Drytown, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Drytown, California
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Downtown Drytown, 1866
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Location of Drytown in Amador County, California.
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 Drytown, California
Location in California
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | Amador County |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.26 sq mi (8.44 km2) |
| • Land | 3.26 sq mi (8.43 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2) 0% |
| Elevation | 646 ft (197 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 186 |
| • Density | 57.13/sq mi (22.06/km2) |
| ZIP Code |
95699
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| Area code(s) | 209 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1658441; 2583002 |
| Reference #: | 31 |
Drytown (once known as Dry Town) is a small community in Amador County, California. It's called a census-designated place, which means it's a special area used for gathering population information. Drytown is located about 2.5 miles (4 km) south of Plymouth. It sits at an elevation of 646 feet (197 meters) above sea level.
In 2010, about 167 people lived here, but by 2020, the population grew slightly to 186. Drytown is recognized as a California Historical Landmark because of its important past. Today, it's a quiet place with a few antique shops. However, it was once a very busy gold mining town with as many as 10,000 people!
Contents
History of Drytown
Drytown is the oldest community in Amador County. It's also the first place where gold was found in the area. The town got its name from Dry Creek, a stream that often dries up in the summer. Despite its name, the town was far from "dry" in its early days. Stories say there were up to 26 saloons (places to drink and socialize). Today, only one of these old saloons, The Drytown Club, remains.
Gold Rush Boom and Decline
The gold mining in Drytown started to slow down around 1857. That same year, a big fire destroyed most of the town. Many people then left Drytown to find gold in other, more successful mines nearby. The town's survival was helped in 1920 when State Route 49 was built right through it. This road made it easier for people to travel to and through Drytown.
Post Office and General Store
A U.S. Post Office first opened in Drytown in 1852. For many years, in the 1960s, the post office was inside the Drytown General Store. This store was run by the Bruns family. By 2010, the original general store building had become an antique shop. The post office moved to a newer building, which also became an antique shop. The general store then moved to a third, separate building. The post office itself closed in April 2009, but people hoped to reopen it.
The Claypipers Theater
From 1959 to about 1994, Drytown was home to a fun summer theater group called the "Claypipers." They performed funny melodramas, which are plays with exaggerated characters and exciting plots. They also had "olio" acts, which were song and dance performances. The shows were very popular, often selling out!
The Claypipers got their name from the clay pipes that miners used. Miners smoked these pipes, and some even rumored they used them to sneak gold nuggets out of the mines. After a successful start in a nearby town, the Claypipers bought an old building in Drytown. They turned it into a theater with tables, a bar, and a stage. Many actors, crew members, and audience members traveled from the San Francisco Bay Area to enjoy these shows. The large "Piper's Playhouse" sign was a famous sight along Highway 49.
In 1985, a fire damaged the theater, but it was completely rebuilt. A second story was even added to the Piper Playhouse. The Claypipers continued their shows until 1994, when they closed for good. The theater building was eventually sold in 2010.
Drytown's Volunteer Fire Department
In the early 1960s, the Claypipers helped Drytown get its own "fire engine." It was an old Ford pickup truck with a water tank and pump. They also built a "fire station" (a garage) to keep it in. In 1963, the three-person volunteer Drytown Fire Department helped put out two fires. They also stopped a third fire from spreading to nearby dry fields and prevented a propane tank from exploding. By 2010, the old fire engine was gone, and the fire station building was being rented out.
Population in Drytown
In 2010, Drytown had 167 residents. The community was made up of 72 households. About 25% of these households had children under 18 living there. The average household had about 2.3 people. The population was spread out in terms of age. About 17% of the people were under 18, and 17% were 65 or older. The median age was about 50 years old. Most people in Drytown lived in homes they owned.
See also
In Spanish: Drytown para niños
