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

Stirling City

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, November 16, 2012

1. Stirling City Marker

Inscription. This peaceful community, gateway to the remote regions of the High Lakes of Butte and Plumas Counties, owes its origin and subsequent development to the entrance of the Diamond Match Company to California. With the purchase of about 40,000 acres of virgin timber lands in the Ransey Bar – Kimshaw areas, Diamond, between the years 1901 - 1904, financed the survey and construction of the Butte County Railroad from Chico to here. It had already acquired some 1200 acres at this place, upon which to erect the most modern sawmill in California, along with the building of a town six blocks long and five wide. The later included water, electricity, graded streets, sidewalks, sewers, houses, stores, and the sawmill & pond. At the onset the hardy lumbermen lived in tents, despite the severe winters. The initial boilers to arrive were ‘Stirlings,’ hence the name. Surviving a fire in 1931 destroying most all the original buildings the struggles of fifty years, and eventual ending of Diamond’s sawmill operations here the town has retained its interesting history and maintained its identity. To those seeking the peace and beauty

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of the lakes and streams of our evergreen forests, Stirling City and Diamond International Corp. welcomes you. Please come back again.

Erected 1976 by E Clampus Vitus, Pair-O-Dice Chapter No. 7-11.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1901.

Location. 39° 54.219′ N, 121° 31.613′ W. Marker is in Stirling City, California, in Butte County. It is on Skyway Highway near Retson Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 16595 Skyway Highway, Stirling City CA 95978, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the 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,

on 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.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, November 16, 2012

2. Stirling City Marker

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Lovelock (approx. 2.8 miles away); Inskip Hotel (approx. 6.1 miles away); Magalia Community Church / The Magalia Schoolhouse Bell (approx. 7.2 miles away); Dogtown (approx. 7.2 miles away); The Dogtown Nugget (approx. 7.4 miles away); 14 Mile House (approx. 9.6 miles away); Centerville Cemetery (approx. 9.6 miles away); Centerville School (approx. 10.6 miles away).

Another marker is no longer nearby. “Magalia Depot & Butte County Railroad” (was approx. 6.9 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Credits. This page was last revised on July 27, 2018. It was originally submitted on December 12, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,166 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 12, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.