The History of

Nevada City
Grass Valley
Truckee
Rough and Ready
Penn Valley
Washington
Empire Mine State Historic Park

More Info:

More history of the area in the Deer Creek School Project website

Another early Nevada County town was Washington which is nestled in the canyon of the South Fork of the Yuba River 20 miles northeast of Nevada City, not far from the historic immigrant trail that is now Hwy. 20.

Occupied since 1849, this scenic site was once a flourishing mining town of 3,000. There were hotels, restaurants and stores with supplies for the miners.

Nearby Poorman's Creek was probably the richest of all the creeks and tributaries of the South Yuba. Claims on the creek were considered poor if they did not pay an ounce of gold per day per man, and it is estimated that its yield was more than one million dollars.

Today, Washington is a quiet town with historic buildings and numerous recreational activities such as camping, gold panning and hiking. With an elevation of 2,600 feet, Washington has warm summer days that give way to cool mountain nights.

On Hwy. 20 near the Washington turn-off are two recommended stops a scenic overlook and the Alpha-Omega Rest Area which provides the history and a view of important hydraulic gold mines.