Mokelumne City, California facts for kids

Mokelumne City was once a busy town in San Joaquin County, California. Its name, Mokelumne, comes from the Miwok people and means "People of the Fish Net." This town was founded in 1850. For a while, it was the second largest town in San Joaquin County. Sadly, Mokelumne City became a ghost town after big floods in 1862 destroyed it.

Mokelumne City: A Town on the River

Mokelumne City started in 1850. It was built near where the Cosumnes River meets the Mokelumne River. This location was perfect for trade. The town quickly became a competitor to Stockton, another important trade center.

Life and Trade in Mokelumne City

Mokelumne City was a busy place. Small sailing ships called sloops were built there. These sloops could travel directly to San Francisco. This made Mokelumne City an important spot for moving goods. The town grew quite a bit, showing its importance in the area.

The Great Flood of 1862

In 1862, a massive flood hit California. This event is known as the Great Flood of 1862. The flood caused terrible damage to Mokelumne City. The town was so badly hurt that it could not recover. After the flood, Mokelumne City slowly faded away.

Trying to Rebuild

Even after the flood, some people tried to save Mokelumne City. A group of investors, led by an engineer named G.C. Holman, had a plan. They wanted to drain the Mokelumne River. Their goal was to reclaim the land, just like people had done in the Netherlands and Poland. However, these efforts were not enough to bring the town back to life.

Where Was Mokelumne City?

Today, Mokelumne City is no longer there. You can find the former site about 14 miles northwest of Lodi, California. It is also about 3 miles north of Thornton, California. The exact spot is 200 feet north of where Cameron Road and Thornton Road cross.