Coloma, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Coloma, California
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Coloma, 2008
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Location of Coloma in El Dorado County, California
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 Coloma, California
Location in California
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | El Dorado |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.35 sq mi (8.69 km2) |
| • Land | 3.35 sq mi (8.69 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) 0% |
| Elevation | 764 ft (233 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 521 |
| • Density | 155.5/sq mi (59.95/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| Area code(s) | 530, 837 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1655915; 2582981 |
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Coloma
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Sutter's Mill 1850
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| Nearest city | Placerville, California |
| Area | c. 250 acres (100 ha) |
| Built | 1848 |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000207 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHLD | July 4, 1961 |
Coloma is a small community in El Dorado County, California, United States. Its name comes from the Nisenan word Cullumah, which means "beautiful." Coloma is about 36 miles (58 km) northeast of Sacramento, California.
Coloma is famous because James W. Marshall discovered gold there on January 24, 1848. This happened at Sutter's Mill in the Sierra Nevada foothills. His discovery started the huge California gold rush. Today, Coloma has a population of 521 people.
The area is now a popular tourist spot. It is known for its ghost town feel and is the main part of the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. Coloma was recognized as a special National Historic Landmark District on July 4, 1961. It sits at an elevation of 764 feet (233 meters) above sea level.
Contents
The Name Coloma
The name "Coloma" comes from the Nisenan Native American people. They called the valley where Coloma is located Cullumah, meaning 'beautiful'. Coloma was built on the site of an old Indian village called Koloma. This village was located along the South Fork American River. In the past, the name was sometimes spelled "Colluma" or "Culloma".
Coloma's Early Days
Coloma grew quickly after gold was found at Sutter's Mill. A post office opened in 1849, first named Culloma, then changed to Coloma in 1851.
Some important early settlers lived in Coloma. One was Silas Sanderson (1824–1886), who later became a top judge in California. Another was Nancy Gooch, one of the first African American women to find success in California.
Coloma: A Historic Ghost Town
Even though some people still live in the Coloma area, it feels a bit like a ghost town. Many old public buildings, like the jail, have been left to decay. Other buildings from its busiest time (1847–1852) have been turned into museums. You can still see the remains of Sutter's Mill and a rebuilt version nearby.
Today, the people who live in the wider Coloma Valley share a strong community spirit. The local economy mainly relies on farming and tourism. A big part of the tourism is white-water rafting. The South Fork American River is one of the most popular rafting spots in North America.
Coloma's Population
Coloma was first listed as a special census area in the 2010 U.S. Census.
According to the 2020 United States census, Coloma had 521 residents. Most people (96.7%) lived in homes, while a small number (3.3%) lived in group housing. The average household had about 2.27 people.
The population included people of various backgrounds:
- 80.0% White
- 1.0% African American
- 0.6% Native American
- 1.2% Asian
- 4.2% from other races
- 13.1% from two or more races
- 11.5% were Hispanic or Latino
The age groups in Coloma were:
- 11.9% were under 18 years old.
- 7.7% were aged 18 to 24.
- 18.8% were aged 25 to 44.
- 32.1% were aged 45 to 64.
- 29.6% were 65 years or older.
The average age in Coloma was 55.9 years.
Important People from Coloma
- Nancy Gooch - An important early African American woman settler.
See also
In Spanish: Coloma (California) para niños
