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Coloma, California

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Coloma, California
census-designated place
Coloma, 2008
Coloma, 2008
Location of Coloma in El Dorado County, California
Location of Coloma in El Dorado County, California
Coloma, California is located in California
Coloma, California
Coloma, California
Position in California
Coordinates: 38°48′10″N 120°53′40″W / 38.8028°N 120.8944°W / 38.8028; -120.8944
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountyEl Dorado
Area
[1]
 • Total
3.36 sq mi (8.69 km2)
 • Land3.36 sq mi (8.69 km2)
 • Water0 sq mi (0.00 km2)  0%
Elevation
[2]
764 ft (233 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
521
 • Density155/sq mi (60.0/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
Area codes530, 837
GNIS feature ID1655915; 2582981
U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Coloma, California; U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Coloma, California
Coloma
Sutter's Mill 1850
Nearest cityPlacerville, California[3]
Areac. 250 acres (100 ha)
Built1848
NRHP reference No.66000207[4]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPOctober 15, 1966[4]
Designated NHLDJuly 4, 1961[5]

Coloma (Nisenan: Cullumah, meaning "beautiful") is a census-designated place (CDP)[6] in El Dorado County, California, United States. It is approximately 36 miles (58 km) northeast of Sacramento. Coloma is most noted for being the site where James W. Marshall found gold in the Sierra Nevada foothills, at Sutter's Mill on January 24, 1848,[3] leading to the California gold rush. As of the 2020 census, Coloma had a population of 521.[7]

The settlement is a tourist attraction known for its ghost town and the centerpiece of the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. Coloma was designated a National Historic Landmark District on July 4, 1961.[3][5]

It lies at an elevation of 764 feet (233 m).[2]

Etymology

[edit]

The name comes from the Nisenan Native Americans name for the valley in which Coloma is located: Cullumah, meaning 'beautiful.' Coloma is on the South Fork American River that runs through the valley and was built on the original Indian village of Koloma.[8] Former spellings include "Colluma" and "Culloma".[9]

History

[edit]

Coloma grew around Sutter's Mill following the finding of gold. A post office was established in 1849 under the name Culloma, changing to Coloma in 1851.[9]

One of Coloma's earliest settlers was Silas Sanderson (1824–1886), who went on to become the 7th Chief Justice of California.[10] Another was Nancy Gooch, who was one of the first black women to succeed in California.

Ghost town

[edit]
Robert Bell's store in Coloma

While some people still live in the area, Coloma is considered something of a ghost town because civic buildings such as the jail have been abandoned and left to decay, and other buildings from its boom era (1847–1852) have been converted into museums and other historical displays. The tailrace of Sutter's Mill remains, as does a nearby reconstruction.[11]

In reality the meaningfulness of the township of Coloma has dissipated as residents who live in the wider Coloma Valley area generally share a community spirit.[12]

The local economy is based predominantly on agriculture[13] and tourism. Of particular note is the rafting industry as the South Fork American River is one of the most popular white-water trips in North America.[14]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
2010529—
2020521−1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[15]
2010[16]
Post Office
James Marshall cabin in Coloma

2020 census

[edit]

As of the 2020 census, Coloma had a population of 521. The population density was 155.3 inhabitants per square mile (60.0/km2). The median age was 55.9 years. The age distribution was 62 people (11.9%) under the age of 18, 40 people (7.7%) aged 18 to 24, 98 people (18.8%) aged 25 to 44, 167 people (32.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 154 people (29.6%) who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 101.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 109.6 males age 18 and over.[17][18] All residents (100.0%) lived in rural areas.[19]

504 people (96.7% of the population) lived in households, 17 (3.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.[20]

There were 222 households, of which 79 (35.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 133 (59.9%) were married-couple households, 15 (6.8%) were cohabiting couple households, 47 (21.2%) had a female householder with no spouse or partner present, and 27 (12.2%) had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 28 households (12.6%) were made up of individuals, and 16 (7.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27. There were 169 families (76.1% of all households).[17][20][21]

There were 267 housing units at an average density of 79.6 units per square mile (30.7 units/km2), of which 222 (83.1%) were occupied. Of these, 170 (76.6%) were owner-occupied, and 52 (23.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.5%.[17][20]

Racial composition as of the 2020 census[18]
RaceNumberPercent
White41780.0%
Black or African American51.0%
American Indian and Alaska Native30.6%
Asian61.2%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander00.0%
Some other race224.2%
Two or more races6813.1%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)6011.5%

2010 census

[edit]

Coloma first appeared as a census designated place in the 2010 U.S. census.[16]

Politics

[edit]

In the state legislature, Coloma is in the 4th senatorial district, represented by Republican Marie Alvarado-Gil,[22] and the 5th Assembly district, represented by Republican Joe Patterson.[23]

Federally, Coloma is in California's 5th congressional district, represented by Republican Tom McClintock.[24]

Climate

[edit]

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Coloma has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csa" on climate maps.[25]

Sister cities

[edit]

Coloma is sister cities with Clunes, Australia.[26]

Education

[edit]

Coloma lacks any traditional public schools within its census-designated boundaries. Local students attend schools in nearby districts outside the community, including Sutters Mill Elementary School and Gold Trail School, both operated by the Gold Trail Union Elementary School District. Because Coloma lies within the GTUSD's boundaries, and because the district only operates two K-8 campuses, Coloma students are assigned to Sutters Mill for elementary grades and Gold Trail for middle school.[27][28]

High school students attend Golden Sierra High School in Garden Valley, California, which is part of the Black Oak Mine Unified School District. Similar to its K-8 situation, Coloma falls within BOMUSD's high school service area, making Golden Sierra the designated comprehensive high school for residents in Coloma.[27]

Notable people

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on March 18, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  2. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Coloma, California
  3. 1 2 3 Allen W. Welts (February 1970). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park / Coloma" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved June 22, 2009. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) and Accompanying one image, from 1850s (213 KB)
  4. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  5. 1 2 "Coloma". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on October 8, 2012. Retrieved June 29, 2008.
  6. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Coloma, California
  7. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  8. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Koloma
  9. 1 2 Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, California: Word Dancer Press. p. 468. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
  10. ↑ The State Register and Year Book of Facts: 1859. Henry G. Langley and Samuel A Morison. 1859.
  11. ↑ "Marshall Gold Discovery SHP". California Department of Parks and Recreation. Archived from the original on November 17, 2010. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Coloma-Lotus News". Archived from the original on June 14, 2015. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  13. ↑ "After the Gold Rush: Agriculture". Archived from the original on June 10, 2015. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  14. ↑ "NO on El Dorado County Measure W – Coloma-Lotus Association of Merchants Opposes". Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Decennial Census by Decade". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 6, 2022.
  16. 1 2 "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 4, 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  17. 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  18. 1 2 "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  19. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  20. 1 2 3 "Coloma CDP, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Coloma CDP, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Senators". State of California. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  23. ↑ "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  24. ↑ "California's 5th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Coloma, California Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  26. ↑ "STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS: Ballarat Electorate: Coloma Day". Parliament of Australia. February 14, 2005. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  27. 1 2 Geography Division (December 18, 2020). 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: El Dorado County, CA (PDF) (Map). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 14, 2025. - Text list
  28. ↑ "GOLD TRAIL UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT". www.gtusd.org. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  29. ↑ Gold, Marshall (February 5, 2018). "Living History celebrates contributions of African American settlers to the Coloma Valley". Placerville Mountain Democrat. Archived from the original on July 19, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  30. ↑ Harvey, Antonio (August 22, 2022). "In Coloma, 'Fact-Finding Mission' Leads To More Questions About Family's Lost Land". The Sacramento Observer. Archived from the original on July 19, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
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