I. COUNTY BOUNDARIES AND SEATS OF JUSTICE. [In the following list of the counties of the State of California, it is designed to give only their boundaries and seats of justice as at present established, without reference to the various statutes which have from time to time been passed affecting them. If the reader wishes to examine the particular acts, and trace the legislation in regard to either boundaries or seats of justice, or if he desires to investigate the special and local legislation relating to the various counties, he will find full references under the heads of the respective counties.] ALAMEDA COUNTY. An Act to create the county of Alameda, and establish the seat of justice therein, to define its boundaries, and to provide for its organization. Approved March 25, 1853, 56. 1141. SECTION 1. The following shall constitute the boundaries and seat of justice Boundaries. of Alameda County. Beginning at a point at the head of a slough, which is an arm of the bay of San Francisco, making into the main land in front of the Gegara Ranches; thence to a lone sycamore-tree that stands in a ravine between the dwellings of Fluhencia and Valentine Gegara; thence up said ravine to the top of the mountains; thence on a direct line eastwardly, to the junction of the San Joaquin and Tuolumne counties.() From thence northwestwardly on the west line of San Joaquin County, to the slough known as the Pescadora; thence westwardly in a straight line until it strikes the dividing ridge, in the direction of the house of Joel Harlan, in Amador Valley; thence westwardly along the middle of said ridge, crossing the gulch one-half mile below Prince's mill; thence to, and running upon the dividing ridge between the red woods, known as the San Antonio and Prince's Woods; thence along the top of said ridge to the head of the gulch or creek that divides the Ranches of the Peraltas from those known as the San Pablo Ranches; thence down the middle of said gulch to its mouth; and from thence westwardly, to the eastern line of the County of San Francisco; thenco along said last-mentioned line to the place of beginning.() An Act to locate the seat of justice of Alameda county and amendatory of above-mentioned act. Approved February 8, 1856, 26. SECTION 1. The town or place known as San Leandro, in the County of Alameda, Seat of justice. shall be and remain the seat of justice of said county. ALPINE COUNTY. An Act to create the County of Alpine, to define its boundaries, and to provide for its organi zation. Approved March 16, 1864; 1863–4, 178. 1142. SECTION 1. There shall be formed, out of those portions of El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras, and Mono Counties, lying near the summit of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, a new county, to be called Alpine. SEC. 2. The boundaries of Alpine County shall be as follows: Commencing at a Boundaries. point where the State line crosses the east summit of the Sierra Nevada Mountains; thence southwesterly along said summit, to a point two miles west of James Green's house, in Hope Valley, called Thompson's Peak; thence southwesterly in a direct line to Z. Kirkwood's house, on the Amador and Nevada Turnpike Road, excluding said Kirkwood's house; thence due south, across the North Fork of the Mokelumne River, to the road leading from West Point, in Calaveras County, to the Big Tree Road, near the Big Meadows; thence easterly, along said West Point Road, to the Big Tree Road; thence easterly in a direct line to where the Sonora Trail strikes the Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River; thence easterly along said trail, to the summit of the Sierra Nevada Mountains; thence northerly along said summit to the dividing ridge between the West Walker and the Carson Rivers; thence northeasterly along said dividing ridge to the State line; thence northwesterly along said State line to the place of beginning. [No seat of justice has as yet been declared by legislative act: but under section 3 of the above act of March 16, 1864, Silver City was chosen by the county electors.] () Since this act was passed Tuolumne County has been divided, and the portion here referred to is now Stanislaus County. (b) San Francisco County has been divided since 1858, and the southern portion, along which the Alameda line runs, is now San Mateo County. Boundaries. County-seat. Boundary-line. Boundaries. AMADOR COUNTY. An Act to establish the boundaries of Amador County, and fix the county-seat thereof. Approved April 23, 1855, 134. 1143. SECTION 1. The following shall be the boundaries of the County of Amador: Beginning in the middle of the Mokelumne River on the eastern boundary of San Joaquin County; thence up the middle of the channel of said river to the junction of the North Fork of the same; thence up the middle of the said North Fork to its source; thence due east to the eastern boundary of the State; thence northwestwardly to the southern boundary of El Dorado County; thence down the middle of the channel of the said South Fork of the South Fork of the Cosumnes River to its mouth; thence down the middle of the channel of the said South Fork of the Cosumnes River to its mouth; thence down the middle of the channel of the Cosumnes River to where said river enters Sacramento County; thence southeastwardly on the line of Sacramento and San Joaquin Counties to the place of beginning.(") [Amendment, approved April 25, 1857, 251. SEO. 2. The county-seat of said county shall be at the town of Jackson. SECTION 1. The following shall be the boundary-line between Amador and El Dorado Counties: Beginning in the centre of the Cosumnes River at the point where said river enters Sacramento County; thence up the middle of the channel of said river to the South Fork of said river; thence up the centre of the channel of said South Fork to the South Fork of the South Fork of said river; thence up said South Fork of the South Fork to its source; thence due east to the Amador and Nevada Wagon Road; thence along the line of said road to its junction with the Big Tree and Carson Valley Road, in Hope Valley; thence, from said junction, along the line of the road leading down said valley, through Carson Cañon, to the eastern boundary of this State. Said roads, when marking the boundary-line of said counties as provided in this act, shall be included within the boundaries of Amador County. SEC. 2. So much of all acts and parts of acts as are in conflict with the provisions of this act are hereby repealed. SEC. 3. This act shall take effect from and after its passage. [BUENA VISTA (UNORGANIZED) COUNTY. A county under this name was provided for by act approved April 30, 1855, 203; amended April 16, 1856, 96; extended March 3, 1858, 36; but it was never organized. It was to have been formed out of the southern portion of Tulare County.] BUTTE COUNTY. An Act dividing the State into counties, and establishing the seats of justice therein. Passed April 25, 1851, 172. 1144. SECTION 21. County of Butte. Beginning at a point in the middle of Sacramento River, opposite the mouth of Red Bank Creek, below the Red Bluffs, and thence running, due east to the dividing ridge which separates the waters flowing into the Sacramento River below the Red Bluffs, and into Feather River, from those flowing into Sacramento River above the Red Bluffs; thence following the top of said dividing ridge to Sierra Nevada; thence due east to the boundary of the State; thence due south, following said boundary to the northeast corner of Sierra County; thence following the northwestern boundary of Sierra and Yuba Counties, to Feather River; thence westerly along the northern boundary of Sutter County to the Sacramento River; thence running up the middle of said river to the place of beginning. The seat Beat of justice. of justice of said county shall be at Bidwell, formerly known as Bidwell's Bar, from and after the tenth day of August, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this act. [Amendment, approved March 19, 1853, 53. [The foregoing section is the latest, which defines the entire boundaries of Butte County. Since its passage, the county has been materially reduced in extent by the creation of the following new counties: Plumas, which was formed out of the northeastern portion, by act passed March 18, 1854, 8. Tehama, which cut off the northwestern portion, formed by act approved April 9, 1856, 118; and altered by act approved April 19, 1859, 359. () The errors noticeable in this section, in the attempt to de- are remedied by the following act of April 8, 1863, 231, defining Ane the boundary between Amador and El Dorado Counties, the boundary-line between Amador and El Dorado. Colusa County was made to cut off all the territory within the boundaries of 1853, lying east of the Sacramento River and west of Butte Slough. See act approved April 19, 1856, 124. See Plumas, Tehama, and Colusa boundaries in this list.] An Act to locate the county-seat of Butte County. Approved March 27, 1857, 120. SECTION 1. From and after the passage of this act, the county-seat of Butte County County-seat. shall be located at Oroville, in said county. [The dividing-line between Butte and Yuba Counties was altered, by act approved March 22, 1860, 115, so as to leave the village of Strawberry Valley wholly in Yuba. The same line was further altered, by act approved April 15, 1861, 167, so as to leave the "Woodville House" in Yuba. See Yuba County, in this list.] CALAVERAS COUNTY. An Act dividing the State into counties, and establishing the seats of justice therein. Passed April 25, 1851, 172. 1145. SECTION 13. County of Calaveras. Beginning at the corner of Sacramento Boundaries. and San Joaquin Counties; thence up the middle of Dry Creek to its source; thence following the summit of the dividing ridge between Mokelumne and Cosumnes Rivers; thence due east to the State boundary-line; thence in a southeasterly direction along the boundary-line of the State to the parallel of thirty-eight degrees of north latitude; thence due west to the summit of the Sierra Nevada; thence in a westerly direction along said summit to the North Fork of the Stanislaus River; thence down the middle of the North Fork of the Stanislaus River to a point one mile north of Knight's ferry; thence along the eastern boundary of San Joaquin County to the place of beginning. The county-seat shall be at the town of Double Springs. [The seat of justice was located by act approved April 16, 1852, 177, at Mokelumne Hill. County-seat. Subsequently an act, approved April 8, 1863, 228, provided for submitting to vote the question of the removal of the county-seat from Mokelumne Hill to San Andreas; and the result was that it was removed to San Andreas.] [The above boundaries of Calaveras County have since been changed by the creation of new counties as follows: Amador County was formed out of the northern portion of Calaveras by virtue of an act passed May 10, 1854, 156. Mono County, created by act approved April 24, 1861, 235, cut off the portion lying east of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Alpine County, created by act approved March 16, 1864; 1863-4, 178, took a portion lying near the summit of the Sierra Nevada. See Amador, Mono, and Alpine, in this list.] COLUSA COUNTY. An Act to alter and define the boundary-lines of Colusa(4) County. Approved April 19, 1856, 124. 1146. SECTION 1. The County of Colusa shall be bounded as follows, to wit: Be- Boundaries ginning at the middle of the Sacramento River on the line between township twelve and thirteen north, in Yolo County; thence west along said line to the first ridge of the Coast Range, up said ridge to the summit of the Coast Range, up said summit to a point five miles south of Thames Creek; thence easterly to a point one hundred yards south of Regan's Ranch, on the Sacramento River; thence down the middle of the Sacramento River to Placer City; thence easterly to Watson's Bridge, on Butte Creek, and in Butte County; thence down the middle of Butte Creek to its junction with Butte Slough; thence down Butte Slough to its mouth on the Sacramento River; thence down the middle of the Sacramento River to the place of beginning: Provided, that nothing in this bill [act] shall be so construed as to permit the eastern line of said County of Colusa to extend further south on the east side of the Sacramento River than a point known as Winter's Ferry. An Act dividing the State into counties, and establishing the seats of justice therein. Passed April 25, 1851, 172. 1153. SECTION 29. The seat of justice shall be at the town of Colusa. CONTRA COSTA COUNTY. An Act dividing the State into counties, and establishing the seats of justice therein. Passed April 25, 1851, 172. Seat of justice. 1147. SECTION 10. County of Contra Costa. Beginning at the mouth of Alameda Boundaries. Creek, and running to the southeast corner of San Francisco County, (') to golden rock; (*) The name of this County, in the act referred to and previous ones, was spelt "Colusi:" but later acts and general usage sanction Colusa" as the correct spelling. () San Francisco County has since been changed, and the point here referred to is now in San Mateo County. thence up the middle of the bay of San Pablo to the straits of Carquinez; thence up the middle of said straits and Suisun Bay, to the mouth of the San Joaquin River; thence up the middle of San Joaquin River to the confluence of the west channel of the San Joaquin River, with the main San Joaquin River, as laid down in Gibbe's map; thence up the middle of said west channel to a point about ten miles below Moore and Rhodes's Ranch, at a bend where the said west channel running downward, takes a general course north; thence due south in a direct line to the summit of the Coast Range; thence to the head of Mocho Creek, in a direct line; thence down the middle of said creek to its confluence with Alameda Creek; thence down the middle of said creek to Beat of justice. the place of beginning. The seat of justice shall be at the town of Martinez. [Amendment, approved February 14, 1852, 178. [Alameda County, created by act approved March 25, 1853, 56, cuts off the southern portion of Contra Costa as above defined. See Alameda, in this list.] [Coso (UNORGANIZED) COUNTY.—A county under this name was provided to be formed by "An Act to create the County of Coso, to define its boundaries, and to provide for its organization;" approved April 4, 1864; 1863-4, 528; but it was never organized. It was to have been formed out of portions of Tulare and Mono Counties, with the seat of justice at Bend City.] Boundaries, Beat of justico. Boundaries. DEL NORTE COUNTY. An Act to create the County of Del Norte, to define its boundaries, and to provide for its organization. Approved March 2, 1857, 35. 1148. SECTION 1. There shall be formed in the northern portion of Klamath County, a new county, to be called Del Norte County. SEC. 2. The boundaries of the county of Del Norte shall be as follows: Commencing at a point in the Pacific Ocean three miles from shore, on the forty-second parallel of north latitude, and running thence southerly three miles from shore to a point one mile south of the mouth of the Klamath River; thence easterly, on a line parallel with the Klamath River, to a point one mile south of the mouth of Blue Creek; thence, in a northeasterly direction, to the summit of the Siskiyou Mountains; thence, in an easterly direction, following the summit of the ridge that divides the waters of Clear Creek from the waters of Dillon's Creek, to the Klamath River, at a point equidistant from the mouth of said Clear Creek and the mouth of said Dillon's Creek; thence across the Klamath River, and in an easterly and northerly direction, following the ridge of the mountain, and heading the waters that flow into said Klamath River on the south side, above the point last above mentioned, to said Klamath River, at the head of the cañon (said cañon being about five miles above the mouth of Indian Creek, and between Eagle Ranch and Johnson's Ranch), and crossing said Klamath River at a point three miles south of Johnson's dwelling-house; thence due west to the summit of the ridge between the place of crossing and the mouth of said Indian Creek; thence northerly, following said last-mentioned ridge, to a point on the forty-second parallel of north latitude due north from the place of crossing last mentioned; and thence west to the place of beginning. [Amendment, approved February 11, 1858, 21. SEC. 3. The seat of justice of Del Norte County, shall be at Crescent City. EL DORADO COUNTY. An Act to define the boundary of El Dorado County. Approved April 20, 1863, 349. 1149. SECTION 1. The boundary of El Dorado County shall be as follows: Beginning at the junction of the North and South Fork of the American River, running thence up the middle of the North Fork to the mouth of the Middle Fork; thence up the middle of the Middle Fork to Junction Bar; thence up the middle of the main South Fork of the said Middle Fork to the point where the same South Fork is intersected by the Georgetown and Lake Bigler Trail; thence along said trail to Sugar Pine Point, on the western shore of Lake Bigler; and thence due east to the boundary of the State; thence, in a southeasterly direction, following the boundary of the State, to the northeast corner of Amador County; thence in a westerly direction, along the northern boundary of Amador County, to the point where the same intersects the eastern boundary of Sacramento County; thence in a northerly direction, along the eastern boundary of Sacramento County, to the South Fork of the American River; thence down the middle of said South Fork to its mouth, which is the place of beginning. SEC. 2. All acts and parts of acts in conflict with this act are hereby repealed. SEO. 3. This act shall be in force and take effect from and after its passage. An Act to establish the county-seat of El Dorado County. Approved February 28, 1857, 38. SECTION 1. From and after the first day of April, one thousand eight hundred and County-seat. fifty-seven, the City of Placerville, in the County of El Dorado, shall be the county seat of said County of El Dorado. SEC. 2. All laws, and parts of laws, inconsistent with the provisions of this act, are hereby repealed. [The eastern portion of El Dorado County as above described has since been cut off by Alpine County, created by act approved March 16, 1864; 1863–4, 178. See Alpine, in this list.] FRESNO COUNTY. An Act to create the County of Fresno (a), to define its boundaries, and to provide for its organization. Approved April 19, 1856, 183. 1150. SECTION 1. There shall be formed out of the counties of Mariposa, Merced, and Tulare Counties, a new county, to be called Fresno. SEC. 2. The boundary of Fresno County shall be as follows: Beginning at a point Boundaries. where the Stockton Road to Millerton crosses the Chowchilla, known as Newton's Crossing; thence down said stream, on the north side, with the high-water mark to the sink of the same at the lower molt of cottonwood timber; thence south, forty five degrees west to the south boundary of Merced County; thence in a southeasterly direction with the present southwestern boundary of Merced and Tulare Counties, to a point in the southwestern boundary of Tulare County south, forty-five degrees west from the point on King's River, where the line dividing townships fifteen and sixteen south, crosses the same; thence north, forty-five degrees east to said point on King's River; thence east with the line dividing townships fifteen and sixteen south, to the dividing-ridge between the waters of King's River and the Kawdah; thence with the said dividing-ridge to the summit of the Sierra Nevada; thence north, forty-five degrees east to the eastern boundary of the State of California; thence in a northwestern direction with said State line to a point north forty-five degrees east from the place of beginning; thence south, forty-five degrees west to the place of beginning. SEC. 3. The seat of justice shall be at Millerton.(") [The portion of Fresno County as above described, lying east of the Sierra Nevada, has since been included in the new county of Mono, created by act approved April 24, 1861, 235. See Mono, in this list.] HUMBOLDT COUNTY. An Act defining the boundary of Humboldt County. Approved February 11, 1862, 6. Seat of justice. 1151. SECTION 1. The boundary of the county of Humboldt shall be as follows: Boundaries. Commencing on the north at a point in the ocean three miles due west of the mouth of Mad River; thence due east from the point of beginning to the Trinity River; thence up the Trinity to the mouth of South Fork of said Trinity River; running thence along the eastern side of said South Fork one hundred feet above high-water mark to the mouth of Grouse Creek; thence in a due south direction to the fortieth degree of north latitude; thence due west to the Pacific Ocean, and three miles therein; and thence northerly, parallel with the coast, to the point of beginning. SEC. 2. The territorial jurisdiction of Humboldt County, heretofore, for all purposes whatsoever, shall be deemed and taken to have been coextensive with the boundaries as defined in section one of this act. SEO. 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage. An Act to establish the county-seat of Humboldt County. Approved March 10, 1856, 37. SECTION 1. From and after the first day of May, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-County-seat. six, the town of Eureka, in the County of Humboldt, shall be the county-seat of said county, and all acts, and parts of acts, inconsistent with this act, are hereby repealed. (") The name of this County in the act creating it was given as Frezno," but all the late acts relating to it and general usage establish "Fresno"s the correct spelling. (*) The name of this place, mentioned here and in the section above, was in this act of 1856 printed Millertown." All the late acts and general usage of late give the correct spelling as "Millerton." |