moderate winters and warm summers.

The latitude of Newcastle is 38.874N, the longitude is -121.132W, and an elevation of 945ft. The town's zip code is 95658.

There is small town charm in this foothill community. Known to be family friendly, it is close to Folsom Lake, the American River and an abundance of fresh produce from area growers. It is centrally located between San Francisco and Lake Tahoe on Interstate 80, approximately 2 hours from both. It's location allows the residents the opportunity to enjoy the peacefulness of the country while being conveniently located only 30 miles from the hub of the Sacramento metropolitan area.

[edit] History

Newcastle was founded in the 19th century. According to Transcontinental Railroad Landmarks the "Regular freight and passenger trains began operating over the first 31 miles of Central Pacific's line to Newcastle June 10, 1864, when political opposition and lack of money stopped further construction during that mild winter. Construction was resumed in April, 1865." The region is also in the vicinity of what was the cradle of "gold country", where in the mid-1800's a flurry of miners and gold prospectors searched for their fortune. During this time however, the town of Newcastle was known more for its orchards rather than abundant gold mines.