A camp established in this area in 1850 was called Eureka, then later Eureka So. By 1856 it sometimes had a winter population of 1000. Rich placer mining deposits were played out by 1865, but quartz mining continued. By 1887, total gold taken from this area was estimated at 20 million dollars. The area was also important as a distribution point for water from reservoirs, fed to hydraulic mines below by ditches. The name changed to Graniteville when a post office was established on Aug. 26, 1867.