Greenville History
The Greenville camp developed around the hotel built by John Winthrop Green in the 1850s. The nearby mining camp of Round Valley was established at rich placer gold deposits around 1860. As the gold there was worked out over the next few years, many residents moved to Greenville, which was a more suitable location for a town.
As hard-rock mining replaced the placer mines, two mills were built here in the 1860s, fueling the growth of the town. A post office was established in 1867. the Greenville Bulletin was published from 1880-1892. The mines of the area continued to prosper into the 1870s, and so did the town.
By the late 1870s the Greenville Hotel had received "immense improvements" and several other hotels were in business. Additional businesses operating in town included a dance hall, a foundry, a general goods store, a tin shop featuring "tin-ware from San Francisco", and of course several saloons. Greenville had its own Chinatown.
The population in 1880 was reported as 550 residents, with 150 of those being voters. The Dec 22, 1880 edition of the Plumas County Bulletin described the mines operating near Greenville:
The mining companies in close proximity to Greenville are as follows; Green Mountain, with 92 stamps; Indian Valley, 56; Gold Stripe, 80; Plumas National, 80; Crescent, 82; Cherokee, 20; Monitor, 10; New York, 10.
A fire destroyed much of Greenville in April 1881, but with the local mining economy booming, the town was quickly rebuilt. Mining sustained Greenville for many years until the industry eventually declined.
Unlike many other gold-era towns, however, Greenville was never abandoned. Timber and ranching continued to provide local employment, and over time, tourism took hold, as travelers along Highway 89 were drawn to the town’s historic buildings.
The 2021 Dixie Fire destroyed most of the town, including the entire commercial district and many historic mining-era buildings dating back to the late 1800s.
It All Started With The Gold Rush
The great California Gold Rush kicked off the entire saga of western mining. Read about it at The California Gold Rush.
California Gold
"Where to Find Gold in California" looks at the density of modern placer mining claims along with historical gold mining locations and mining district descriptions to determine areas of high gold discovery potential in California. Read more: Where to Find Gold in California.
