Chinese Camp was reportedly founded about 1849 by a group of Englishmen who employed Chinese as miners. Much surface gold was found on the surrounding hills and flats. In the early 1850s it served as headquarters for stage lines and for several California Chinese mining companies. The first Chinese tong war in the state was fought near here between the Sam Yap and Yan Woo tongs. The present stone and brick post office was built in 1854 and is still standing. St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church was built in 1855 and restored in 1949, and its first pastor was Father Henry Aleric.