Mooney Flat, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mooney Flat
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 Mooney Flat
Location in California
Mooney Flat
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | Nevada County |
| Elevation | 741 ft (226 m) |
Mooney Flat was once a busy mining town and travel stop in Nevada County, California. It was located near the border of Yuba County, California, close to where Highway 20 is today. This area was important because it was part of a rich gold-bearing channel.
Mooney Flat was very close to another town called Smartsville. It's often hard to talk about Mooney Flat's history without mentioning Smartsville. Even though Mooney Flat was in Nevada County and Smartsville was in Yuba County, people from Smartsville often tried to become part of Nevada County.
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The Early Days of Mooney Flat
Mooney Flat was started in 1851. It was named after a man named Thomas Mooney. In 1856, the Schmidt family built a famous hotel there. It was first called the Live Oak Hotel, but most people knew it as the Mooney Flat Hotel or Schmidt's Hotel.
The town also had a store. Mooney Flat didn't have its own post office. Mail came from a nearby town called Anthony House until 1906, and then from Smartsville.
Mooney Flat's School and Community
Mooney Flat had its own school district and a "fine" school building. In 1866, about 40 students went to the school. By 1883, there were 64 students. After that, the number of students started to drop. The school district closed in 1920. Students then went to the Pleasant Valley school.
The town also had its own election area. People would vote at the hotel or the schoolhouse. These numbers suggest that Mooney Flat had a population of about 200 to 300 people during its busiest times.
Travel and Transportation Hub
Mooney Flat became a key stop for stagecoaches. These coaches traveled between Marysville, California and other places in Nevada County, like North San Juan, California. The routes even went across the Yuba River near Bridgeport, California.
In the 1860s, these stagecoach lines grew longer. They reached the rich silver mines around Virginia City, Nevada. This route became known as the Henness Pass Road. The Mooney Flat Hotel was a very important stop for travelers and teamsters (people who drove teams of horses). By 1870, the hotel had three floors. The first floor had public rooms and the Schmidt family's bedroom. The second floor had guest rooms and a ballroom. The third floor was a bunkhouse, like a dorm, for miners, teamsters, and single travelers.
Gold Mining in Mooney Flat
Hydraulic mining started near Mooney Flat in 1855. This type of mining used powerful jets of water to wash away hillsides and find gold. It was very successful and made a lot of money. Experts said that the area from Timbuctoo, California to Mooney Flat was one of the richest hydraulic mining areas in California.
Some of the main mining companies included the Mooney Flat Hydraulic Mining Company and the Excelsior Water and Mining Company. The Excelsior company also owned over 150 miles of ditches. These ditches brought water from Deer Creek and the Yuba River to the mines.
Electric Lights for Mining
Around 1879, the Excelsior company did something amazing. They got a generator and put electric lights at their Mooney Flat mining sites. These were the first electric lights used for industrial work in the United States. This meant miners could work even at night!
Mining Slows Down and Changes
By 1878, much of the gold-rich ground west of Mooney Flat was worked out. In 1881, Mooney Flat became almost empty. Less than 8% of the miners stayed. But in 1882, new gold discoveries brought mining back to life. People rushed to Mooney Flat from nearby counties.
However, in 1884, a judge made an important decision. He stopped miners from dumping mining waste into the Yuba River. This rule greatly reduced hydraulic mining. After this, miners tried "drift mining" at Mooney Flat. Drift mining involves digging tunnels underground to find gold. This type of mining continued into the early 1900s.
Farming and Agriculture
As mining became less important, farming grew around Mooney Flat. The area became known for its orchards. Farmers grew fruits like citrus, cherries, and olives. The Excelsior Water Company, which used to supply water for mining, now provided water for irrigation. Farmers even tried growing cotton there.
Important People of Mooney Flat
Thomas Mooney
Thomas Mooney was born in Ireland in 1821. He came to Yuba County in 1851. It's not completely clear how he was connected to the town named after him. In the same year, he bought a large ranch near Smartsville. He called it the Empire Ranch. This ranch was about a mile southwest of Mooney Flat.
Thomas Mooney set up a trading post and a hotel at his ranch. The Empire Ranch became a very important settlement in Northern California. For a while, he also ran a stagecoach line between Marysville and Nevada City. He was famous for the horses he raised and the crops from his ranch. People said he once grew an 8-pound sweet potato! He married Mary Huling in 1857, and they had eight children. He passed away in 1884.
George Schmidt
George Schmidt was born in Bavaria in 1813. He arrived in Nevada County around 1855. He started building the Mooney Flat Hotel in 1856. It was fully finished by 1870. He married Veronica Mertz, and they had seven children. George and his family ran the hotel for many years, well into the 20th century. George died in 1900, and Veronica died in 1909.
Mooney Flat Today
Today, Mooney Flat is a quiet area with homes and farms. Less than a mile away is Englebright Lake. This lake was originally built to catch mining debris. Now, it's a popular place for fun activities like boating and fishing.
You won't see much left of the old mining town. The Mooney Flat Hotel became very old and was torn down in 1958. A historical marker is now on its site. It tells the story of the hotel, which was a three-story stop for teams and stagecoaches on the Henness Pass route. It served miners, travelers, and teamsters.
The Black Swan Mine site is now a nature preserve. It has many hiking trails for people to explore.
