Volcano
census-designated place
The landmark St. George Hotel in Volcano
The landmark St. George Hotel in Volcano
Volcano is located in California
Volcano
Volcano
Location in California
Coordinates: 38°26′35″N 120°37′51″W / 38.44306°N 120.63083°W / 38.44306; -120.63083
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountyAmador County
Area
[1]
 • Total1.501 sq mi (3.887 km2)
 • Land1.501 sq mi (3.887 km2)
 • Water0 sq mi (0 km2)  0%
Elevation
[2]
2,070 ft (631 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total115
 • Density77/sq mi (30/km2)
ZIP Code
95689
Area code209
GNIS feature ID237127,[2] 2583178[3]
Website
Reference no.29

Volcano (formerly Soldier's Gulch and The Volcano) is a census-designated place[3] in Amador County, California. It lies at an elevation of 2,070 feet (631 m). The population was 115 at the 2010 census. It is located at 38°26′35″N 120°37′51″W / 38.44306°N 120.63083°W / 38.44306; -120.63083, just north of Pine Grove. The town is registered as a California Historical Landmark.[4] The community is in ZIP code 95689 and area code 209.

History

Pencil and ink drawing of Volcano, 1854

The town is named for its setting in a bowl-shaped valley which early gold miners thought was caused by a volcano.[5] Early-morning fog rising from the valley floor only reinforced that belief. The area was first designated by Colonel Stevenson's men, who mined Soldiers Gulch in 1849. In 1851 a post office was established and by April 1852 there were 300 houses. By 1853 the flats and gulches swarmed with men, and there were 11 stores, six hotels, three bakeries, and three saloons.[6] Hydraulic mining operations, begun in 1855, brought thousands of fortune seekers to form a town of 17 hotels, a library, a theater, and courts of quick justice.[7]

During the Civil War, Volcano's gold served the Union. The "Volcano Blues" smuggled the 800 lb (360 kg) cannon "Old Abe," into the town by hearse, to intimidate rebel sympathizers. The cannon was cast by Cyrus Alger & Co. in Boston in 1837 and is the first of two 6-pounders made on the same day to be stamped with serial number 4. The other cannon still survives at Shiloh Battlefield and is called "Shiloh Sam". "Old Abe" was only fired once during the Civil War. The Confederate faction known as Knights of the Golden Circle owned many of the Main Street businesses. "Old Abe" was fired down Main Street, causing windows to break in all the shops that had not been warned – the ones sympathetic to the South.[8] Abe is the only cannon of that age in the U.S. still on a 19th-century wooden carriage.

The landmark St. George Hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Volcano almost became the county seat in 1854 and again in 1857, but the newspaper closed in 1857 and afterwards, the town began to decline.[9]

Although small, Volcano is a town of many "firsts":[10]

Tourist attractions

Volcano has a number of Gold Rush-era buildings with signs indicating their historic significance. A post office opened in Volcano in 1851.[11] Volcano boasts one of the longest-running general stores in California, having been in continuous use since 1852. The Union Billiard Saloon and Boarding House opened in 1880 and was also the site of the Volcano Justice Court, presided over by Judge Peter Jonas. In 1862, B.F. George built the St. George Hotel on the previous footprint of the Eureka Hotel, which burned down in 1853, and the Empire Hotel, which burned down in 1859.[12] George Madeira established California's first recorded astronomical observatory in 1860 which is where the Great Comet of 1861 was discovered (in the U.S.). It is registered as a California Historical Landmark.[13]

Volcano is also home to Black Chasm Cave, a National Natural Landmark.

The Volcano Theater Company was founded in 1974. The company conducts a full season each year, performing in both the 1856 Cobblestone Theater and in the larger outdoor Volcano Amphitheater.

Daffodil Hill is a public garden open each spring to the public at no cost for admission. Daffodils were first planted in the mid-19th century by landowner Pete Denzer to remind him of Holland, his home country. In 1877, Arthur McLaughlin and his wife, “Lizzie” van Vorst-McLaughlin bought the property, which is still owned and managed by their descendants. Approximately 300,000 flowers are in bloom during the Spring.[14]

Notable people

Demographics

The 2010 United States Census[18] reported that Volcano had a population of 115. The population density was 76.6 inhabitants per square mile (29.6/km2). The racial makeup of Volcano was 109 (94.8%) White, 0 (0.0%) African American, 2 (1.7%) American Indian or Alaska Native, 2 (1.7%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0 (0.0%) from other races, and 2 (1.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7 persons (6.1%).

The Census reported that 115 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 55 households, out of which 10 (18.2%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 23 (41.8%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 5 (9.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 5 (9.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 3 (5.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 1 (1.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 18 households (32.7%) were made up of individuals, and 4 (7.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09. There were 33 families (60.0% of all households); the average family size was 2.52.

The population was spread out, with 20 people (17.4%) under the age of 18, 3 people (2.6%) aged 18 to 24, 11 people (9.6%) aged 25 to 44, 53 people (46.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 28 people (24.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 57.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.9 males.

There were 70 housing units at an average density of 46.6 per square mile (18.0/km2), of which 55 were occupied, of which 37 (67.3%) were owner-occupied, and 18 (32.7%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0%; the rental vacancy rate was 14.3%. 83 people (72.2% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 32 people (27.8%) lived in rental housing units.

Government

In the California State Legislature, Volcano is in the 8th Senate District, represented by Democrat Angelique Ashby,[19] and the 5th Assembly District, represented by Republican Joe Patterson.[20]

In the United States House of Representatives, Volcano is in California's 4th congressional district, represented by Democrat Mike Thompson.[21]

Volcano was featured by Huell Howser in Road Trip Episode 127.[22]

A 10-minute scene on The Big Valley TV show is set in Volcano. Mrs. Barkley is arrested for rustling there.

References

  1. ↑ "2010 Census U.S. Gazetteer Files – Places – California". United States Census Bureau.
  2. 1 2 "Volcano". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
  3. 1 2 "Volcano Census Designated Place". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Volcano". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Unincorporated Cities". Amador County Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
  6. ↑ "Town of Volcano". St. George Hotel. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
  7. ↑ Koeppel, Elliot H. (December 1996). "Volcano". The California Gold Country: Highway 49 Revisited. Malakoff & Co. ISBN 0-938121-12-X.
  8. ↑ | url=http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=11365 | title=Volcano Marker | publisher=The Historical Marker Database | access-date=2008-12-01
  9. ↑ "Volcano". Amador County Archives. Archived from the original on April 9, 2008. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
  10. ↑ "Volcano Union Inn" (Google cache). BnBstar. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
  11. ↑ Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, Calif.: Word Dancer Press. p. 572. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
  12. ↑ http://www.stgeorgevolcano.com/index.php/aboutaccess-date=2016-01-28
  13. ↑ "Memorial To Pioneer Odd Fellowssite of First Amateur Astronomical Observatory of Record In California". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Daffodil Hill - Sutter Creek Events | Annual Daffodil Hill in Volcano | Amador County Events". Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  15. ↑ "History of Volcano". Town of Volcano. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
  16. ↑ "Harry B. Liversedge, Brigadier General". Arlington National Cemetery. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
  17. ↑ "San Mateo County". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
  18. ↑ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Volcano CDP". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Senators". State of California. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  21. ↑ "California's 4th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  22. ↑ "Volcano- Road Trip (127) – Huell Howser Archives at Chapman University".
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