Holcomb Valley, located in the San Bernardino Mountains about five miles north of Big Bear Lake, was the site of the most gold mined in Southern California. It was named after William F. Holcomb, who discovered gold there in 1860. That year started the largest gold rush in Southern California to the area.[1] The boomtown of Belleville grew up near there and flourished for about ten years before being abandoned.
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In May 1860, gold was first discovered here by William F. Holcomb and Ben Choteau.[1] They were miners who had been prospecting at Bear Valley. Holcomb found gold while he was tracking a bear in the valley later named after him. After Holcomb and Ben Ware filed mine claims on five sites in May 1860 at the County Recorder's office, word spread quickly and prospectors rushed to the area.[2]
Before long, a gold camp sprang up east of where the gold was first discovered. It became a town and, after the first child Belle was born, the new town was named Belleville in her honor. It soon became the largest town in San Bernardino County with a population of 10,000, and was nearly made the county seat. Filled with rough characters competing over gold, it was a place of violence and hanging justice. It was the third and fourth largest town in Southern California during these years[3][4]
Holcomb Valley produced the most wealth from gold of any Southern California mining district. With time, major placer and quartz mining declined, followed by the departure of most of the population of Belleville after 1870. Hard rock mining continued at the Gold Mountain Mine until 1919.[5] Some mining activity continues today, with 2,000 claims by hobbyists.[3]
The valley is the site of the Holcomb Valley Scout Ranch (formerly of Old Baldy Council), on the site of the old Hitchcock Ranch. It provides opportunities for youth to have experience in ranching, hiking and related outdoor skills.
Flickr: Photos tagged with "holcombvalley"