Nevada City

Nevada City is a small town in northern California, nestled in the Sierra Nevada foothills at around 2,500 feet (760 meters) above sea level. The main street runs through a narrow valley, flanked by forested hills and small creeks.

The area was once home to the Nisenan people before gold seekers established a camp here in the late 1840s. The settlement grew quickly and was officially incorporated in 1856.

The main street retains its wooden sidewalks and narrow storefronts, now home to local shops, restaurants, and galleries. Many buildings still show their original cast-iron shutters and covered porches from the mining era.

The downtown area is easy to explore on foot, with parking available along the edges of the main street. Surrounding hiking trails are accessible in dry weather and lead through wooded slopes.

An underground tunnel from the early gold mining days still runs beneath parts of the town. This shaft was among the first of its kind in the region and led to further excavations in the surrounding hills.

Location: Nevada County

Elevation above the sea: 755 m

Shares border with: Camptonville

Website: http://nevadacityca.gov

GPS coordinates: 39.26139,-121.01861

Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:03