Swansboro, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Swansboro Country
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| Nickname(s):
Mosquito
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Location of Swansboro Country in California.
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 Swansboro, California
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | El Dorado |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.813 sq mi (15.054 km2) |
| • Land | 5.812 sq mi (15.052 km2) |
| • Water | 0.001 sq mi (0.002 km2) 0.01% |
| Elevation | 1,867 ft (569 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 10,389 |
| • Density | 1,787.20/sq mi (690.12/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
95667
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| Area code | 530 |
| FIPS code | 06-57540 |
| GNIS feature IDs | 277577, 2411433 |
| Reference #: | 701 |
Swansboro Country is a neighborhood located near Placerville, California. It's part of a larger area called Mosquito. In 2010, about 1,000 people lived here. Swansboro Country is also part of the bigger Sacramento metropolitan area.
Contents
Exploring Swansboro Country
Swansboro Country is a residential area found northeast of Placerville, California. Placerville is the main town, or county seat, of El Dorado County, California.
Where is Swansboro Country?
Swansboro is located northeast of U.S. Route 50, where it crosses State Route 49. If you're coming from the south, you can reach it by Rock Creek Road. Another way is by crossing the "Swinging Bridge" over the American River canyon on Mosquito Road.
Who Lives in Swansboro Country?
Swansboro is a community with over 200 homes. Each home is built on a large piece of land, often several acres.
A Look Back: History of Swansboro Country
The history of Swansboro Country is closely tied to the exciting California Gold Rush.
Gold Rush Days
In 1848, James W. Marshall discovered gold at Sutter's Mill, which was nearby in Coloma, California. This discovery started the California Gold Rush. Soon after, gold mines were found in Mosquito Canyon. Many miners settled in two spots: Nelsonville and Lowertown (also called Big House).
In 1851, Ben Summerfield and John Bennett built a sawmill on One Eye Creek. The name "Mosquito" was given to the area in 1853.
Growing Community
- In 1854, the Mosquito voting area was set up.
- Also in 1854, the Mosquito Ditch Company built an irrigation ditch to bring water from Slab Creek. This cost $20,000!
- In 1859, the County Board of Supervisors ordered a road to be built from Placerville to Mosquito Village.
- The Mosquito School opened its doors in 1862.
The Famous Swinging Bridge
In 1867, the "Swinging Bridge" was built on Mosquito Road. Today, it's a County Historical Landmark. The strong cables for the bridge were made by an Englishman named Hiram Tipton, right near the bridge site.
More Milestones
- In 1882, the Mosquito School District was officially started.
- The Mosquito Post Office also opened in 1882.
- In 1905, the Swansborough family bought the property where the Post Office had been.
- The American River Electric Company brought water to its power house on the American River, just below the Mosquito community.
Finnon Lake and Modern Changes
In 1907, Finnon Lake was completed. Later, it became a recreation area managed by the state and leased by the county.
Between 1911 and 1915, a telephone line was built between Placerville and Mosquito. Mosquito was also one of the first places in El Dorado County to get electric power. In 1926, the current Swansborough house was built after the original one burned down in 1924.
Civilian Conservation Corps and World War II
In 1934, a large Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp was set up in Mosquito. The CCC was a program that employed young men during the Great Depression. This camp had over 200 boys at a time and was run by the U.S. Army and the U.S. Forest Service.
During World War II, the camp housed conscientious objectors. These were people who refused to fight in the war for moral or religious reasons. They worked as forest service fire crews without pay during fire seasons.
Sawmills and Healers
From 1943 through the 1960s, a large sawmill operated in Mosquito. Logs were brought from far away, even from Bishop, California.
After World War II, a famous person named Frank Andre lived here until he passed away in 1959. People called him the "Goat Doctor" because he was a faith healer. Many people came from all over the United States to experience his healing touch.
The Start of Swansboro Subdivision
In 1968, the Swansboro subdivision began. This was a new housing development built on land bought from the Swansborough, Darr, Morton, and Lawyer families. It was the very first rural subdivision in El Dorado County.
Placerville's Role
Nearby downtown Placerville was a busy center for mining operations in the Mother Lode region. The town offered many important services like transportation, places to stay, banking, and general stores. You can still see the history of hard-rock mining at the Gold Bug Park & Mine. It's now a museum where you can take tours and learn more.
Weather in Swansboro Country
Swansboro has a typical Californian Mediterranean climate. This means it has cool, often wet winters and hot, dry summers.
Temperature Averages
- In January, the average high temperature is about 53.4 °F (11.9 °C) and the average low is 32.5 °F (0.3 °C).
- In July, the average high temperature is about 92.7 °F (33.7 °C) and the average low is 57.2 °F (14.0 °C).
- On average, there are about 65 days a year where the temperature reaches 90 °F (32 °C) or higher.
- There are also about 61 mornings a year where the temperature drops to 32 °F (0 °C) or lower.
- The hottest temperature ever recorded was 114 °F (46 °C) on July 4, 1911.
- The coldest temperature ever recorded was 8 °F (−13.3 °C) on December 9, 1972.
Rainfall Information
- Swansboro gets about 38.11 inches (968.0 mm) of rain each year.
- There are about 66 days with measurable rain.
- The wettest year on record was 1983, with 74.55 inches (1,893.6 mm) of rain.
- The driest year was 1976, with only 11.85 inches (301 mm) of rain.
- The most rain in one month was 23.29 inches (591.6 mm) in December 1955.
- The most rain in 24 hours was 6.22 inches (158 mm) on February 14, 2000.
Getting Around Swansboro Country
Swansboro Country is connected by two main highways.
Major Highways
- U.S. Route 50 goes west towards Sacramento and east towards South Lake Tahoe.
- California State Route 49 runs north and south. It connects Swansboro with other important communities in the Sierra Nevada foothills.
Local Airport
Swansboro is also served by a privately owned airport called Swansboro Country Airport.
