Cherokee, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cherokee, California
Unincorporated community
The Cherokee Museum
Location of Cherokee in Butte County, California.
Cherokee, California Location in California
Country	United States
State	California
County	Butte County
Area
• Total	1.922 sq mi (4.976 km2)
• Land	1.751 sq mi (4.534 km2)
• Water	0.171 sq mi (0.442 km2)  8.9%
Elevation	1,306 ft (398 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	88
• Density	45.79/sq mi (17.68/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code	95965
Area code	530
GNIS feature IDs	1655889, 2612476

Cherokee is a small community in Butte County, California. It is not an official city, but a special type of community called an unincorporated community. Before the gold rush, Maidu Native Americans lived here. The town got its name from a group of Cherokee gold miners. In 2010, about 69 people lived in Cherokee. It sits about 1,306 feet (398 meters) above sea level.

Today, Cherokee has a museum and a cemetery. A group called the Cherokee Heritage and Museum Association takes care of them. The town is located off State Route 70. Its ZIP Code is 95965, and its area code is 530.

A Look Back at Cherokee's Past

Cherokee is located in the traditional lands of the Maidu people. Around 1818, Spanish explorers found gold near Table Mountain. In 1849, a group of Cherokee prospectors from Oklahoma arrived. They found a good spot for mining.

Ruins of Cherokee Bank

In the 1850s, miners from Wales also came to Cherokee. They helped build many of the town's structures. The town grew quickly during the gold rush. At its busiest, thousands of people lived here.

Thomas Edison's Connection

Even famous inventor Thomas Edison owned one of the mines in Cherokee. He made sure the mines had electricity to make the work easier. Cherokee was a very modern town for its time. It had the first homes in Butte County with running water.

Important Visitors

In 1880, some very important people visited Cherokee. These included President Rutherford B. Hayes, his wife Lucy, and Civil War General William T. Sherman. General John Bidwell, a well-known figure in California, also came. They visited Cherokee's famous hydraulic gold mine.

End of the Gold Rush

By the 1890s, the gold mines were sold off. This happened because it cost too much money to keep them running. A post office served Cherokee from 1854 until 1912.

The Spring Valley Mine

Over time, many smaller mines joined together. By 1870, one big company, the Spring Valley Mining and Irrigation Company, ran all the hydraulic mining in Cherokee. This large mine closed in 1894. You can still find places named after it today, like Spring Valley Elementary School and Spring Valley Reservoir.

Cherokee as a Place to Visit

Many people visit Cherokee to explore its history. They come to see the museum and the old cemetery. The town also hosts two yearly festivals. One is on July 4th, and the other is around September 24th. This second festival is called President Hayes Day.

Nature and History Nearby

Close to Cherokee, you can find Sugarloaf. This is a nearby hill where you might see deer, foxes, and birds. It also has hiking trails. Table Mountain is another popular spot, known for its beautiful wildflowers in the springtime.

There is also an old Chinese Taoist temple nearby. It was built in the 1860s by the small Chinese community in Cherokee. It is one of the oldest Taoist temples in America, though it is no longer in use. This temple is now a state historic site.

Who Lives in Cherokee?

The 2010 United States Census counted 69 people living in Cherokee. Most people lived in family homes. About 23% of the population was under 18 years old. The median age was about 42.8 years. This means half the people were younger than 42.8, and half were older.

Most homes in Cherokee are owned by the people who live in them. About 73% of the population lived in homes they owned. The rest lived in rented homes.