Old Town Auburn

About Old Town Auburn

Auburn is the county seat of Placer County, California. With a population of 13,330, Auburn is known for its California Gold Rush history.

Old Town Auburn History

In 1848, gold was discovered in the Auburn area by Claude Chana.

In 1857, the James Block was built of brick on a mortared rock foundation and currently houses the Old Town Auburn Post Office. It is one of the oldest in California housed in its original building and the oldest continually operated post office west of the Mississippi.

In 1865, Central Pacific Railroad reaches Auburn. The tracks bypass Old Town Auburn area and the depot is built on hill about a mile and half from Old Town Auburn. The location of C.P.R.R. depot causes Auburn business men to consider relocating closer to depot. This leads to a split in Auburn. The depot is soon to be known as being located in East Auburn.

In 1891, the Old Town Auburn Firehouse constructed which is now one of Auburn’s most famous attractions.

In 1898, after four years of construction, the new Placer County Courthouse was dedicated.

In 1912, Southern Pacific Railroad builds trestle across road between Auburn and Sacramento Streets. Trestle carries second set of mainline tracks which are dedicated to East Bound trains. Another train depot for Auburn was built along tracks on Nevada Street. Thus, Old Town Auburn had a closer depot, but East Auburn still continued growing.

In 1956, President Eisenhower signs Federal Highway bill which leads to building of “Freeways” all across the nation. Highway 40 through Auburn is to be widened and designated as part of Interstate 80.

In 1988, Ridgeview Professional Building was constructed to provide local businesses with commercial office space in Auburn California.

For more history details about Auburn History, visit OldTownAuburnCa.com

Monuments

Gold was discovered by Claude Chana in a ravine at the future site of the town of Auburn. Dr. Fox, a local dentist in Auburn, is famous for his large concrete statues and this image is of his Claude Chana statue which is one of first things to be seen upon entering Old Town Auburn from Interstate 80.

Famous Auburn Citizens

One of its most famous citizens was the poet and short-story writer Clark Ashton Smith, who was born in Auburn in 1893 and who lived there most of his life. Born and raised in Auburn, Stacy Dragila was the first to win an Olympic gold medal in women’s pole vaulting. Tomas Arana, an actor most notable for his role in Gladiator, was born in Auburn. Also, the town is featured toward the end of British author Anthony Horowitz’s book, Nightrise.

Events
The Amgen Tour of California – The 2011 Amgen Tour of California is a Tour de France-style cycling road race. It is the largest cycling event in America. It challenges the world’s top professional cyclists to compete along a demanding course.  The Third Stage will be starting in Auburn, pass thru Old Town Auburn and ends in Modesto. The race will be in 8 stages from May 15 to May 22nd.

Amgen Tour of California – Auburn 2011 Host-City Invitation from AboutHereTV on Vimeo.

Old Town Auburn Filming

The unique landscape of Old Town Auburn has been used to film a variety of Hollywood films such as Phenomenon starring John Travolta, xXx starring Vin Diesel, The Ugly Truth, The Phantom, The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, Protocol, Breakdown, My Family and Wisdom.