The History of Jackson
In 1854 Amador County was created and named after Jose Maria Amador. Amador
largest city is Jackson, founded in 1848. The early gold rush camp turned city
was destroyed by a raging gire in 1862. The city was rebuilt with as many as 42
of those Civil War era building still standing today on and round Jackson's
Historic Main Street.
largest city is Jackson, founded in 1848. The early gold rush camp turned city
was destroyed by a raging gire in 1862. The city was rebuilt with as many as 42
of those Civil War era building still standing today on and round Jackson's
Historic Main Street.
The city of Jackson was formerly known as Botilleas. The name was given by the Mexican and Chilean miners who were impressed by the number of bottles dropped at the spring that served as a watering hole for passing miners.
When you first set your eyes on Jackson, you can't help but notice the distinct geographic setting of this small town. It is cradled in a small valley backed by the silhouette of the the extinct, volcanic Butte Mountain.
Before the arrival of men seeking their fortunes in the gold, the area was occupied by Native Americans. For thousands of years, the Sierra Mi-Wuk called Jackson home. They inhabited areas along creeks, springs, flat ridges and terraces. Permanent villages were places on elevations above seasonal flood levels. The Mi-Wuks would hunt the area for seed, acorn, grass and deer. The Jackson Rancheria Bank of Mi-wuk Indians was first recognized by the Federal Government in 1898.
It is probable that after the arrival of the spanish in California there was some interation between the two groups; however it was not until the gold rush that large numbers of newcomers displaced the native people from their land. Gold seekers from around the world settled in and around Jackson, building a community with a diverse ethnic population, such as English, French, Chinese, Jews, and Italians. Many worked in the mines, some provided goods and services, and some became farmers and ranchers. A number of mines were opened up in Jackson. Kennedy and Argonaut developing into two fo the largest producing mines in the world.
It is believed that Jackson was named for Col. Alden A.M. Jackson, a Mexican War veteran who visited the future town site in 1848 with a group of prospectors. He became a famous Attorney here in Jackson. The miners loved him. He helped
Gold Rush miners settle claims and disputes without having to go to court.
Jackson eventually moved on to found the town of Jacksonvill in Tuolumne County. He was said to be close friends with Pio Pico the former Mexican governor to California. Pio was the brother of Andreas Pico, who fought with settlers over the Arroyo Seco land grant near Ione in Amador.
Gold Rush miners settle claims and disputes without having to go to court.
Jackson eventually moved on to found the town of Jacksonvill in Tuolumne County. He was said to be close friends with Pio Pico the former Mexican governor to California. Pio was the brother of Andreas Pico, who fought with settlers over the Arroyo Seco land grant near Ione in Amador.
In 1854, Jackson became the county seat of the newly formed Amador County, California. Previously, from 1851-1852, it had been the county seat of Calaveras County. Jackson may be the only city to have ever been county seat of two different counties at different times.Judge Smith proclaimed Jackson the seat of Justice after Clerk Collier canvassed the votes of the May 1851 election in which 1,224 votes were cast for Mokelumne Hill and 1,014 for Jackson. An armed party from Mokelumne Hill pursued Judge Smith to lynch him. Another party stole the records from the Clerk's office. Later Judge Smith shot and killed Collier on Main Street over another disputed election count. A perfect example of Mother Lode politics. To this day you can still feel the tention between Jackson and Mokelumne Hill.
Although Amador County was an important mining center, its County seat of Jackson was not typical of the early gold camps. The camp grew quickly. Besides being a popular mining spot, it was also a convenient resting stop on the road form Sacramento to the Southern Mines. The camp became an important supply and transportation center for the neighboring towns. By 1850 the population had reached an estimated 1,500. Jackson grew first as a watering hole for cattle and then as one of the earliest and most durable of the Mother Lode's hardrocking mining areas.
Placer mining gave out by the 1860's and was replaced by hard rock mining. From early 1850 until WWII Jackson's three main mines, The Eureka, Kennedy and Argonaut Mines produced 4,630,000 ounces of gold, more that half the counties entire gold production of 7,851,000 ounces produced from nineteen mines. Jackson produced more than half the gold mined in the Mother Lode. The Argonaut and Kennedy mines have shafts that drop over 5,000 ft into depth of the Mother Lode.
They are reported to be the deepest mines in the continent.
They are reported to be the deepest mines in the continent.
On August 27, 1922 47 miners became trapped underground when a fire broke out in the Argonaut mine. All 47 men died in the fire. It took search and recovery 3 weeks to locate them. They found that the miners did not live long after the fire erupted. This picture is of a record kept by one of the miners that perished. The Argonaut mine incident was the worst in gold mine disaster in US history.
Click here for a detailed account on the disaster
Click here for a detailed account on the disaster
During WWII the government needed to find a way for more men to sign up for the war effort. While some men were signing up to fight others were still digging for their fortune. The men would not come out of the mines to fight the war so the government came up an idea. In October 1942 the US government passed the War Production Board Limitation Order which signaled the demise of gold mining in California. Gold was not considered a strategic war metal. All mines were closed.
Jackson moved into the 20th cnetury at a slow pace that sped up as it moved through the decades. With the closing of the mines, Jackson was delivered a severe blow. But, within a couple of years the town had truned around and was getting back on its feet. Many of the men who worked in the mining industry found work elsewhere. New industries were developed to replace lost jobs. During the 1940s several new building were constructed in the central business district.
The town has continued to grow into the 21st century. During this year of 2012, The community has come together in restoring many of the building of downtown to their original beauty. The local casino, The Jackson Rancheria, has taken on a partnership with the local business and is restoring all the parks in Amador County. Today Jackson has retained its small-town feel and has become a favorite destination for tourists. With the restoration of Main Street, tourist can come and experience the romance of history of Jackson. The town has experienced boom and bust but still endures. Because of the tourism trade, you can say that Jackson has once again found gold.