Nortonville, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nortonville
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 Nortonville
Location in California
Nortonville
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| County | Contra Costa County |
| Elevation | 801 ft (244 m) |
Nortonville is a fascinating ghost town located in Contra Costa County, California. It's not a city anymore, but a place where people once lived and worked. This old town was found near Kirker Creek, about 5.5 miles (8.9 km) northeast of Mount Diablo. It sits at an elevation of 801 feet (244 meters).
Where is Nortonville?
Nortonville is located on Nortonville Road. It's just outside the city of Pittsburg in Contra Costa County. Today, the area where the town once stood is part of the Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve. This preserve helps protect the history of the old mining towns.
The Story of Nortonville
Nortonville was started by a man named Noah Norton in 1855. He and three partners, Cutler, Matheson, and Sturgis, opened the Black Diamond coal mine in 1860. This mine became a company called the Black Diamond Coal Mining Company in June 1861.
The town was also the end point of the six-mile-long Black Diamond Coal Mining Railroad. This railroad was built in 1868. It connected Nortonville to the San Joaquin River at Black Diamond Landing. It also had a stop at Cornwall, California. These last two towns are now part of the city of Pittsburg, California.
Many miners from Wales lived in Nortonville. But in 1885, the Black Diamond Coal Mining Company moved all its miners. They went to another mine owned by the company in Black Diamond, Washington Territory.
The mine in Nortonville was very deep. It acted like a drain for all the mines around it. The owners of the other mines didn't want to help pay for pumping out the water. So, the company decided to close down its operations in Nortonville and move.
What's Left of Nortonville Today?
Today, Nortonville is a deserted area. You can still see the brick foundation of the mine's hoisting works. There are also parts of the old railroad bed. An old cemetery, called "Rose Hill Cemetery," is also still there.
The cemetery was named after Emma Rose. She was the daughter of Alvinza Hayward, who was the president and main owner of the Black Diamond Coal Mining Company. In the 1940s, Mrs. Rose gave the cemetery to the county.
Nortonville was one of five coal mining towns in this area. The other towns were Somersville, Stewartsville, West Hartley, and Judsonville.
Nortonville had a post office from 1874 to 1910. It closed for short periods in 1887 and from 1890 to 1891.
