Trinity County California

Trinity County. Organized in 1852. Bounded north by Klamath and Siskiyou, east by Shasta and Tehama, south by Mendocino, and west by Humboldt. Area, 1,800 square miles. Assessed valuation of property for 1874, $1,003,669.

County seat, Weaverville. Principal towns: Douglas City, Hayfork, Junction City, Lewiston, Minersville, and Trinity Center.

The county is extremely mountainous, and the greater part difficult of access; consequently, whatever resources it may possess other than gold mining, are but slightly developed. The Trinity River rises in the northeast and has a winding course of a hundred miles through the county. Placers of great richness were found along it and its branches, and were worked for a number of years with great energy and profit, but the mining interest greatly declined, and the Chinese swarmed where the white miner formerly delved.

Recently, however, mining has greatly revived, water being introduced at high elevations and the deep gravel deposits attacked by the most approved system of hydraulic washing. As a consequence the gold product for the season of 1873-4 was greater than for many years preceding, being about $l,500,000, renewing the energies and hopes of the miners and giving life and prosperity to every business.

Important discoveries of cinnabar have also been made, particularly the mines of Lytle & Hanchet, which are situated about 15 miles northeast of Trinity Center, which are believed to be of great value, a large body of rich ore being developed and from a small retort in operation highly encouraging returns of quicksilver have been obtained. Several other mines are opening with like prospects.

Farms and vineyards are cultivated with success, and wine and brandy are manufactured. Grand forests of pine, fir, and oak cover the greater portion of the county, the climate is exceedingly healthy and invigorating, and were it of convenient access, Trinity would show a wealth equal to any of the mountain counties of California.

Officers: E. P. Lovejoy, County Judge; James G. Trotter, Clerk, Recorder, and Auditor; B. Clifford, District Attorney; J. W. Philbrook, Sheriff and Tax Collector; E. T. McCausland, Treasurer; Jacob Paulsen, Assessor; W. S. Lowden, Surveyor; J. H. Driver, Coroner, and Public Administrator; H. H. Bragdon, Superintendent Public Schools.

California Gazetteer | AHGP California

Source: Pacific Coast Business Directory for 1876-78, Compiled by Henry G. Langley, San Francisco, 1875