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

Mother Orange Tree of Butte County

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, November 15, 2012

1. Mother Orange Tree of Butte County Marker

Inscription. Judge Joseph Lewis planted this Mediterranean Sweet Orange seedling near the toll bridge at Bidwell’s Bar, Butte County, California in 1856. It has survived hard times and is the oldest living orange tree in California. “From its example and largely from its offspring, a new industry was started in a new section hundreds of miles north of a known citrus region. It was a true pioneer,” – Dr. H.J. Webber, Director, Citrus Experiment Station, Riverside, 1927. The Mother Orange was moved from Bidwell Bar during the construction of Oroville Dam in 1964 to protect it from inundation.

Erected 2006 by California State Park in cooperation with the Butte County Historical Society and U.C. Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor for Citrus in Butte County. (Marker Number 1043.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Agriculture. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks, and the Historic Trees series lists. 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. It can be reached from Glenn Drive south of Meadowview Drive, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 400 Glenn Drive, Oroville CA 95966, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Sacramento Valley

and specifically in the Central Valley.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Northern California's Oldest Citrus Tree (here, next to this marker); The Last Yahi Indian (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.

Also see . . . Mother Orange Tree - Wikipedia. Originally planted in Bidwell's Bar near the Bidwell Bar Bridge, the tree is a Mediterranean sweet orange Citrus × sinensis cultivar." (Submitted on December 5, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, November 15, 2012

2. Mother Orange Tree of Butte County Marker

The Mother Orange Tree is in the background.

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

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, November 15, 2012

3. The Mother Orange Tree of Butte County

Credits. This page was last revised on December 11, 2019. It was originally submitted on December 5, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,504 times since then and 51 times this year. Last updated on December 11, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 5, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.