Agua Fria, California

Agua Fria is the former county seat of Mariposa County located approximately three miles west of Mariposa, California.

History

Agua Fria was mainly a mining camp divided into Lower Agua Fria and Upper Agua Fria. The name was derived from two springs of cold water about a quarter mile below Lower Agua Fria (the main part of town). It may have been here that John C. Fremont's men discovered gold in 1849. In 1850, it was a booming trade center and the final destination for many new arrivals in California. It was Mariposa County's first Seat of Justice from February 18, 1850 to November 10, 1851. A post office was established October 7, 1851. In 1853, a 6-stamp quartz mill was established in Upper Agua Fria. The camp boasted a hotel, express office, assayers, billiard room, bowling alley, monte and faro banks, about a dozen stores, numerous tents and log cabins by the fall of 1850. The population started to decline by the mid-19th century, and the city suffered destructive fires and was never rebuilt. "Agua Fria" means "cold water" in Spanish.

Present status

Agua Fria is a ghost town with little to see but grassy meadows. It is accessible via Agua Fria Road to Mount Bullion and the site of Princeton. It's also a nice alternate route into Mariposa. The site today is private property, and is a California Historical Landmark (#518).

ources

* [http://www.donaldlaird.com/landmarks/counties/500-599/518.html "Agua Fria California State Historic Landmark 518"]
* [http://www.malakoff.com/goldcountry/mcaguasm.htm "Agua Fria"]

External links

* [http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/ca/aguafria.html More information on the city of Agua Fria, California (The site has a background song)]