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Springfield, California facts for kids

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Springfield
Country United States
State California
County Tuolumne
Elevation
2,056 ft (627 m)
Time zone UTC-8 (Pacific Standard Time)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-7 (Pacific Daylight Time)
ZIP code
95370
Area code(s) 209
Reference #: 432

Springfield is an unincorporated community located in Tuolumne County, California. It is a former California Gold Rush boomtown in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, and is now designated as a California Historical Landmark. Springfield is located 1.1 mi SW of Columbia another gold rush boomtown.

History

Springfield received its name from the abundant springs gushing from limestone boulders on the site. During the town's heyday, up to 150 miners' carts could be seen on the road, hauling gold-bearing dirt from other diggings to the springs of Springfield for washing. The town with its stores, shops, and hotel built around a plaza once boasted 2,000 inhabitants. It is believed to have been founded by Dona Josefa Valmesada, a Mexican woman of means with the reputation of aiding Americans in the war with Mexico.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Springfield (California) para niños

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