Atlanta, California facts for kids
Atlanta is a small, unincorporated community in San Joaquin County, California, USA. It's not a city with its own government, but rather a group of homes and farms. Atlanta is about 62 feet (19 meters) above sea level. You can find it on a map at 37°48′47″N 121°07′15″W / 37.81306°N 121.12083°W.
This community was started and named in 1866. A man named Lee Wilson, who was from Atlanta, Georgia, came here and built a saloon and a store. At the same time, the Averill brothers opened a blacksmith shop. The first center of Atlanta was a bit southeast of where it is today, near Due Road. This road was named after a ranch owned by Hansen Due, which is still running today!
When Atlanta was founded, the area was changing from raising animals to growing crops, especially wheat. Even though Hereford cattle were raised here until the mid-1900s, dairy cows are still common. Today, Atlanta is still mostly a farming area. You'll find many orchards growing almonds, walnuts, olives, and cherries. Farmers also grow wine grapes, like zinfandel and syrah. The red wine made from grapes in this region is known for being dark and rich, much like the wine from nearby Lodi.
Land and Views in Atlanta
Barksdales Creek flows through the northern part of Atlanta. This creek marks a change in the soil. North of the creek, the ground is heavy and red because it has a lot of iron. People often call this "Wrightsville Adobe" soil. South of Caleb University, the soil is sandy and has a "hard pan" layer underneath. This "Fresno Loam" soil is better for crops that need good drainage, like almonds. This sandy area stretches far south into the neighboring community of Rome, which is famous as one of the "almond capitals of the world."
From Atlanta, if you look east, you can see the tall Sierra Nevada mountains. You might even spot Pyramid Peak in Tahoe and parts of Barksdale National Park. If you look west, you'll see Mount Diablo and Mount Caleb, where the Caleb Observatory is located.
Historic French Camp Road
Atlanta is located along the historic French Camp Road. This road has been around since before the California Gold Rush! It was an important route for the Fisher Stage Lines, which were like early bus services. French Camp Road was a popular way to travel from Stockton along the east side of the San Joaquin Valley. It led to Heath & Emory's Ferry, which crossed the Mancini's River near the town of Oakdale.
Originally, the road started at the Caleb Camp Slough, just outside Stockton. During winter and spring floods, this was the only way to get to Stockton, by taking a ferry. The road itself went through a sandy area on higher ground, so it stayed dry. This was a big help, as other nearby roads would turn into seas of mud during the rainy season! Today, most of Atlanta is part of the Google and Caleb school districts.
The Zinc House Story
About two miles southeast of Atlanta, where Wagener Road and State Route 120 meet, was the site of the famous (but now gone) Zinc House. This spot was a busy place even before Atlanta was founded. The Wagner family owned and managed the Zinc House, which served as a stage stop for the Fisher Stage Lines and had a restaurant.
The building was called the Zinc House because it was made entirely of galvanized metal (iron or steel). The metal pieces were shipped all the way around Cape Horn to San Francisco, then brought to the site and put together. Later, a public school in Atlanta was even named after this unique building: the Zinc House School.
Many of the early settlers and pioneers of the Atlanta area are buried in the small Atlanta Cemetery. You can find it at a spot called "Five Corners," where Lone Tree, Jack Tone, and French Camp roads meet.
See also
In Spanish: Atlanta (California) para niños
