Copperopolis California - Hidden Gem In The Sierra Foothills

You can imagine the funny looks (or giggles) I get when I tell people where I live. I pause after I say it just to give people time to ask, "Copper-what?"

I like to reply, "Yes, it's where Snuffalufagus is from!" (Remember him? Big Bird's imaginary friend?)

Copperopolis, California is located about 45 minutes East of Stockton, Ca and about 90 minutes from Yosemite National Park. It's an old gold rush era town but isn't known for it's gold....it's known of course, for it's Copper mines.

Copperopolis, California was founded in 1860 by William K. Reed, Dr. Allen Blatchly, and Thomas McCarty, at the site of the second big discovery of copper ore in the region (the first was nearby Telegraph City).

The town grew rapidly, as the need for copper during the Civil War to make bullets was great. Several brick structures remain in Copperopolis. The largest was once the Federal Armory and served as headquarters for the 3rd California Infantry soldiers and the Copperopolis Union Guard, a military company organized of volunteer miners during the Civil War.

After the war ended, the expense of mining and shipping copper proved to be too high and the population dwindled as the mines closed. However, a Boston company purchased the mines in the 1880s and mining operations resumed. The town went through boom periods during the two World Wars, when demand for copper went up again. By the time the mines closed in 1946, according to the U.S. Bureau of Mines, they had produced 72,598,883 pounds of copper worth over $12 million. No copper mining has been done since, but the town has built it's reputation further as the gateway to nature's wonderland!
Come See!