Sierra County, California

California gained statehood on September 8, 1850, with 27 counties, and this area was part of Yuba County. Residents soon felt the disadvantages of belonging to Yuba County because Marysville was too distant, county government there was ineffective, the trouble, expense, and time required to send criminals to Marysville allowed some to escape punishment while others were dealt with by Judge Lynch, and the Yuba government provided no protection or benefit beyond the attention of the tax collector. On April 16, 1852, Governor John Bigler signed legislation establishing Sierra County as the 31st county of the 31st state, defining its boundaries by the middle and north branches of the Yuba River, the dividing ridge between the Feather and Yuba rivers, the state boundary, and the northerly line of Nevada County, and setting the seat of justice at Downieville.

Downieville, California · United States