Michigan Bluff, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michigan Bluff
|
|
|---|---|
 Michigan Bluff
Location in California
Michigan Bluff
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | Placer County |
| Elevation | 3,510 ft (1,070 m) |
| Reference #: | 402 |
Michigan Bluff is a small, historic place in Placer County, California. It used to be called Michigan City or Michigan Bluffs. This community is located about 4.35 miles (7 km) east-northeast of Foresthill. It sits high up in the mountains, at an elevation of 3,510 feet (1,070 meters).
Contents
What is Michigan Bluff?
Michigan Bluff is an unincorporated community. This means it is a settlement that is not part of an official city or town. Instead, it is governed directly by the county. Many small, historic places in California are unincorporated.
How did Michigan Bluff get its start?
The first settlement in this area was named Michigan City. It was founded by gold miners during the famous California Gold Rush. However, the original town faced a big problem: erosion. This meant the ground was washing away. Because of this, the town had to be moved to a safer spot higher up the slope. After the move, it was renamed Michigan Bluff. The post office for Michigan City operated for many years, from 1854 until 1943.
Gold Mining History
Gold mining started in Michigan Bluff in a big way around 1853. The miners were very successful! By 1858, the town was sending out about $100,000 worth of gold every month. That was a huge amount of money back then.
A very important person, Leland Stanford, even ran a store in Michigan Bluff. He owned the store from 1853 to 1855. Stanford later became famous for many things, including being a governor of California and founding Stanford University.
The End of the Gold Rush Boom
The gold mining boom in Michigan Bluff eventually slowed down. One big reason was the banning of "hydraulic mining." This was a method where powerful jets of water were used to wash away hillsides to find gold. While it was effective, it caused a lot of environmental damage. Once this type of mining was stopped, the town began to decline.
Today, Michigan Bluff is recognized for its important history. It is registered as California Historical Landmark #402. This means it's a special place protected for its historical value.
