Founded in June 1851 and commonly called Virginia, Virginiatown had over 2,000 miners working rich deposits. In 1852 Captain John Brislow built California's first railroad to carry pay to Auburn Ravine, a distance of one mile. It was also the site of Philip Armour's and George Aldrich's butcher shop, said to have led to the founding of the famous Chicago Armour Meat Packing Company.