History of Downieville The Washoe and Maidu Indians were int initial inhabatents of this area of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It was late in 1849 when gold was discoverd along the North Fork Yuba River. It was this event that changed the region forever. Several mining towns were quickly established, including Downieville and Sierra City. Sierra County is northern section of the California Mother Lode that streaches south several hundred miles.

Downieville

Downieville was named after Major William Downie, leader of the first gold discovery party in Sierra County. Downieville was founded in 1849 as a gold mining town, and is now the County seat. Back in 1850 Downeiville had 15 hotels and gambling houses, 4 bakeries and 4 butcher shops and by the mid 1850's Downieville was California's 5th largest town. Now Main Street in Downieville is narrow, full of character, and lined with trees, wooden boardwalks, and historic buildings. Downieville is considered the least changed of all the gold rush towns in California. The Gallows in Downieville was only used once but it remains today as a reminder of justice in the gold rush era. The Goodyear’s Bar Schoolhouse was built in approximately 1872, and is still used as a church meeting house and community gathering place.

Sierra City

Sierra City was established as a mining town in 1850. By 1852 Sierra City had 2 large buildings, a bakery shop and several gambling houses and saloons. In the winter of 1853 many buildings were crushed by an avalanche of snow, forcing the inhabitants to rebuild at the present lower elevation. Now, Main Street in Sierra City is charmingly narrow and lined with many turn-of-the-century structures, complete with wooden boardwalks. The Masonic Hall, built in 1864, is the oldest building in town.