Monticello, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Monticello
Former settlement
Monticello Location in California
Country	United States
State	California
County	Napa County
Demolished	1953–7
Elevation	443 ft (135 m)

Monticello was once a small town in Napa County, California. Today, you can't visit Monticello because its entire area is covered by the waters of Lake Berryessa. It's a "ghost town" hidden beneath a lake!

The Story of Monticello: A Town Under Water

Monticello began as a small settlement within a large piece of land. This land was called Rancho Las Putas. It was a "Mexican land grant," which means it was given by the Mexican government. In 1843, Governor Manuel Micheltorena gave this land to José de los Reyes Berreyesa and Sisto Berelleza. Their family, the Berreyesa family, were early Californians.

How the Land Changed Hands

The land grant was a big valley with Putah Creek flowing through it. After California became part of the United States, the Berreyesa family had to prove they owned the land. They filed a claim in 1852, and their ownership was officially recognized in 1863.

By 1853, parts of the Berreyesa land were sold. This happened because of money owed. A large section of about 26,000-acre (110 km²) was sold for a low price. Then, it was quickly resold for a much higher amount to a group of people who wanted to develop the land.

Building the Town of Monticello

In 1866, these developers divided the large land grant into smaller pieces. They planned out a town and named it Monticello. Within a year, many farmers moved to the valley. They found the winters mild and their crops grew well, especially wheat.

By 1870, Monticello was a busy little town. It had a cemetery, a general store, places where blacksmiths worked, hotels, and other shops.

Travel and Trade in Early Monticello

In 1875, a road through the valley became a public road. This made travel easier. Stagecoaches, pulled by four or six horses, traveled through Monticello. They carried workers from a quicksilver (mercury) mining town called Knoxville. In Monticello, the horses would be changed before the stagecoach continued to Napa.

The original Berreyesa family moved to smaller homes. Their large adobe (mud-brick) house was left to fall apart. By the late 1800s, many family farms filled the valley. These farms were often started under the Homestead Act of 1862. Farmers grew wheat and barley, and some had orchards and grapevines. Ranching was more common in the hills.

Around 1900, there was news of oil in the valley. People came to look for oil, but they didn't find any.

The Damming of Putah Creek

In 1896, a large stone bridge was built over Putah Creek. It was about 1.5 miles (2 km) from Monticello. This bridge was 298 feet (91 m) long and cost $19,500. It was the biggest stone bridge west of the Rocky Mountains at the time. The bridge was very strong and survived many winter floods.

Plans for a Reservoir

People started suggesting building a dam on Putah Creek as early as 1906. They wanted to create a reservoir, which is a large lake used to store water. In 1907, a plan called the Mulholland-Goethals-Davis plan suggested building a dam at Devil's Gate.

However, no dam was built until 1947. That's when Solano County and the United States Bureau of Reclamation started the Solano Project. This project included several water plans, like the Monticello Dam.

The Town's End

The people of Monticello protested against the dam. But California Governor Earl Warren and Solano County said the dam was needed. They argued it would help the area grow economically and agriculturally. Because of this, residents slowly started leaving Monticello to find new homes.

Two famous photographers, Dorothea Lange and Pirkle Jones, took pictures of the town as it was dying. They documented the people leaving and the town being destroyed. Their photos showed the sad story of Monticello.

Construction of the dam began in 1953. All the trees were cut down, fences were removed, and buildings were torn down. The town's cemetery was moved to a higher place called Spanish Flat. The strong Putah Creek Bridge was left in place. It was too well-built to easily demolish.

The Monticello Dam was finished in 1957. As the dam filled, the waters rose and covered the old town. On February 26, 1957, the last concrete was poured for the dam. Following a tradition, workers even tossed in a few coins. That's how Lake Berryessa was formed, completely covering the town of Monticello.

Monticello had its own post office from 1867 until 1956, just before the town was submerged.