French Camp, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
French Camp
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Location in San Joaquin County and the state of California
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 French Camp, California
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | San Joaquin |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.143 sq mi (8.140 km2) |
| • Land | 3.142 sq mi (8.138 km2) |
| • Water | 0.001 sq mi (0.002 km2) 0.03% |
| Elevation | 20 ft (6 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,770 |
| • Density | 1,199.5/sq mi (463.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
95231
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| Area code(s) | 209 |
| FIPS code | 06-26028 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1658581 |
| Reference #: | 668 |
French Camp is a small community in San Joaquin County, California, United States. Its name comes from the Spanish words Campo de los Franceses, which means "Field of the Frenchmen."
As of 2020, about 3,770 people live in French Camp. The United States Census Bureau calls it a "census-designated place" (CDP). This means it's an area defined for counting people, but it's not an official city or town.
French Camp is home to the U.S. Army Sharpe Depot. It also has San Joaquin General Hospital. This community is the oldest settlement in San Joaquin County.
Contents
Geography
French Camp is located in California at these coordinates: 37°52′58″N 121°16′47″W / 37.88278°N 121.27972°W.
The area covers about 3.1 square miles (8.1 square kilometers). Almost all of this area is land. Only a tiny part is water.
Climate
French Camp has a Mediterranean climate. This type of climate is known for its warm, dry summers. Winters are usually mild and wet.
History
French Camp has a long and interesting history. It was once a regular campsite for fur trappers. These trappers worked for the Hudson's Bay Company. They came from Fort Vancouver in what is now Washington state.
Michel Laframboise set up this camp around 1832. The Spanish name for the area, Rancho Campo de los Franceses, kept the memory of these French trappers alive. French Camp is so important that it's a California State Historic Landmark.
The landmark says:
- This was the end point of a trail used by French-Canadian trappers.
- They worked for the Hudson's Bay Company from about 1832 to 1845.
- Trappers and their families camped here every year.
- In 1844, Charles Maria Weber and William Gulnac helped the first white settlers come here.
- This area included French Camp and the site of Stockton.
French Camp was also called Castoria. This name comes from the Latin word for "beaver." It shows how important beavers were to the fur trade here.
The location of French Camp was very important. It was at the southern end of a waterway called French Camp Slough. This made it easy to transport goods by water. A trail from the camp led to the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This trail became part of the Stockton-Los Angeles Road. It was especially useful in the rainy season because it drained well. Today, this route is a paved road called "French Camp Road."
During World War II, many Japanese American families lived in French Camp. Because of the war, they were asked to move from their homes. They went to special centers. Letters from students of the French Camp Grammar School tell us about their experiences during this time.
Notable People
Many interesting people have connections to French Camp:
- Scott Brooks: A coach for the Portland Trail Blazers basketball team.
- José M. Hernández: An astronaut who traveled to space.
- Gilbert Luján: A famous painter and sculptor.
- Phil Spector: A well-known record producer and musician. He passed away in San Joaquin General Hospital.
- JoAnn Trejo: A professor at the University of California, San Diego.
- C. Bachmann and Charles H. Brandt: They founded the Historical California Chicory Works, now known as The River Mill.
See also
In Spanish: French Camp (California) para niños
