Ophir, California
Encyclopedia
Ophir is an unincorporated community
in Placer County
, California
. Ophir is located 2.5 miles (4 km) west of Auburn
. It lies at an elevation of 682 feet (208 m).
Ophir, now a suburb of Auburn, it was a boomtown
of the California Gold Rush
, later a ghost town
. In 1852 it was the center of the local gold mining industry, and the most populous town in the county. After the gold rush, the area was planted in vineyards and orchards, and during Prohibition
just in orchards. Beginning in the 1970s vineyards again returned to the area. Today, local services for Ophir come from Auburn.
The Ophirville post office was open by 1852 and closed in 1866. The Ophir post office opened in 1872 and closed in 1910. The name comes from Biblical Ophir
, the source of King Solomon's treasures.
Originally named The Spanish Corral in 1849, Ophir received its Biblical name in 1850 because of the rich, gold placer mining in the area, and grew to over 500 families by 1853. Later it became the center of quartz mining in the county. It is remembered at California Historical Landmark
#463.
Ophir addresses have the ZIP code
of 95603, an Auburn address.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Placer County
Placer County, California
Placer County is a county located in both the Sacramento Valley and Sierra Nevada regions of the U.S. state of California, in what is known as the Gold Country. It stretches from the suburbs of Sacramento to Lake Tahoe and the Nevada border. Because of the expansion of the Greater Sacramento,...
, 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...
. Ophir is located 2.5 miles (4 km) west of Auburn
Auburn, California
Auburn is the county seat of Placer County, California. Its population at the 2010 census was 13,330. Auburn is known for its California Gold Rush history.Auburn is part of the Greater Sacramento area.- History :...
. It lies at an elevation of 682 feet (208 m).
Ophir, now a suburb of Auburn, it was a boomtown
Boomtown
A boomtown is a community that experiences sudden and rapid population and economic growth. The growth is normally attributed to the nearby discovery of a precious resource such as gold, silver, or oil, although the term can also be applied to communities growing very rapidly for different reasons,...
of the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
, later a ghost town
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
. In 1852 it was the center of the local gold mining industry, and the most populous town in the county. After the gold rush, the area was planted in vineyards and orchards, and during Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
just in orchards. Beginning in the 1970s vineyards again returned to the area. Today, local services for Ophir come from Auburn.
The Ophirville post office was open by 1852 and closed in 1866. The Ophir post office opened in 1872 and closed in 1910. The name comes from Biblical Ophir
Ophir
Ophir is a port or region mentioned in the Bible, famous for its wealth. King Solomon is supposed to have received a cargo of gold, silver, sandalwood, precious stones, ivory, apes and peacocks from Ophir, every three years.- Citations :...
, the source of King Solomon's treasures.
Originally named The Spanish Corral in 1849, Ophir received its Biblical name in 1850 because of the rich, gold placer mining in the area, and grew to over 500 families by 1853. Later it became the center of quartz mining in the county. It is remembered at California Historical Landmark
California Historical Landmark
California Historical Landmarks are buildings, structures, sites, or places in the state of California that have been determined to have statewide historical significance by meeting at least one of the criteria listed below:...
#463.
Ophir addresses have the ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
of 95603, an Auburn address.