Editing Rail Road Flat, California (section)

==History==
This historic [[mining]] town, [[elevation]] 2,600 feet (788 m), was named after primitive mule-drawn ore cars used here. There was never actually a [[railroad]] here. The town was established in 1849. It was the site of an Indian council as well as the center of rich [[placer mining|placer]] and [[quartz]] mining. Its largest producer was the Petticoat Mine. The [[post office]] was established in 1857, closed in 1858, and re-established in 1869<ref name=CGN /> and the Edwin Taylor store built in 1867. The town's population was decimated in 1880 by [[black fever]].

The Clark [[Reservoir (water)|Reservoir]] was created when an engineer named W.V. Clark constructed a ditch from the [[Mokelumne River]], as there was not much water to work the placers. The reservoir, located on his property, supplied water to the mines and to the town.

The town is registered as [[California Historical Landmark]] #286.<ref name=CHL>{{cite ohp|286|Rail Road Flat|2012-10-06}}</ref>