China Gulch, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids China Gulch
Former settlement
China Gulch Location in California
Country	United States
State	California
County	Plumas County
Elevation	5,610 ft (1,710 m)

China Gulch was once a small community in Plumas County, California. It was located high up in the mountains, about 5,610 feet (1,710 meters) above sea level. You can find it about 5.5 miles (8.9 km) south of a place called Bucks Lake. China Gulch was still shown on maps as late as 1897, but it is no longer a populated place today.

What Was China Gulch?

China Gulch was a "former settlement," which means it was a place where people used to live and work, but they don't anymore. Over time, the people moved away, and the buildings might have disappeared. Many such settlements popped up during the gold and copper mining booms in California.

A Place for Mining

Even though it was a small settlement, China Gulch played a part in the mining history of the area. It was home to a special building called a smelter. A smelter is like a big oven where metal is separated from rocks (called ore). The smelter at China Gulch was used to process copper from the nearby Engels Copper Mine. This mine was an important source of copper during its time.