Sheep Ranch, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sheep Ranch
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 Sheep Ranch
Location in California
Sheep Ranch
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Calaveras County |
| Elevation | 2,359 ft (719 m) |
Sheep Ranch (also known as Sheepranch) is a small, quiet community in Calaveras County, California. It's located high up at 2,359 feet (719 meters) above sea level. This unique place got its name because it used to be a big sheep ranch.
Today, you can still see hundreds of sheep roaming freely around the town! It's one of the few places in California where sheep can wander wherever they like. Sheep Ranch is found on Sheep Ranch Road, right in the middle of Calaveras County.
A Golden Past
Sheep Ranch has a very interesting history. Imagine a town surrounded by sheep corrals! In 1860, something amazing happened: gold ore was found right where the sheep were kept at night. This discovery quickly turned Sheep Ranch into a busy gold mining town.
Gold Rush Days
Before the year 1900, there were five successful gold mines here. One of them even had a "ten-stamp mill," which was a machine used to crush rocks and get the gold out. The town was also quite lively, with 15 saloons! Judge Ira Hill Read officially registered the town on August 4, 1880.
The Hearst Mine
The most important mine in Sheep Ranch was known as the Hearst mine. George Hearst, the father of famous newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst, bought this mine with partners in 1897. The mine kept working under different company names until the government closed it in 1942.
Town Life and Buildings
At one time, Sheep Ranch had two churches, one Catholic and one Protestant. The local red school house, which is now a private home, once had two teachers. By 1907, the number of students dropped to 30, so only one teacher was needed. The Eagle Hotel and the Pioneer Hotel were two important places to stay. Only the Pioneer Hotel still stands today.
The first post office opened in Sheep Ranch in 1877. It was officially renamed "Sheepranch" in 1895. In 2015, the town was very lucky. The Butte Fire, a large wildfire, came within a quarter mile of Sheep Ranch but didn't burn the town.
Sheep Ranch Today
The population of Sheep Ranch is less than one hundred people. The sheep actually outnumber the humans! There are no active businesses in Sheep Ranch right now. The closest stores and services are in Mountain Ranch to the west and Avery to the east.
In 2008, the local postal service contractor moved away. This meant the town's ZIP code was no longer used by the U.S. Postal Service. People living in Sheep Ranch can still use the town name for their address. However, they now use the ZIP code for nearby Mountain Ranch (95246).
