First settled in 1851 by German emigrants Joseph and Charles Dornbach, the town of Dutch Flat quickly became one of the biggest mining communities during the Gold Rush. The area was covered with claims using hydraulic mining to expose the rich gold deposits left by the Ancestral Yuba river system. Mining peaked in the 1870s, supporting a large community of over 6,000 people, including one of the largest Chinese settlements in the west. Amateur theater, debates, and fraternal orders were important in the town, and the Dutch Flat Opera House featured speeches by Mark Twain.
The mining was taking a heavy toll, however, and debris washing down the hills and rivers was damaging livestock and causing devastating flooding in downstream towns. The Sawer Decision of 1884 ended the practice, and mining in Dutch Flat all but shut down. Today, the town is small, but many of the historic buildings are still standing, and the residents take intense pride in the community and its' history.
32805 Main St
Dutch Flat, CA 95714
United States
