The town of Mariposa is located on a plot of land with a long, rich history. Known for its Mother Lode, the legendary gold vein that sparked a mining boom, Mariposa would outlast other mining settlements and make its mark on American history.
Prior to the mining town’s birth, the Southern Miwok Indians had lived in the area for generation upon generation, possibly as far back as 8,000-10,000 years prior to the California Gold Rush.
The name “Las Mariposa”, Spanish for butterflies, was given to the area when the men of the Gabriel Moraga Expedition of 1806 came upon a creek there encircled by yellow butterflies. Years later, this experience would inspire the name of the settlement of Mariposa.
The Mistake That Started It All
Mariposa did not come into being until an American, John C. Fremont (yes, the presidential candidate of 1856), collaborated with his acquaintance, Thomas O. Larkin, to acquire the Santa Cruz Ranch in 1846.
Or should I say, attempted to acquire the Santa Cruz Ranch. This plot of land near San Jose would never end up in Mr.Fremont’s possession after all, as Larkin chose to purchase an entirely different land grant–the Rancho Las Mariposas, or the Las Mariposas Grant.
From a business standpoint, this alternative purchase did not make sense. The area of Rancho Las Mariposas did not have farms or ranchlands, it was already occupied by Indian peoples and it was over 100 miles from the nearest town.
But in an interesting turn of events, gold was discovered along the American River near Coloma, California the following year. This caused Fremont to wonder, could gold also be found within Rancho Las Mariposas?
A Cache of Gold
Fremont dispatched a team of Mexican miners who, under the guidance of Alex A. Godey, determined that there was a mile-long vein of hard rock gold deposits. The gold vein would become known as part of the Mother Lode.
This vast streak of gold deposit is known today to be the result of a tectonic plate collision that had caused mineral-laden water to escape from below the earth’s surface during the formation of the Smartville Block. It took decades for the full development of hard rock mines in the area, but it was enough to start a rush.
The Gold Rush Begins
Before Fremont had the chance to legally substantiate the borders of his land grant, the 49ers began to pour into Rancho Las Mariposas. It was during this gold rush in 1949 that the settlement of Mariposa had its origins.
Mariposa was established slowly, over the course of years rather than in a moment by the signing of paperwork. Gold miners set up camp at the location soon to become known as Mariposa, and Fremont commissioned the Mariposa Mining Company to survey the area.
After this, Mariposa was officially christened a town. November 1851 saw the town of Mariposa qualify as the County Seat of Mariposa County. At last it was clear: Mariposa was here to stay.
Throughout the 1850s and the early 1860s, placer gold resources were mined in the area. Men would wash the gravels from surrounding creeks through sluice boxes, recovering gold dust and gold nuggets. These easily mineable gravels were very rich, but they also got “played out” within a few seasons. Eventually the best ground was depleted and the Mariposa mining industry had to turn to hard rock quartz mining.
Because of the nature of the work, hard rock mining was carried by companies rather than individuals. Many miners joined forces with mining companies to work as their employees. This changed Mariposa and town life started to revolve around company life.
Mine employees lived in company residences and purchased from the company’s stores. No longer were there thousands of independent miners living in tents here and there, purchasing what they needed from local enterprises. The advent of hard rock mining had made Mariposa more organized, more corporate.
The Gold Boom Slows
Though the California gold boom slowed down considerably by the end of the nineteenth century, lode mining was still prevalent in the late 1930s and early 1940s in Mariposa County. With changes in the market, the depletion of placer gold and new government price enforcement, the mining industry took a hit.
Despite all this, it was only when the War Production Board Order L-208 was issued in the fall of 1942 that most mines closed. The order was meant to draw civilian workers out of the mines and into the American war effort; the gold mining industry never recovered.
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Mariposa’s Legacy Continues
The gold rush had long-lasting effects on the town of Mariposa. It brought technology and infrastructure to Mariposa.
The very first telephone lines were set up in the town in 1895. The mines needed electricity, so hydropower came to the town shortly after, in 1903.
Infrastructure such as roads and railways had been invested in to support the growth of the mining industry. Eventually, these became useful for Mariposa’s new industries, agriculture and tourism.
Today, Mariposa is a tourist destination with a curated museum collection on display to the public. The historic sites here are also used to educate Californian students about the recorded history of their state.
Millions of visitors take a drive along the famous Highway 49 every year, exploring Mariposa and other rich towns of the California Gold Rush.
Next: Good Times & Gold Mines of Sierra City, CA