Briceburg, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Briceburg
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Bridge over the Merced River at Briceburg
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 Briceburg
Location in California
Briceburg
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Mariposa County |
| Elevation | 1,138 ft (347 m) |
Briceburg is a small, quiet community in Mariposa County, California. It used to be called Bear Creek. It's not a city with its own government, but an "unincorporated community." This means it's a small settlement without its own local rules.
Briceburg sits right by the beautiful Merced River, where a smaller stream called Bear Creek joins it. It's located about 5 miles (8 km) northwest of a place called Midpines. The community is about 1,138 feet (347 meters) above sea level.
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Getting to Briceburg
You can reach Briceburg by crossing a special bridge over the Merced River. This bridge connects Highway 140 with Briceburg Road.
The Historic Briceburg Bridge
The bridge at Briceburg is a cool suspension bridge, which means it hangs from strong cables. It's about 160 feet (49 meters) long. The US Forest Service built this bridge in 1937.
About 30 young people from the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) helped build it. The CCC was a program during the Great Depression that gave jobs to young men. Forest Service Engineer J.W. Nute was in charge of the construction.
How Briceburg Got Its Name
The community of Briceburg is named after William M. Brice. He was an important person in the area. William M. Brice built a store right in this spot back in 1926.
Briceburg's Modern Power System
In 2019, a fire caused damage in the area. Instead of just replacing old power lines, the power company, Pacific Gas & Electric, decided to do something new. They built a special power system just for Briceburg.
This new system is "self-reliant," meaning it can mostly power itself. It uses solar panels to get energy from the sun. It also has big batteries to store this energy. If needed, there's a backup generator to make sure the community always has power.
