Forest City

Settled in 1850 by Mr. Savage, the first locations on Smith’s Flat were made in 1851 by a company consisting of Big Smith Frank Powers, Thomas Dunham, Elihu Mosgrove, and Davie Lewis. The diggings were named Brownsville in 1852 by a company of sailors, Bob Ritshie, Little Ned, and Mr. Brown, and the area was also known as Yomana and Forks of Oregon Creek. After growing to 1400 in nine months, the camp was renamed Elizaville, after Mrs. W.S. Davis, and in 1853 it was renamed Forest City by Mrs. Moody. In May 1854, the town had 7 provision stores, 4 clothing stores, a tin shop, 2 livery stables, 2 meat markets, 4 blacksmiths, and 5 hotels, the two largest being the Read Hose, operated by T.A. Read, and the Merchants Hotel, operated by Mr. Pratt. In 1854 the diggings on the flat paid an ounce a day clear to the man, and the best-paying mines were Live Yankee, Dutch Empire, Hawkeys, Little Rock, Rough and Ready, Get Away, Don Jose, Manhattan, American, Free and Easy, and Girard. Forest City is one of the richest gold areas in the Northern Mines Region.

California · United States