| City of Placerville | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| — City — | |||
| El Dorado County Courthouse | |||
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| Nickname(s): Old Hangtown | |||
| Location of Placerville in California. | |||
| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | United States | ||
| State | California | ||
| County | El Dorado | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Mark Acuna | ||
| Area[1] | |||
| • Total | 5.813 sq mi (15.054 km2) | ||
| • Land | 5.812 sq mi (15.052 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.001 sq mi (0.002 km2) 0.01% | ||
| Elevation | 2,187 ft (667 m) | ||
| Population (2010) | |||
| • Total | 10,389 | ||
| • Density | 1,787.2/sq mi (690.1/km2) | ||
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) | ||
| ZIP code | 95667 | ||
| Area code(s) | 530 | ||
| FIPS code | 06-57540 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0277577 | ||
| Website | http://www.cityofplacerville.org/ | ||
Placerville (pronounced PLASS-er-ville; formerly Old Dry Diggings, Dry Diggings, and Hangtown[2]) is the county seat of El Dorado County, California. The population was 10,389 at the 2010 census, up from 9,610 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area.
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Placerville, is located at .[3] It is located along U.S. Route 50 where it crosses State Route 49 and is the location of several traffic signals along the highway, which is otherwise a freeway.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.8 square miles (15 km2), over 99% of it land.
It is about 660 meters (2,187 ft) above sea level, and is in the Sierra Nevada foothills.
The 2010 United States Census[4] reported that Placerville had a population of 10,389. The population density was 1,787.3 people per square mile (690.1/km²). The racial makeup of Placerville was 8,716 (83.9%) White, 80 (0.8%) African American, 162 (1.6%) Native American, 98 (0.9%) Asian, 13 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 867 (8.3%) from other races, and 453 (4.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,863 persons (17.9%).
The Census reported that 9,788 people (94.2% of the population) lived in households, 131 (1.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 470 (4.5%) were institutionalized.
There were 4,129 households, out of which 1,254 (30.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,607 (38.9%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 604 (14.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 250 (6.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 327 (7.9%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 31 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,306 households (31.6%) were made up of individuals and 599 (14.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37. There were 2,461 families (59.6% of all households); the average family size was 2.97.
The population was spread out with 2,277 people (21.9%) under the age of 18, 972 people (9.4%) aged 18 to 24, 2,468 people (23.8%) aged 25 to 44, 2,831 people (27.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,841 people (17.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.4 years. For every 100 females there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.
There were 4,541 housing units at an average density of 781.2 per square mile (301.6/km²), of which 2,160 (52.3%) were owner-occupied, and 1,969 (47.7%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.5%; the rental vacancy rate was 7.8%. 5,023 people (48.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 4,765 people (45.9%) lived in rental housing units.
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 9,610 people, 4,001 households, and 2,484 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,656.2 people per square mile (639.7/km²). There were 4,242 housing units at an average density of 731.1 per square mile (282.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.6% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 1.3% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 5.8% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. 12.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 4,001 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.7% were married couples living together, 15.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.9% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 85.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,454, and the median income for a family was $46,875. Males had a median income of $36,711 versus $28,095 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,151. About 9.3% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.9% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.
After the discovery of gold in nearby Coloma, California by James W. Marshall in 1848 sparked the California Gold Rush, the small town now known as Placerville was known as Dry Diggin's after the manner in which the miners moved cartloads of dry soil to running water to separate the gold from the soil. Later in 1849, the town earned its most common historical name, "Hangtown", because of the numerous hangings that had occurred there.[6] By 1850, the temperance league and a few local churches had begun to request that a more friendly name be bestowed upon the town. The name was not changed until 1854 when the City of Placerville was incorporated. At its incorporation Placerville was the third largest town in California. In 1857 the county seat was then moved from Coloma to Placerville, where it remains today.
Placerville was a central hub for the Mother Lode region's mining operations.[7] The town had many services, including transportation (of people and goods), lodging, banking, and had a market and general store. The history of hard-rock mining is evidenced by an open and accessible Gold Bug Park & Mine, now a museum with tours and books.[8]
The Southern Pacific Railroad once had a branch line that extended from Sacramento to Placerville. The track was abandoned in the 1980s. The Camino, Placerville and Lake Tahoe Railroad (now abandoned) also operated an 8-mile (13 km) shortline that operated between Camino, California and Placerville until June 17, 1986. As of March 29, 2007, 52 miles (84 km) of the right-of-way have been purchased by the city of Folsom, and eighteen miles (29 km) of track have been restored. Plans are in motion for a tourist train along the route by 2015.[9]
The town's first post office opened in 1850.[2]
Placerville has several buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places; several are noted below.
The region east of Placerville, known as Apple Hill, is increasingly becoming a center for quality wine production. Notable wineries in the region include Crystal Basin, Jodar, Boeger, Lava Cap and Granite Springs. The region is "renown[ed] for making vibrantly flavorful, distinctly delicious wines, grown in the dramatic elevations of the Sierra Nevada."[10]
In the state legislature Placerville is located in the 1st Senate District, represented by Republican Dave Cox, and in the 4th Assembly District, represented by Republican Ted Gaines. Federally, Placerville is located in California's 4th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of R +11[11] and is represented by Republican Tom McClintock.
Placerville began as a "gold" town. One of its first known names was Dry Diggin's because the gravel had to be carried to water to pan for gold. Later it was known as Hangtown. Because of the wildness, there were many hangings in town. Placerville, California has had several name changes. It started as "Blood and Guts" in the mid-19th century. Settling families (mostly the women) complained of its un-Christian-sounding name, and it was changed to "Hangtown" (appropriately, as public hangings were regularly done there). It remained as such for several years until it was given its current name. Those traveling in the area can still see the old Hangman's platform that was used for public hangings.[12] This can be seen on the street markers in town. A bell tower, once used as a warning bell for fire, is located on main street which is a landmark in the area. Placerville is home to the Mountain Democrat newspaper and Marshall Medical Center.
Placerville is a historic community from the gold-rush days, and accordingly there are many old buildings from this period.[13] A walk down Main Street also reveals many historical markers, signifying spots of certain events or persons of importance during this period. Placerville was also on the line of the Pony Express, a short-lived mail carrier service that connected California to the Midwest and East (basically from Sacramento to St. Joseph, Missouri). The Pony Express eventually gave way to the efficiencies of railroad transportation.
The branch line was actually never allowed to be abandoned and was purchased from the Union Pacific in 1996 for $14 million by the Joint Powers Authority consisting of Sacramento County, Folsom, and El Dorado County. There was a group that was restoring the line to run historic excursion trains from Folsom to Placerville a total of 35 miles (56 km) of track, but the train stopped running around 1985. There is also a mountain bike trail and equestrian trails.
Placerville has cool, wet winters and warm, mostly dry summers. Average January temperatures are a maximum of 53.4 °F (11.9 °C) and a minimum of 32.5 °F (0.3 °C). Average July temperatures are a maximum of 92.7 °F (33.7 °C) and a minimum of 57.2 °F (14.0 °C). Annually, there are an average of 65.7 days with highs of 90 °F (32 °C) or higher and 61.3 days with lows of 32 °F (0 °C) or lower. The record high temperature was 114 °F (46 °C) on July 4, 1911. The record low temperature was 8 °F (−13 °C) on December 9, 1972.
Average annual precipitation in Placerville is 38.11 inches (968 mm). There an average of 66 days with measurable precipitation. The wettest year was 1983 with 74.55 inches (1,894 mm) and the driest year was 1976 with 11.85 inches (301 mm). The most precipitation in one month was 23.29 inches (592 mm) in December 1955. The most precipitation in 24 hours was 6.22 inches (158 mm) on February 14, 2000.[14]
Record breaking snowfall for a single storm under an 8 hr. period took place on Dec. 7, 2009; 21 inches fell in downtown Placerville and more than 30 inches on the outskirts of town. Also, there was a record tying low temperature of 14 degrees for the night of Dec. 9th.
The snowfall for the Placerville area ranges between a dusting and 6 inches (15 cm) per cold winter storm.. An average year would be around 9-12 inches of snowfall. The average for Historical Downtown Placerville is 9.7 inches (25 cm) for the winter year.
| Climate data for PLACERVILLE, CALIFORNIA (1915-2005) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 75 (24) |
78 (26) |
87 (31) |
92 (33) |
104 (40) |
109 (43) |
110 (43) |
109 (43) |
108 (42) |
100 (38) |
83 (28) |
76 (24) |
110 (43) |
| Average high °F (°C) | 53.3 (11.8) |
56.9 (13.8) |
60.2 (15.7) |
66.3 (19.1) |
74.5 (23.6) |
83.7 (28.7) |
92.4 (33.6) |
91.3 (32.9) |
85.5 (29.7) |
74.8 (23.8) |
61.1 (16.2) |
53.9 (12.2) |
71.16 (21.75) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 42.8 (6.0) |
45.8 (7.7) |
48.8 (9.3) |
53.3 (11.8) |
60.3 (15.7) |
67.7 (19.8) |
74.8 (23.8) |
73.6 (23.1) |
68.5 (20.3) |
59.8 (15.4) |
49.0 (9.4) |
43.4 (6.3) |
57.32 (14.06) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 32.4 (0.2) |
34.7 (1.5) |
37.4 (3.0) |
40.3 (4.6) |
46.0 (7.8) |
51.6 (10.9) |
56.8 (13.8) |
55.9 (13.3) |
51.5 (10.8) |
44.7 (7.1) |
37.1 (2.8) |
32.9 (0.5) |
43.44 (6.36) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 9 (−13) |
15 (−9) |
19 (−7) |
24 (−4) |
29 (−2) |
31 (−1) |
38 (3) |
37 (3) |
33 (1) |
23 (−5) |
21 (−6) |
8 (−13) |
8 (−13) |
| Precipitation inches (mm) | 7.05 (179.1) |
6.70 (170.2) |
5.85 (148.6) |
3.09 (78.5) |
1.52 (38.6) |
0.46 (11.7) |
0.08 (2) |
0.09 (2.3) |
0.56 (14.2) |
2.12 (53.8) |
4.52 (114.8) |
6.52 (165.6) |
38.56 (979.4) |
| Snowfall inches (cm) | 1.2 (3) |
0.4 (1) |
0.4 (1) |
0.3 (0.8) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.4 (1) |
2.7 (6.9) |
| Source: http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?caplac+nca | |||||||||||||
Placerville is served by two major highways. U.S. Route 50 heads west to Sacramento and east to South Lake Tahoe. California State Route 49 runs north and south, connecting the city with the other major communities in the Sierra Nevada foothills.
Placerville is served by the Placerville Airport.[15] A Good Neighbor Airport, it has a 4,200-foot-long (1,300 m) runway, but is not currently served by any commercial air transport.
Over the years many notable and influential people had shops in Placerville, mostly along the now historic Main Street.[16]
Historical persons:
Modern notable persons:
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