Bestville, California facts for kids
Bestville is a place in Siskiyou County, California, that used to be a small community. It was located along the North Fork Salmon River, not far from another place called Sawyers Bar. You can find its old location using these coordinates: 41°18′03″N 123°08′35″W / 41.3007°N 123.1431°W.
Discovering Bestville: A Gold Rush Story
Bestville was once a busy spot during the exciting time known as the California Gold Rush. This was when many people rushed to California hoping to find gold.
What Was Bestville?
Bestville started in 1850 as a mining camp. A mining camp was a temporary town where gold miners lived and worked. It was named after its founder, a person called Captain John Best.
Life in a Gold Rush Town
By 1854, Bestville had grown a bit. It even had a saloon (a type of old-fashioned restaurant and bar) and a bowling alley. These were places where miners could relax and have fun after a long day of searching for gold. Today, nothing is left of Bestville. It is just an empty spot where a community once thrived.