Wolf, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wolf
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 Wolf
Location in California
Wolf
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | Nevada County |
| Elevation | 1,578 ft (481 m) |
Wolf is a small, historic community located in the western part of Nevada County, California. It's not an official town or city, but a place where people live and work. You can find Wolf about 12 miles south of Grass Valley, sitting at an elevation of 1,578 feet above sea level. The community is mainly centered around where Wolf Road and Garden Bar Road meet today.
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How Wolf Got Its Name
The area was first known as the Wolf District. It got its name from Wolf Creek, a stream that flows through the region. Legend says that in 1849, some miners camped by the creek saw wolves fighting over a cow they had killed. That's how the creek, and later the community, got its wild name! When a post office was set up in 1888, the name was shortened to just "Wolf."
Early Settlers and Ranching Life
In the 1860s, farmers and ranchers began moving into the Wolf area. They gradually took the place of the early miners. One of the first settlers was Jackson B. Underwood.
In 1869, William Sweet, who came from Cornwall, England, bought Underwood's 200-acre ranch. He started to make it much bigger. In 1871, William's wife, Katherine, and their five children joined him. Sadly, William was killed in a disagreement with a neighbor in 1872. Even today, some of William and Katherine's family members still own large ranches around Wolf.
A Growing Community
As more people moved to Wolf, the community grew. In 1888, a post office was opened in Wolf. On August 24, 1888, John Sweet, one of William Sweet's sons, became the first postmaster.
The Sweet Family and the Post Office
John Sweet ran the post office right from the living room of his ranch house. This house was located just west of the main intersection of Wolf and Garden Bar roads. The post office became a central gathering spot for the community. At one point, it served about 75 local residents.
By 1891, Wolf also had its own school, which was important for the children living there. In 1890, reports say the community even had two churches, one Methodist and one Christian.
The Longest-Serving Postmaster
John Sweet served as the Wolf postmaster for a very long time, until February 19, 1940. He was even said to be the longest-serving postmaster in the entire United States!
After John, his nephew, W.B. Sweet, took over the job. W.B. built a small building on his ranch, about half a mile south of John's ranch, to house the post office. However, by 1956, only two other residents were still using the post office. Because of this, the postmaster asked for it to be closed down. The second post office building was later moved closer to the intersection of Wolf and Garden Bar roads, where it still stands today.
Wolf Today
Today, Wolf is still a quiet, rural area. A few historic buildings from its past remain. The community continues to be known for its agriculture, ranching, and horse breeding.
