Gold Run, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gold Run
Mountain Springs
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Former settlement
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Building of former gold rush mining town
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 Gold Run
Location in California
Gold Run
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | Placer |
| Elevation | 3,212 ft (979 m) |
| ZIP code |
95717
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| Area code(s) | 530 |
| Reference #: | 405 |
Gold Run was once a busy mining town in Placer County, California. It was a key place during the exciting time of the California Gold Rush. Today, it's a historic site, showing us what life was like back then.
This former settlement is so important that it's officially recognized as a California Historical Landmark. It has the number 405.
The Story of Gold Run
The town of Gold Run started in 1854. It was founded by a person named O. W. Hollenbeck. At first, it had a different name: "Mountain Springs." This name came from the Mountain Springs Hotel nearby. A post office was set up there in 1854.
In 1863, the post office moved about a mile north. That's when the town's name officially changed to Gold Run. The town became famous for its special way of finding gold.
How Gold Was Mined
Gold Run was known for something called hydraulic mining. This was a powerful way to get gold out of the ground. Miners used strong jets of water to wash away hillsides. The water would then carry the gold-filled dirt into special channels.
This method was very effective. Between 1865 and 1878, a huge amount of gold was taken from Gold Run. Over $6 million worth of gold was found and sent out of the town!
However, hydraulic mining also caused a lot of environmental damage. It washed away tons of soil and debris into rivers. Because of this, a court ruling in 1882 made it very difficult to continue this type of mining. After that, mining operations in Gold Run stopped.
Today, Gold Run is located east of Rollins Reservoir. It sits in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Weather in Gold Run
The Gold Run area has a type of weather called a "warm-summer Mediterranean climate." This means it has warm, dry summers. The temperatures usually stay comfortable, not getting too hot. Winters are generally mild and wet.
