First known as California Ranche Crossing and then as Belt’s Ferry, Merced Falls was the site of a large Indian Rancheria. Its post office opened on Sept. 4, 1856. Flour and woolen mills were built there in 1854 and 1867. The town was destroyed by fire in August 1895. Yosemite Lumber Co. operated a large mill there from 1912 until 1943.