History
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Founded in 1848 one mile from the first gold find in Tuolumne County at Woods Crossing, Jamestown took shape after Col. George F. James arrived in 1849. A merchant popular for supplying free champagne to patrons, he was elected acalde, and the town was dubbed "Jamestown." Poor mining investments left him in debt, and he quietly left town. Angry miners then changed the town's name to "American Camp," but "Jamestown" was eventually restored. Before the devastating fire of October, 1885, Jamestown's population was approximately 4,000.
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Jamestown, California · United States
