Browns Valley in Yuba County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Browns Valley: 1850 – 1860

Photographed by Syd Whittle, February 8, 2011

1. Browns Valley: 1850 – 1860 Marker

Inscription. Browns Valley was an early stage stop and mining town sporting 5 hotels and 24 saloons. Freight wagons and mule trains loaded with supplies came up from Marysville with enormous loads of supplies destined for the mines and lumber camps in the high country. The Jefferson, Pennsylvania, and Donnebroughe among many others gave employment to a large number of men in the mines. In 1851, one of the first stamp mills for crushing gold-bearing quartz was built in this little town. During its heyday in the 1860’s, it had grown to over 3,000 residents, at which time it became known as ”Little Washoe”

Erected 2010 by Wm. Bull Meek - Wm. Morris Stewart Chapter No. 10, E Clampus Vitus.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1851.

Location. 39° 14.41′ N, 121° 24.547′ W. Marker is in Browns Valley, California, in Yuba County. It is on Marysville Road one mile north of California Highway 20. Marker is located in front of the Browns Valley Post Office. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5538 Marysville Road, Browns Valley CA 95918, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Sacramento Metro,

in Sacramento Valley,

and specifically in the Central Valley.

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. At least 8 other markers are within

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5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Brown's Valley: Beginnings (here, next to this marker); Donnebrouge Mine (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Henness Pass Road – Brown’s Valley (approx. 0.8 miles away); Hammon Grove (approx. 0.9 miles away); Timbuctoo (approx. 1.6 miles away); a different marker also named Timbuctoo (approx. 4.3 miles away); The Yuba River Bridge at Parks Bar (approx. 4.3 miles away); Loma Rica Grange Hall #802 (approx. 5 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Browns Valley.

Regarding Browns Valley: 1850 – 1860. Browns Valley is located about thirteen miles northwest of Marysville on the old road to Downieville. It now is located one mile north of State Highway 20 on Marysville Road. An early settler named Brown, who came to the area in 1850, discovered gold near a huge bolder next to the temporary camp where he was living. After finding over $12,000 in gold he decided that he had earned enough and “was satisfied to retire.” Soon after his find, four Frenchmen developed the Jefferson Mine. This was followed by the development of several additional mines. One of first stamp mills was erected at the nearby Sweet Vengeance Mine which had been purchased by a French company from Spaniards who had been working the Little Dry Creek using the arrastra method.

Also see . . .

Photographed by Syd Whittle, February 8, 2011

2. Browns Valley: 1850 – 1860 Marker

This marker, seen on the right, and the "Browns Valley: Beginnings" marker seen on the left, are two of the 10 markers erected by ECV Chapter 10 on 10/10/10.

Arrastra Mining Technique. A mule, or the miners themselves, pulled the boom around the circle, dragging heavy stones over the quartz ore to crush it. The miners then separated the gold from the pulverized ore in wooden bowls called bateas. (Submitted on February 8, 2011.)

Additional keywords. Gold Rush

Browns Valley "Downtown" image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, February 8, 2011

3. Browns Valley "Downtown"

Across from the marker are the retail buildings still remaining in Browns Valley.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on February 8, 2011, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 2,354 times since then and 66 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 8, 2011, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.