Oroville in Butte County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Northern California's Oldest Citrus Tree

Sweet Mother Orange and Her Seeds

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer

1. Northern California's Oldest Citrus Tree Marker

Photo Captions, clockwise from the top left:

Bidwell Bar Bridge (the first suspension bridge in California) spanning the Middle Fork of the Feather River; The town of Bidwell Bar, circa 1856, located on the banks of the Middle Fork of the Feather River; The Mother Orange Tree laden with fruit; Toll House at Bidwell Bar Bridge and Mother Orange Tree.

Inscription. Imported from Mazatlan, Mexico, the Mother Orange Tree was purchased on the streets of Sacramento when it was only a 2 to 3 year-old seedling in a tub. She was planted in 1856 and quickly grew into a California legend. The leafy greens of her robust canopy have flourished with fruit ever since.

Early-day miners traveled from far and wide to eat her sweet oranges, gather the seeds, and plant them in yards of their homes. The tree has withstood being moved, floods, freezes and windstorms. Today, with the help of a greenhouse, warming lamps and water mister, the Mother Orange Tree continues to thrive and remain a beloved symbol of the Golden State.

Erected 2008 by California State Parks. (Marker Number 1043.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Agriculture. In addition, it is included in the Historic Trees series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1856.

Location. 39° 30.674′ N, 121° 30.248′ W. Marker is in Oroville, California, in Butte County. Marker is on Glenn Drive south of Meadowview Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 400 Glenn Drive, Oroville CA 95966, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Mother Orange Tree of Butte County (here, next to this marker); The Last Yahi Indian

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(approx. 0.9 miles away); Braselton Home Site (approx. 1.9 miles away); Oroville Dam (approx. 2.2 miles away); Long's Bar (approx. 2.4 miles away); Site of the First Flour Mill (approx. 2½ miles away); Site of 1st Sawmill (approx. 2.6 miles away); Oroville Masonic Temple (approx. 2.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oroville.

Bidwell Bar Bridge (<i>inset photo close-up</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 26, 2014

2. Bidwell Bar Bridge (inset photo close-up)

Bidwell Bar Bridge (the fist suspension bridge in California) spanning the Middle Fork of the Feather River

Bidwell Bar c.1856 (<i>inset photo close-up</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 26, 2014

3. Bidwell Bar c.1856 (inset photo close-up)

The town of Bidwell Bar, circa 1856, located on the banks of the Middle Fork of the Feather River

Mother Orange Tree (<i>inset photo close-up</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 26, 2014

4. Mother Orange Tree (inset photo close-up)

The Mother Orange Tree laden with fruit

Toll House (<i>inset photo close-up</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 26, 2014

5. Toll House (inset photo close-up)

Toll House at Bidwell Bar Bridge and Mother Orange Tree

Mother Orange Tree of Butte County Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer

6. Mother Orange Tree of Butte County Marker

The marker is seen on the left and the Mother Orange Tree is in the background.

The Mother Orange Tree of Butte County image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer

7. The Mother Orange Tree of Butte County

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on January 1, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 952 times since then and 27 times this year. Last updated on January 23, 2013. Photos: 1. submitted on December 5, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 11, 2014, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 6, 7. submitted on December 5, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.