Jewell, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jewell
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Former Settlement
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 Jewell
Location in California
Jewell
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Marin County |
| Elevation | 79 ft (24 m) |
Jewell was a small, former community in Marin County, California. It was located about 11 miles (18 kilometers) west-southwest of Novato. Jewell started as a farm and later became a place for weekend homes. Today, the area is being restored to its natural state.
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The Story of Jewell
Jewell was not a city or town with its own government. Instead, it was a collection of homes and farms. It was named after Omar Jewell, who owned a farm there in the 1860s.
From Farm to Train Stop
In the 1860s, the land that became Jewell was a farm. It was owned by a man named Omar Jewell. He raised dairy cows and pigs on his land.
Later, the Northwestern Pacific Railroad was built nearby. Omar Jewell sold a part of his land to the railroad. This allowed the trains to pass through. A special train stop was set up on his ranch. It was called "Jewells." This stop was a "flagstop," meaning the train would only stop if someone waved a flag to get on or off.
A Place for Weekend Getaways
In the 1930s, the area near the train stop became popular. A strip of land next to Lagunitas Creek was divided into small pieces. People from the city bought these pieces of land. They built small cottages there to use on weekends.
This new settlement became known as Jewell. It was named after the Jewell train flagstop, which was just across the way.
Restoring Nature at Jewell
Over time, the community of Jewell changed. The National Park Service bought the land where the homes were. They worked to move the few remaining residents.
In 2018, an environmental group took action. They carefully removed the houses that were left. Their goal was to help Lagunitas Creek. They wanted to make the creek a better home for Coho salmon, which are an endangered type of fish. This project helps nature return to the area.
