Lake City, Nevada County, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lake City
Unincorporated community
Coordinates: 39°21′31″N 120°56′30″W
Country	United States
State	California
County	Nevada
Elevation	3,386 ft (1,032 m)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code	95959
Area code(s)	530

Lake City is an unincorporated community in Nevada County, California. It lies at an elevation of 3300 ft. about 10 miles northeast of Nevada City as the crow flies, and about three miles southeast of North Columbia, and three miles southwest of North Bloomfield. It is located at the junction of modern day North Bloomfield, Back Bone and Lake City Roads. It was an important mining and transportation center in the second half of the 19th century.

Geography

Lake City, near the South Yuba River, is located at 39.35861N, -120.94056W, and the elevation is 3,390 feet (1,030 m) above sea level.

History

The town was settled in 1853 as a result of the California Gold Rush and subsequent hydraulic mining at Malakoff Diggins. Within four years, more than 300 people lived in town.

A hotel was built in 1855. The name was bestowed in 1857.

In 1877, it was included on the route of the world's first long-distance telephone line.

By 1880, the population had dropped to 100.

Transportation

Taking advantage of its strategic location at the junction of the principal roads between Nevada City and many of the mining communities on the San Juan Ridge, and later on one of the roads to the Henness Pass and the Nevada mines, Lake City was an important transportation stop for travelers and teamsters. For many years, the road to Nevada City was a toll road owned by Edwards and Manchester. Toll roads were usually well maintained. Had the Central Pacific Railroad determined to run the Transcontinental Railroad through the Henness Pass, the planned route would have gone through Lake City.

Built in 1855, the Bell Brothers hotel continued for many years, operated in turn by Henry Arnold, P.A. Paine, Elizabeth Pridgeon, and Frank Kropp. Mr. Kropp ran it for many years into the 20th century, attracting visitors with a 13 rattle "monster" rattlesnake on display. In 1858, the Lake City Hotel opened. It soon became Bremond House. There is mention of a third hotel, the Bordas, open in the 1860s.

Lake City was a stop on the Gregory & English stage and pony express line between Nevada City and Graniteville, on the Summit City (Meadow Lake) Stage Line from Grass Valley and on Dornin's Express Line between North San Juan and North Bloomfield.

It was also connected to the Ridge Telephone Company's long distance telephone line.