Ophir, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ophir
|
|
|---|---|
 Ophir
Location in California
Ophir
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | Placer County |
| Elevation | 682 ft (208 m) |
| Reference #: | 463 |
Ophir is a small community in Placer County, California. It's not an official city, but a place where people live without a city government. Ophir is also known by its older names, Spanish Corral and Ophirville.
This community is about 2.5 miles (4 km) west of Auburn. It sits at an elevation of 682 feet (208 meters) above sea level. If you live in Ophir, your mail might have a Newcastle ZIP code, which is 95658.
History of Ophir
Ophir was once a very busy place during the California Gold Rush. It was known as a "boomtown." This means it grew very quickly because of a sudden discovery, in this case, gold!
Gold Rush Beginnings
The area was first called The Spanish Corral in 1849. A year later, in 1850, it got its new name, Ophir. This name comes from the Bible. It refers to a place where King Solomon found amazing treasures. The name was chosen because so much gold was found there.
In 1852, Ophir became the most important gold mining town in Placer County. It was the biggest town around, with many people living there.
Fire and Rebuilding
By 1853, over 500 families lived in Ophir. But on July 12, 1853, a terrible fire destroyed the entire town. After the fire, the town was not rebuilt right away.
Later, Ophir became important again. This time, it was for "quartz mining." This is a type of mining where gold is found inside rocks, not just loose in the dirt. Today, Ophir is remembered as California Historical Landmark #463. This marker tells visitors about its important past.
Post Offices and New Crops
Ophir had post offices at different times. The "Ophirville" post office was open from 1852 to 1866. Then, the "Ophir" post office opened in 1872 and closed in 1910.
After the Gold Rush ended, people in Ophir started farming. They planted vineyards for grapes and orchards for fruit trees. During a time called Prohibition, when alcohol was illegal, they only grew fruit in orchards. But since the 1970s, vineyards have returned to the area. Today, people in Ophir get their local services from the nearby city of Auburn.
