Yolo County California

Yolo County, Organized in 1850. Bounded north by Colusa, east by Sutter and Sacramento, south by Solano, and west by Napa and Lake. Area, 1,150 square miles. Assessed valuation of property for 1874, $7,309,179.

County seat, Woodland. Principal towns: Buckeye, Cacheville, Cottonwood, Davisville. Knight's Landing, Langville, and Washington. The county lies on the western bank of the Sacramento River and comprises a most lovely and fertile section of the great valley, and extends into the coast range of mountains.

The resources are almost exclusively agricultural, and as such, it ranks as one of the first in prosperity and productiveness in the State but in the mountain region quicksilver has been found, and mining must be added to its sources of wealth. The northwestern part extends along the valley of Cache Creek, to near the source of the stream in the mountains of the coast range, and is an excellent grazing region, from which, large quantities of wool of a superior quality is produced.

The land near the Sacramento River is subject to overflow, and is of the class known as tule land, very productive when reclaimed. About 40,000 acres of this land have been reclaimed and are under cultivation. This includes Grand Island, north of Knight's Landing. A belt of valley land of twenty miles in width, from the tule to the foothills, and extending through the county, a distance of thirty miles north and south, is everywhere arable and fertile and is the favorite section of the farmer.

Wheat is the principal production, but wool, vines, fruit trees, and the mulberry are extensively cultivated, and successful experiments have been made in the cultivation of cotton. Large quantities of wine are made, and many thousand boxes of raisins are annually put up.

The production of silk and of silkworm eggs have been tried with great success in this county, and has proven very remunerative. The Sacramento River runs along the eastern border, and Washington and Knight's Landing are ports for the shipment of produce.

The California Pacific Railroad enters the county at Davisville, and then branches, one branch going to Sacramento, crossing the river at Washington, the other extends north through Woodland to Knight's Landing. These roads and the river afford complete means of communication and transportation of products.

Officers: J. A. Hutton, County Judge; D. Schindler, Clerk; F. E. Baker, District Attorney; Carey Barney, Sheriff; J. D. Lawson, Recorder; K. H. Beamer, Auditor; A. C. Kean, Treasurer; J. A. Killer, Tax Collector; J. J. Ammons, Assessor; L. Friel, Surveyor; S. L. Monday, Coroner; A. C. Ruggles, Public Administrator; G. N. Freeman, Superintendent Public Schools.

California Gazetteer | AHGP California

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