Douglas City, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Douglas City
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Location of Douglas City in Trinity County, California.
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 Douglas City, California
Location in California
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Trinity |
| Area | |
| • Total | 30.44 sq mi (78.83 km2) |
| • Land | 30.43 sq mi (78.80 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2) 0.05% |
| Elevation | 2,152 ft (656 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 868 |
| • Density | 28.53/sq mi (11.02/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP Code |
96024
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| Area code(s) | 530 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2582999 |
Douglas City is a small community in Trinity County, California. It was first settled during the exciting time of the California Gold Rush. Douglas City is located high up, about 2,152 feet (656 meters) above sea level. Its ZIP Code is 96024, and it's in the 530 area code. In 2020, about 868 people lived there, which was more than the 713 people counted in 2010. The Whiskeytown–Shasta–Trinity National Recreation Area, a beautiful outdoor spot, is also nearby.
Contents
Why is it Called Douglas City?
This community was named after Stephen Douglas from Illinois. He became very famous after his debates with Abraham Lincoln in 1858.
A Look Back: Douglas City's History
Early Residents and Gold Discovery
Long ago, the Wintun people lived in this area. They were known as Tien-Tien, which means "friends." Sadly, their population decreased due to sickness and conflicts, especially after explorers like Jedediah Smith came through in 1828.
In 1848, a man named Pierson B. Reading discovered gold along the Trinity River. He found a huge amount of gold, over $80,000, on his first trip! Soon, many settlers arrived, and towns quickly grew around the gold mining areas. Douglas City itself was settled by Europeans and Americans around 1850 as a place for mining and supplying goods.
Challenges and Changes
The area faced a big challenge during the Great Flood of 1862, which affected the streams and hillsides. Even so, gold mining continued, with methods like gold panning and hydraulic mining. By 1864, the river areas around Douglas City had produced over $1,000,000 worth of gold, which was a massive amount of money back then. The first Post Office in Douglas City opened in 1867.
Before 1857, people traveled to and from Douglas City mostly by walking, or using mules and horses. Later, a private road was built, allowing stagecoaches pulled by four horses to travel between Weaverville, Douglas City, and other nearby areas.
Community Life and Education
In 1859, a local newspaper called the Douglas City Gazette started, though it didn't last long. It stopped publishing in 1861 because many people left the area for the American Civil War or to find new gold in Idaho.
The Douglas City Library was started on September 27, 1916, by Maude Marshall. She kept the library in her own home for everyone in the community and for students at the Douglas City school.
Where is Douglas City?
Douglas City is located in a beautiful part of California. Nearby towns and cities include Big Bar, French Gulch, Junction City, Lewiston, Redding, Weaverville, and Whiskeytown.
The community covers an area of about 25.1 square miles (65 square kilometers), with almost all of it being land. Scientists have even found fossil bones of ancient animals like Mammoths, Ground sloths, and deer near Douglas City!
What's the Weather Like?
Douglas City has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate. This means it has warm, dry summers, but they aren't usually extremely hot.
Who Lives in Douglas City?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 868 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
According to the 2010 census, Douglas City had 713 people. Most residents were White (89.6%), with smaller numbers of Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander, and people of two or more races. About 6.6% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Most people (93.8%) lived in homes, while a smaller number lived in group housing. The average household had about 2.17 people. The population included people of all ages, with a good mix of younger residents, adults, and seniors. The median age was about 50.8 years old.
Learning in Douglas City
The Douglas City Elementary School serves students from kindergarten through 8th grade. In 1994, the school had 141 students, and by 2010, the enrollment was 114 students.
Getting Around
California State Route 299 and California State Route 3 meet near Douglas City. These highways then run together through the town on their way to Weaverville, making it easy to travel to and from Douglas City.
See also
In Spanish: Douglas City para niños
