About the Columbia, Twain Harte and Sonora, California Area 

Sonora is set in the beautiful Sierra-Nevada foothills and is a wealth of history of the gold-mining days. The town is named after the Sonorans who settled there in search of gold. By 1851, Sonora was hastily incorporated as a gold mining town but has developed into a retail, cultural, commercial and government center for the area. Many of its existing buildings were built in the 1800’s. Sonora is full of historic charm and small town hospitality.  

LOCATION 

Sonora is located in the Sierra-Nevada foothills on highways 108 and 49. Sonora is 70 miles north of Yosemite National Park (a great vacation destination) and an easy 2-hour drive from San Francisco and the Central Valley. 

TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORTS  

Sonora can be reached via two small airports in the area-Columbia and Pine Mountain Lake Airports. The larger San Francisco International Airport is only about a 2-hour drive away. The Fresno Yosemite Airport is less than an hour and a half away. Many California highways and interstates get you to Sonora from any destination around the State. During the winter months be sure to carry chains and check with CalTrans for travel information in and around the Sierra Nevada foothills and nearby State Parks. 

BRIEF HISTORY 

Sonora developed in the heart of the gold mining country. In fact, it was called the “Queen of the Southern Mines”. The city was settled in 1848 by the Sonoran miners who had come from the State of Sonora in Mexico and thus the name Sonora. The Me-wok Indians used to come down for winters to the Sonora area until it got to be more populated and then they wintered elsewhere. Sonora was incorporated in 1851, which makes it one of the oldest cities in California. Sonora had a reputation as a pretty wild gold rush town. By 1849, it had a population of 5,000. In 1850, Tuolumne County was one of the first 27 counties of California and Sonora was its county seat and remains so today. It is the only incorporated city in the county.  

In 1885, the Sonora Opera Hall was built to accommodate larger community gatherings due to the rising population. It was reconstructed out of the fire remains of the Star Flouring Mill. In 1985 the City acquired it and restored it into an elegant entertainment and community center. 

Lumber took over after mining declined, especially when the Sierra Railroad came to town in 1899. Later, forest management changed the emphasis from logging and tourism became economically viable for Sonora. Today Sonora retains it’s historic heritage and charm, with some of its buildings from the 1800’s and narrow streets as they were in the gold rush days, making it still a popular tourist destination. 

ABOUT EDUCATION 

Tuolumne County serves the 8,500 children in Tuolumne County. They cater to the diversified population of children within the 12 public school districts, which includes one unified school district, two high school districts, and a community college. Tuolumne County office of Superintendent provides guidance and leadership for a strong instructional program in the schools from kindergarten through high school. There are also 4 private schools with an enrollment of over 50. Sonora has one elementary school and two high schools. 

Columbia is a famous gold rush town, which began in March of 1850 when gold was first discovered there. By the month’s end, more than 1,000 prospectors had moved into a tent and shantytown housing. At first, the town was called American Camp, but was later changed to its permanent name, Columbia. In 1945, California legislature appropriated money to preserve Columbia as the gold rush town it had been with the creation of the Columbia State Historic Park in downtown Columbia.  

LOCATION 

Columbia is located in Tuolumne County in the middle of California’s Gold Country. It is off of Highway 49, north of Sonora and west of Twain Harte. It is 140 miles from San Francisco and 76 miles from Yosemite Valley. Highway 108 at Modesto is the one to travel off of Highway 99 in order to get there. Then take J59 to Highway 49 right to Columbia and Columbia State Historic Park. 

TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORTS 

Columbia can be reached via two small airports in the area-Columbia and Pine Mountain Lake Airports. The larger San Francisco International Airport is only about a 2-hour drive away. The Fresno Yosemite Airport is less than an hour and a half away. Many California highways and interstates get you to Columbia from any destination around the State. During the winter months be sure to carry chains and check with CalTrans for travel information in and around the Sierra Nevada foothills and nearby State Parks. 

BRIEF HISTORY 

Dr. Thaddeus Hildreth and his brother, George and others had made a camp nearby and first found gold in Columbia in March of 1850. Thousands of miners flocked there and by the end of the month a shantytown was established. By the end of the first year, water, which the miners used extensively, was about to run out. No natural supply existed in the area. In June of 1851, Tuolumne Water Company was formed to bring water to the area. Since their rates were so high, in 1854 miners banded together to form the Columbia and Stanislaus River Company, which built a 60-mile aqueduct. This system wasn’t completed until 4 years later when most of the miners were moving out. Then Tuolumne Water Company bought the million-dollar system for $150,000. Meanwhile the town was being developed and by 1852 there were more than 150 shops, stores, saloons, and other businesses and the streets were laid out. For a while, Columbia was the 2nd largest city in California. 

A few fires during this time burned down many wooden buildings that were quickly rebuilt with brick and other fire preventative materials and volunteer fire companies emerged. Between the 1850’s and the 1870’s, gold mined there equaled one-half a billion dollars at today’s value. During the 1860’s population declined and during the 1870’s and 1880’s there were only 500 residents remaining. Columbia was never completely deserted. Finally in 1945, California State funds and public monies refurbished the historic buildings in the old downtown district of Columbia to create Columbia State Historic Park where the gold rush era can still be enjoyed today. 

ABOUT EDUCATION 

Tuolumne County serves the 8,500 children in Tuolumne County. They cater to the diversified population of children within the 12 public school districts, which includes one unified school district, two high school districts, and a community college. Tuolumne County office of Superintendent provides guidance and leadership for a strong instructional program in the schools from kindergarten through high school. There are also 4 private schools with an enrollment of over 50. Columbia has Columbia Elementary and Shaws Flat Campus. 

Twain Harte is located in a beautiful area, near a lake and surrounded by trees-very inviting! Twain Harte originally developed as a summer community for a few hundred and since the end of World War II has grown to permanent homes for several thousand. Today Twain Harte is one of the fastest growing areas in Tuolumne County. 

LOCATION 

Twain Harte is located on Highway 108, in Tuolumne County in the Stanislaus National Forest. It is northwest of Yosemite National Park. It is east of Columbia. It is further east of Stockton. 

TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORTS  

Twain Harte can be reached via two small airports in the area-Columbia and Pine Mountain Lake Airports. The larger San Francisco International Airport is only about a 2-hour drive away. The Fresno Yosemite Airport is less than an hour and a half away. Many California highways and interstates get you to Twain Harte from any destination around the State. During the winter months be sure to carry chains and check with CalTrans for travel information in and around the Sierra Nevada foothills and nearby State Parks. Sonora Pass on east side of Yosemite Park is access to Twain Harte from Nevada and other states east. 

BRIEF HISTORY 

Twain Harte area was originally used by the Mi-Wuk Indians. Their lived near the natural landmark called “the Rock”, a sweeping expanse of granite, in a lakeside camp. As more and more white settlers moved into the foothills looking for gold, the Indians moved. After the gold rush, the lumbermen and cattlemen moved in. Apple and pear orchards also were started. In 1861, a road was authorized by the US Congress to go from Twain Harte over the Sonora Pass with a tollbooth at either end. 

In 1923, Keturah C. Wood bought 240 acres which he subdivided in 1924 and named Twain Harte Lodge after two famous authors, Mark Twain and Bret Harte. This was believed to be the first private recreational subdivision in the Sierra Nevadas. The Twain Harte dam was started in 1927. The first school opened in 1928.
By 1934, Twain Harte was a thriving summer community. The subdivision clubhouse hosted all the community activities including meeting hall, social hall and church for all denominations. Today Twain Harte has at least 6 subdivisions and hosts a population of several thousand as year round residents. 

ABOUT EDUCATION 

Tuolumne County serves the 8,500 children in Tuolumne County. They cater to the diversified population of children within the 12 public school districts, which includes one unified school district, two high school districts, and a community college. Tuolumne County office of Superintendent provides guidance and leadership for a strong instructional program in the schools from kindergarten through high school. There are also 4 private schools with an enrollment of over 50. Twain Harte has two elementary schools-Twain Harte Elementary and Pinecrest Elementary.