Alpha is a former settlement in Nevada County

Nevada County, California

Nevada County is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of California, in the Mother Lode country. As of 2010 its population was 98,764. The county seat is Nevada City.-History:Nevada County was created in 1851 from parts of Yuba County....

, California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

. Alpha is located 2 miles (3.2 km) south-southeast of Washington

Washington, California

Washington is a census-designated place located in Nevada County, California. Washington is located on the banks of the South Fork of The Yuba River and has a population of approximately two hundred people...

. It is situated at an elevation of 4120 ft (1,255.8 m) above sea level

Above mean sea level

The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...

. Alpha had a post office during the period of 1855-1862.

The Alpha Hydraulic Diggings

Alpha Hydraulic Diggings

The Alpha Hydraulic Diggings are located one mile north of what was the town of Alpha during the California Gold Rush in 1850, but the site is now near the unincorporated town of Washington, California. The diggings became a registered California Historical Landmark on 1958-01-29...

were 1 miles (1.6 km) south of the town.

Gold

Gold was discovered at the place 1850; settlers arrived in 1852. In gold rush days, the town's nickname was "Hell Out for High Noon City".