Yreka, County seat in Siskiyou County, California, US
Yreka serves as the administrative center of Siskiyou County in northern California, where main roads and trading routes converge. The town spreads across a high valley overlooking forested hillsides and open pastures that reach toward the volcanic peaks of the Cascade Range.
The settlement began in 1851 when prospectors discovered precious metal in nearby streams. Within a few years, it grew into a supply hub for mining communities throughout the region.
The downtown core preserves 19th-century buildings now housing shops and restaurants. On summer weekends, historic steam trains run through the valley, taking passengers into the nearby mountains.
Interstate 5 runs through town, linking it to Oregon in the north and California's Central Valley in the south. In winter, snowfall can affect mountain roads while the town center usually stays clear.
A gold nugget found near town in 1851 reportedly weighed 25 pounds (11 kilograms). Some old mines in the surrounding hills are still visited by collectors hoping to discover historical tools.
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