Editing Placerville, California

{{Short description|City in California, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Placerville, California
| settlement_type    = [[City (California)|City]]
| image_skyline      = Downtown Placerville, CA 2021.jpg
| image_caption      = Bell Tower on Main Street
| image_seal         = Seal of Placerville, CA.png
| nickname           = Hangtown<ref name=GNIS/>
| image_map          = El_Dorado_County_California_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Placerville_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250x200px
| map_caption        = Location of Placerville in California
| pushpin_map        = USA California Northern#California#USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Placerville in Northern California##Location of Placerville in California##Location of Placerville in the United States
| pushpin_label      = Placerville
| coordinates        = {{Coord|38|43|47|N|120|47|55|W|region:US-CA_type:city(11,000)|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes = <ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{USA}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|California}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in California|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[El Dorado County, California|El Dorado]]
| established_title  = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date   = May 13, 1854<ref>{{Cite web
 |url         = http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc
 |title       = California Cities by Incorporation Date
 |format      = Word
 |publisher   = California Association of [[Local Agency Formation Commission]]s
 |access-date  = April 5, 2013
|url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20141103002921/http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc
 |archive-date = November 3, 2014
|df          = mdy-all
}}</ref>
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = John Clerici<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=https://www.cityofplacerville.org/councilmember-clerici
 |title=Mayor Clerici
 |access-date=January 23, 2022
|publisher=City of Placerville, CA
 |archive-date=January 23, 2022
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123195024/https://www.cityofplacerville.org/mayor-taylor
 |url-status=live
 }}</ref>
<!-- Area------------------>| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 1, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi   = 5.84
| area_total_km2     = 15.13
| area_land_sq_mi    = 5.84
| area_land_km2      = 15.13
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00
| area_water_km2     = 0.00
| area_water_percent = 0.01
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=GNIS>{{Cite GNIS|277577|Placerville}}</ref>
| elevation_ft       = 1867
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 10747
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
| timezone           = [[Pacific Standard Time|PST]]
| utc_offset         = -8
| timezone_DST       = [[Pacific Daylight Time|PDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = -7
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code        = 95667<ref>{{Cite web
 | url = https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction!input.action
 | title = ZIP Code(tm) Lookup
 | publisher = [[United States Postal Service]]
 | access-date = November 23, 2014}}</ref>
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
| area_code          = [[Area codes 530 and 837|530, 837]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 06-57540
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature IDs
| blank1_info        = {{GNIS 4|277577}}, {{GNIS 4|2411433}}
| website            = {{URL|www.cityofplacerville.org}}
| footnotes          = {{designation list|embed=yes
   |designation1=California
   |designation1_offname=Placerville - Overland Pony Express Route<ref>{{cite ohp |701|Placerville - Overland Pony Express RouteHangtown #701|2012-10-07}}</ref>
   |designation1_number=701
   |designation2=California
   |designation2_offname=Old Dry Higgins-Old Hangtown<ref>{{cite ohp |475|Old Dry Higgins-Old Hangtown #475|2012-10-07}}</ref>
   |designation2_number=475
      }}
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
| population_density_km2 = auto
}}

'''Placerville''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|l|æ|s|ər|v|ɪ|l|}}, {{Respell|PLASS|ər-vil}}; ''placer'', Spanish for "sand deposit", representing the [[placer mining]] that was predominant in the town's development, and ''ville'', French for "town") is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[El Dorado County, California]], United States. The population was 10,747 as of the 2020 census, up from 10,389 as of the 2010 census. It is part of the [[Sacramento metropolitan area]].

== History ==
A former [[Maidu]] settlement called '''Indak''' was located at the site of the town.<ref name=gnis>{{gnis|1744726}}</ref>

After the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill in nearby [[Coloma, California]], by [[James W. Marshall]] in 1848 sparked the [[California Gold Rush]], the small town now known as Placerville was known as Dry Diggin's after the manner in which the miners moved cartloads of dry soil to run water to separate the gold from the soil.<ref name="CGN">{{California's Geographic Names|539}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Svoboda|first=Dylan|date=June 5, 2021|title=The NorCal town proud of its lynching history, until it wasn't|url=https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/Northern-California-Hangtown-Placerville-history-16219364.php|access-date=June 8, 2021|website=SFGATE|language=en-US}}</ref>

Later in 1849, the town earned its most common historical name, '''Hangtown''', because of the numerous hangings that had occurred there.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.visit-eldorado.com/visitorsguide/stillfindinggold.html | title=El Dorado County Visitor's Guide | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513024836/http://www.visit-eldorado.com/visitorsguide/stillfindinggold.html | archive-date=May 13, 2008 | url-status=dead}}</ref> However, there is debate on exactly how many lynchings occurred in the town.<ref name=":0" /> The town had no police force (in 1849) and five immigrants attempted robbery of a Mexican gambler.<ref name=":0" /> Of the five immigrants, two Frenchmen and one Chilean were known wanted men, and they were not given any trial, instead they were hanged on an oak tree on Main Street by a mob.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=April 15, 2021|title=NorCal City Once Known as 'Hangtown' Votes to Remove Noose From Its Logo|url=https://sfist.com/2021/04/15/norcal-city-once-known-as-hangtown-votes-to-remove-noose-from-its-logo/|access-date=June 8, 2021|website=SFist - San Francisco News, Restaurants, Events, & Sports|language=en|archive-date=June 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608172453/https://sfist.com/2021/04/15/norcal-city-once-known-as-hangtown-votes-to-remove-noose-from-its-logo/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The name "Hangtown" stuck after that event.<ref name=":0" />

By about 1850, the temperance league and a few local churches had begun to request that a more friendly name be bestowed upon the town. The name was not changed until 1854 when the City of Placerville was [[municipal corporation|incorporated]], taking the name from the local [[placer deposit|placer gold deposits]]. At its incorporation, Placerville was the third largest town in California. In 1857, the county seat was then moved from Coloma to Placerville, where it remains today. The town's first post office opened in 1850.<ref name="CGN" /> In 1871, the [[Placerville Union Cemetery]] was founded by a group of fraternal organizations, and it holds the graves of many of the city founders.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |date=February 3, 2020 |title=Headstones at Placerville Union Cemetery are deteriorating. Who is to blame? |url=https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/headstones-at-placerville-union-cemetery-are-deteriorating/103-158d7abe-5677-4341-a295-b665e96aace7 |access-date=October 14, 2022 |website=ABC10.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Bottjer |first=Linda J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kAN3CQAAQBAJ |title=Gold Rush Ghosts of Placerville, Coloma & Georgetown |date=June 17, 2014 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=978-1-62584-994-6 |pages=83–84 |language=en}}</ref>

Placerville was a central hub for the Mother Lode region's mining operations.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.visit-eldorado.com/placerville.html |title=El Dorado County Visitors Authority |access-date=May 1, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070426100307/http://www.visit-eldorado.com/placerville.html |archive-date=April 26, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The town had many services, including transportation (of people and goods), lodging, banking, and had a market and general store.  The history of hard-rock mining is evidenced by an open and accessible Gold Bug Park & Mine, now a museum with tours and books.<ref>[http://www.goldbugpark.org/ Hangtown's Gold Bug Park & Mine].</ref>

The [[Sacramento and Placerville Railroad]], (later part of the [[Southern Pacific Railroad]]) had a [[branch line]] that extended from Folsom to Placerville.  The track was abandoned in the 1980s and is now used by [[heritage railroad]]s. The [[Camino, Placerville and Lake Tahoe Railroad]] (now abandoned) also operated an {{convert|8|mi|km|adj=on|spell=on|abbr=off|sp=us}} shortline that operated between [[Camino, California]], and Placerville until June 17, 1986. The track right-of-way is now a 37-mile hiking and biking path that connects the city of [[Folsom, California]] to the town of [[Camino, California|Camino]] with plans to extend the trail across the entire El Dorado county and eventually to Lake Tahoe.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://eldoradotrail.com/faqs/ |title=El Dorado Trail |access-date=May 21, 2022}}</ref>

Placerville is now registered as [[California Historical Landmark]] #701.<ref name=CHL>{{cite ohp|701|Placerville|2012-10-07}}</ref>

Placerville's logo featured a hangman's noose, in reference to the town's history as "Hangtown", until 2021, when the town council voted to remove it.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news|last=Hauser|first=Christine|date=April 15, 2021|title=A Gold Rush Town Removes a Noose From Its Logo|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/15/us/placerville-logo-hangtown.html|access-date=June 8, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> An earlier proposal to redesign the logo had been rejected in 2020.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/04/14/us/hangtown-remove-noose-logo-trnd/index.html|title=City known as Hangtown votes to remove noose from its logo|publisher=CNN|last=Trent|first=Rachel|date=April 14, 2021|accessdate=April 14, 2021}}</ref>

==National Register of Historic Places gallery==
Placerville has several buildings listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in El Dorado County, California|National Register of Historic Places]]; several are noted below.
<gallery class="center">
File:2009-0724-F-TSodaWorks.jpg|[[Fountain-Tallman Soda Works]] (now the Fountain & Tallman Museum)
File:2009-0724-Placerville-JPSodaWorks.jpg|[[John Pearson Soda Works]]
File:2009-0724-Placerville-CBhouse.jpg|[[Combellack-Blair House]]
File:2009-0724-Placerville-ConfidenceHall.jpg|[[Confidence Hall]]
File:2009-0724-Placerville-ChurchofourSavior.jpg|[[Church of Our Saviour (Placerville, California)|Church of Our Saviour]]
</gallery>

==Geography==
Placerville is located in the [[Sierra Nevada (U.S.)|Sierra Nevada]] foothills where [[U.S. Route 50 (California)|U.S. Route 50]] crosses [[California State Route 49|State Route 49]]. It is the location of three [[traffic signal]]s along U.S. Route 50, which is otherwise a [[freeway]].

Downtown Placerville is about {{convert|1867|ft|m}} above sea level,<ref name="GNIS" /> while unincorporated areas of the city range from {{convert|1800|ft|m}} to nearly {{convert|4000|ft|m}}.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|5.8|sqmi|km2}}, over 99% of it land.

==Climate==
Placerville has cool, frequently wet winters and hot, dry summers, creating a typically Californian [[Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Csa''). Average January temperatures are a maximum of {{convert|53.4|F|C}} and a minimum of {{convert|32.5|F|C}}. Average July temperatures are a maximum of {{convert|92.7|F|C}} and a minimum of {{convert|57.2|F|C}}. Annually, there are an average of 65.7 days with highs of {{convert|90|F|C}} or higher and 61.3 mornings with lows of {{convert|32|F|C}} or lower.  The record high temperature was {{convert|114|F|C}} on July 4, 1911.  The record low temperature was {{convert|8|F|C|1}} on December 9, 1972.

Average annual rainfall in Placerville is {{convert|38.11|in|mm|1}}. There are an average of 66 days with measurable rain. The wettest calendar year was 1983 with {{convert|74.55|in|mm|1}} and the driest 1976 with {{convert|11.85|in|mm}}. The most rainfall in one month was {{convert|23.29|in|mm|1}} in December 1955. The most rainfall in 24 hours was {{convert|6.22|in|mm}} on February 14, 2000.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?ca6960 |title = PLACERVILLE, CALIFORNIA - Climate Summary}}</ref> Although snowfall is rare in Placerville, heavy amounts often fall in the mountains east of the city.

{{weather box
|source 1 = [http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?caplac+nca PLACERVILLE, CALIFORNIA (046960)]
|single line = yes
|location = Placerville, California (1915–2005)
|Jan high F = 53.3
|Feb high F = 56.9
|Mar high F = 60.2
|Apr high F = 66.3
|May high F = 74.5
|Jun high F = 83.7
|Jul high F = 92.4
|Aug high F = 91.3
|Sep high F = 85.5
|Oct high F = 74.8
|Nov high F = 61.1
|Dec high F = 53.9
|Jan mean F = 42.8
|Feb mean F = 45.8
|Mar mean F = 48.8
|Apr mean F = 53.3
|May mean F = 60.3
|Jun mean F = 67.7
|Jul mean F = 74.8
|Aug mean F = 73.6
|Sep mean F = 68.5
|Oct mean F = 59.8
|Nov mean F = 49.0
|Dec mean F = 43.4
|Jan low F = 32.4
|Feb low F = 34.7
|Mar low F = 37.4
|Apr low F = 40.3
|May low F = 46.0
|Jun low F = 51.6
|Jul low F = 56.8
|Aug low F = 55.9
|Sep low F = 51.5
|Oct low F = 44.7
|Nov low F = 37.1
|Dec low F = 32.9
|Jan record high F = 75
|Feb record high F = 78
|Mar record high F = 87
|Apr record high F = 92
|May record high F = 104
|Jun record high F = 109
|Jul record high F = 110
|Aug record high F = 109
|Sep record high F = 108
|Oct record high F = 100
|Nov record high F = 83
|Dec record high F = 76
|year record high F = 110
|Jan record low F = 9
|Feb record low F = 15
|Mar record low F = 19
|Apr record low F = 24
|May record low F = 29
|Jun record low F = 31
|Jul record low F = 38
|Aug record low F = 37
|Sep record low F = 33
|Oct record low F = 23
|Nov record low F = 21
|Dec record low F = 8
|year record low F = 8
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain inch = 7.05
|Feb rain inch = 6.70
|Mar rain inch = 5.85
|Apr rain inch = 3.09
|May rain inch = 1.52
|Jun rain inch = 0.46
|Jul rain inch = 0.08
|Aug rain inch = 0.09
|Sep rain inch = 0.56
|Oct rain inch = 2.12
|Nov rain inch = 4.52
|Dec rain inch = 6.52
|Jan snow inch = 1.2
|Feb snow inch = 0.4
|Mar snow inch = 0.4
|Apr snow inch = 0.3
|May snow inch =  0
|Jun snow inch =  0
|Jul snow inch =  0
|Aug snow inch =  0 
|Sep snow inch =  0
|Oct snow inch =  0
|Nov snow inch = 0
|Dec snow inch = 0.4
|Jan rain days = 10
|Feb rain days = 10
|Mar rain days = 10
|Apr rain days = 7
|May rain days = 4
|Jun rain days = 2
|Jul rain days = 0
|Aug rain days = 1
|Sep rain days = 1
|Oct rain days = 4
|Nov rain days = 7
|Dec rain days = 10
|date=June 2011}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 2466
|1870= 1562
|1880= 1951
|1890= 1690
|1900= 1748
|1910= 1914
|1920= 1650
|1930= 2322
|1940= 3064
|1950= 3749
|1960= 4439
|1970= 5416
|1980= 6739
|1990= 8355
|2000= 9610
|2010= 10389
|estyear=2019
|estimate=11175
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2019CenPopScriptOnlyDirtyFixDoNotUse">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2019.html|date=May 24, 2020|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 27, 2020}}</ref>
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

The [[2010 United States Census]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0657540|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715032515/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0657540|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Placerville city|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref> reported that Placerville had a population of 10,389. The population density was {{convert|1,787.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Placerville was 8,716 (83.9%) [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 80 (0.8%) [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 162 (1.6%) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 98 (0.9%) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 13 (0.1%) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 867 (8.3%) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 453 (4.4%) from two or more races.  [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1,863 persons (17.9%).

The Census reported that 9,788 people (94.2% of the population) lived in households, 131 (1.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 470 (4.5%) were institutionalized.

There were 4,129 households, out of which 1,254 (30.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,607 (38.9%) were [[marriage|opposite-sex married couples]] living together, 604 (14.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 250 (6.1%) had a male householder with no wife present.  There were 327 (7.9%) [[POSSLQ|unmarried opposite-sex partnerships]], and 31 (0.8%) [[same-sex partnerships|same-sex married couples or partnerships]]. 1,306 households (31.6%) were made up of individuals, and 599 (14.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37.  There were 2,461 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (59.6% of all households); the average family size was 2.97.

The population was spread out, with 2,277 people (21.9%) under the age of 18, 972 people (9.4%) aged 18 to 24, 2,468 people (23.8%) aged 25 to 44, 2,831 people (27.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,841 people (17.7%) who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 40.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.3 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.

There were 4,541 housing units at an average density of {{convert|781.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}, of which 4,129 were occupied, of which 2,160 (52.3%) were owner-occupied, and 1,969 (47.7%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.5%; the rental vacancy rate was 7.8%.  5,023 people (48.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 4,765 people (45.9%) lived in rental housing units.

==Government==
[[File:Placerville Courthouse.jpg|thumb|left|[[El Dorado County]] Courthouse.]]
In the [[California State Legislature]], Placerville is in {{Representative|casd|1|fmt=sdistrict}},<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=http://senate.ca.gov/senators 
 |title=Senators 
 |access-date=April 5, 2013
|publisher=State of California}}</ref> and {{Representative|caad|5|fmt=adistrict}}.<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=http://assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers |title=Members Assembly |access-date=April 5, 2013
|publisher=State of California}}</ref>

In the [[United States House of Representatives]], Placerville is in {{Representative|cacd|5|fmt=district}}.<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|5|access-date=December 4, 2023}}</ref>

==Economy==
The region east of Placerville, popularly known as Apple Hill and Pleasant Valley, is becoming a center for wine production. The wine region is officially designated as the [[El Dorado AVA]]. The largest wineries in the area are Boeger, Lava Cap and Madroña, but most of the 30 plus wineries surrounding Placerville are family owned and smaller in wine grape and wine production. The region is "renown[ed] for making vibrantly flavorful, distinctly delicious wines, grown in the dramatic elevations of the Sierra Nevada."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eldoradowines.org/facts.php|title=El Dorado Winery Association|access-date=May 10, 2015|archive-date=May 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518081304/http://eldoradowines.org/facts.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> The area is increasingly a center for sophisticated production of Rhone style wines, noted by El Dorado County having a local chapter of the [[Rhone Rangers]] winemaker association.

Formerly known as Anderson Field, the arena and main grandstand that is now known as Placerville Speedway was originally built by the El Dorado County Fair during the winter months of 1956. Constructing a clay racing surface around the perimeter of the football field, Warren Jewitt and Bruno Romani created what was originally known as "Hangtown Speedway". Auto racing took place here for the first time on June 18, 1965.

Since 1965, Placerville Speedway has hosted several racing divisions. The track was cut out of a hillside, giving it higher banking, and covered with a dark red clay racing surface.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.placervillespeedway.com/history | title=PLACERVILLE.SPEEDWAY &#124; History|website=www.placervillespeedway.com}}</ref>

Placerville is home to the ''[[Placerville Mountain Democrat|Mountain Democrat]]'', the oldest continuously published newspaper in California, and Marshall Medical Center.

==Transportation==
[[File:Lincoln Highway porcelain sign.svg|thumb|right|70px]]
Placerville is served by two major highways. [[California State Route 49]] runs north and south, connecting the city with the other major communities in the Sierra Nevada foothills. [[U.S. Route 50 in California|U.S. Route 50]] heads west to [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]] and east to [[South Lake Tahoe, California|South Lake Tahoe]].   This portion of U.S. Route 50 is a part of the [[Lincoln Highway]].<ref>A Lincoln Highway route marker is embedded in the front wall of a building at [https://www.google.com/maps/place/564+Main+St,+Placerville,+CA+95667/@38.7291254,-120.7973273,18z/data=!4m7!1m4!3m3!1s0x809a50b6aee9465d:0xde9549dbb385c7c5!2s564+Main+St,+Placerville,+CA+95667!3b1!3m1!1s0x809a50b6aee9465d:0xde9549dbb385c7c5!6m1!1e1 564 Main Street.]</ref>

[[El Dorado Transit]] runs public bus service, both local routes connecting Placerville to other populated areas on the western slope and weekday commuter service to/from Sacramento, including the 20 bus to [[Iron Point station|Iron Point Station]].

[[Amtrak Thruway]] [[Amtrak Thruway#20C|20C]] provides a daily connection to [[Sacramento Valley Station]] to the west, and [[South Lake Tahoe, California|South Lake Tahoe]] to the east, with a few stops in between.<ref>https://amtraksanjoaquins.com/route20c/{{Dead link | date=April 2025 | fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

Placerville is served by the [[Placerville Airport]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.co.el-dorado.ca.us/airport.html |title=Airports |access-date=April 22, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100330072155/http://www.co.el-dorado.ca.us/airport.html |archive-date=March 30, 2010  }}</ref> A "Good Neighbor" airport (one that takes measures for noise abatement), it has a {{convert|4200|ft|m|adj=mid|-long}} runway,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Airports|url=https://edcgov.us:443/Government/CAO/airports/Pages/airports.aspx|access-date=October 22, 2020|website=El Dorado County|language=en-US}}</ref> but is not currently served by any commercial air transport.

==Culture==
[[File:Gold-133538.jpg|thumb|[[Gold]] specimen from Placerville]]

Placerville has many old buildings from the Gold Rush days.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://visit-eldorado.com/historic-towns/|title=Gold Rush History &#124; Historic Towns}}</ref>  A walk down Main Street also reveals many historical markers, signifying spots of certain events or persons of importance during this period.  Placerville was also on the line of the [[Pony Express]], a short-lived mail carrier service that connected California to the Midwest and East (basically from Sacramento to [[St. Joseph, Missouri]]).

Historically, Placerville was often referred to by the name "Hangtown," because of the 3 unfortunates that were hung after being caught for cattle rustling by locals. Those traveling in the area can still see the site of the hangman's platform that was used for public hangings<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.usacitiesonline.com/cacountyplacerville.htm|title=Placerville California Profile and Resource Guide. Placerville, California Facts and Information.|website=www.usacitiesonline.com}}</ref> along with a commemorative mannequin ("George") hanging from a noose above the Old Hangman's Tree (now an ice cream parlor).  The dummy enjoyed a brief hiatus when town officials attempted to freshen up the town's image before returning due to popular demand.  In 2015 the dummy was stolen.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mtdemocrat.com/news/hangman-willie-slips-from-his-noose-again/|title=Hangman missing|date=October 21, 2015}}</ref> It has since been replaced. In April 2021, the city council agreed unanimously to remove the noose from the city's logo.<ref>{{cite web | last=Seidman | first=Lila | title=Gold Rush past, post-George Floyd present: Placerville drops noose on city logo after months of debate | website=Los Angeles Times | date=April 13, 2021 | url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-04-13/placerville-debates-dropping-noose-from-city-logo | access-date=April 14, 2021}}</ref>

Placerville is home to the legendary dish known as the "[[Hangtown fry]]" which includes eggs, bacon, and oysters.<ref name="noble">{{cite web| last = Noble | first = Doug | title = The Hangtown Fry  | publisher = City of Placerville, CA   | url = https://www.cityofplacerville.org/history-of-the-hangtown-fry-and-recipes    | access-date = July 15, 2018 }}</ref> There are multiple legends regarding the origin, but all stories agree that Placerville is the place of origin.

The [[Southern Pacific Transportation Company]] branch line was purchased from the Union Pacific in 1996 for $14 million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=14000000|start_year=1996}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) by the Joint Powers Authority consisting of Sacramento County, Folsom, and El Dorado County. The line is being converted to a hiking and biking trail, with over 12 miles of the rail line now paved as a Class 1 biking route.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://eldoradotrail.com/trail-map/ |title=El Dorado Trail Map |access-date=May 21, 2022}}</ref>

Placerville is the home of [[United Ancient Order of Druids#United States|United Ancient Order of Druids of California]] Grove No. 1, which was established in 1860 as the first Druid hall in  California. It was reinstated in 2017–18, along with several other historical fraternal societies.  Main Street Placerville features a large stone column holding a glass and metal "torch" known as "The Druid Monument", commemorating the Order's inception there 1860.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://californiadruids.org/pages/history.html |title = Druids of California}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.edcgov.us/landing/Living/Stories/pages/druid_monument_in_placerville.aspx |title = Druid Monument in Placerville}}</ref>  The City of Placerville is currently attempting to repave the roundabout containing the monument, possibly removing it permanently in the process—a proposal that has divided the community.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lakey|first=Pat|date=December 15, 2017|title=Roundabout opponents now take aim at Clay Street Bridge project|url=https://www.mtdemocrat.com/news/roundabout-opponents-now-take-aim-at-clay-street-bridge-project/|website=Placerville Mountain Democrat}}</ref>

==Notable people==
{{See also|Category:People from Placerville, California}}
Over the years many influential people had shops in Placerville, mostly along the now historic Main Street.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://gemp.edcgov.us/MainStreetPlacerville/index.html |title=Historic Main Street, Placerville. |access-date=March 7, 2016 |archive-date=March 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313013302/http://gemp.edcgov.us/MainStreetPlacerville/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
{{Columns-list|
* [[Horace Bell]] (1830–1918), lawyer, journalist, historian<ref>{{Cite book|last=|first=|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-WoLeQYNz6gC|title=Reminiscences of a Ranger: Early Times in Southern California|date=January 1, 2000|publisher=University of Oklahoma Press|isbn=978-0-8061-3152-8|pages=iiv|language=en}}</ref>
*[[Amy Bruni]], [[Ghosthunters (TV series)|Ghost Hunters]] television series, investigator.
* [[T. J. Caystile]] (1848–1884), newspaperman, printer<ref name="LAT194209052">{{Cite news|date=September 5, 1942|title=Mrs. Kate Boruff Succumbs at 82|page=6|work=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41243940/kate-caystile-boruff-obituary/}}</ref>
*[[Dan Crary]] (born 1939), bluegrass flat-picking guitarist, retired PhD professor of communications at Cal State Fullerton.
* [[John Thomas Dunlop]] (1914–2003), politician, born in Placerville{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}}
* [[Oliver Gagliani]] (1917–2002), photographer, born in Placerville<ref>{{Cite web|title=Oliver Gagliani|url=https://americanart.si.edu/artist/oliver-gagliani-1714|access-date=June 8, 2021|website=Smithsonian American Art Museum|language=en-US}}</ref>
*[[Toby Hall]] (born 1975), [[baseball]] player
* [[Henry Hooker]] (1829–1907), cattle baron<ref name="hooker">{{cite book|author1=Edward Hooker|url=https://archive.org/details/descendantsrevt00hookgoog|title=The Descendants of Rev. Thomas Hooker, Hartford, Connecticut, 1586-1908|author2=Margaret Huntington Hooker|publisher=Harvard University|year=1909|pages=[https://archive.org/details/descendantsrevt00hookgoog/page/n260 221]–222, 360–361|access-date=January 27, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Mark Hopkins Jr.]] (1813–1878), railroad financier and businessman, lived in Placerville in the 1850s.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mark Hopkins, American businessman|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mark-Hopkins-American-businessman|access-date=June 8, 2021|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref>
*[[Thomas Kinkade]] (1958–2012), painter<ref name="The Thomas Kinkade Story">{{cite book|author=Thomas Kinkade and Rick Barnett|title=The Thomas Kinkade Story, A 20 Year Chronology of the Artist|publisher=Bulfinch Press|year=2003|isbn=0-8212-2858-7}}</ref>
* [[John William Kelley]] (born 1963), serial killer
* [[Bevo LeBourveau]] (1896–1947), baseball player, later a policeman in Placerville
* [[Edwin Markham]] (1852–1940), poet, member of the Placerville [[Masonic Lodge]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}}
*[[Alexander Howison Murray Jr.]] (1907–1993), also known as "Sandy Murray," mayor
*[[Nello Olivo]] (1879–?), winemaker
* [[Ziba Peterson]] (?–1849)— early American [[Latter Day Saint]], [[sheriff]] during the 1849 hanging.
* [[John Augustus Raffetto]] (1864–1954), hotelier and banker, founded the First National Bank of Placerville.<ref name="history">{{cite book|last=Wooldridge|first=Jesse Walton|url=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~npmelton/elraff.htm|title=History of Sacramento Valley California, Vol. 2|publisher=Pioneer Historical Publishing Company|year=1931|pages=419–420}}</ref>
*[[Michael Raffetto]] (1899–1990), radio star, born in Placerville.<ref>{{cite web|date=June 9, 1990|title=Michael Raffetto, 91, Former Radio Actor|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19900609/1076238/michael-raffetto-91-former-radio-actor|newspaper=Seattle Times}}</ref>
*[[Vladimir Sabich|Spider Sabich]] (1945–1976), [[Alpine skiing|ski racer]] from [[Kyburz, California|Kyburz]] - buried in Placerville
* [[Levi Strauss]] (1829–1902), businessman and clothing maker.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}}
* [[John Studebaker]] (1833–1917), auto maker.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}}
* [[Pregnant (band)|Daniel Trudeau]] (born 1986), musician, artist
*[[Ralph Taeger]] (1936–2015), actor; operated Taeger's Firewood Company in Placerville
*[[Jerome R. Waldie]] (1925–2009), [[List of United States Representatives from California|U.S. Representative from California]]
* [[Jesse Yarnell]] (1837–1906), newspaperman, established the Daily News in Placerville.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}}
}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery class="left">
File:2009-0724-PlacervilleTownHall.jpg|Town Hall
File:Placerville CA Bell.JPG|Placerville bell
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Community Observatory]]
* ''[[Placerville Mountain Democrat]]''
* [[Placerville Pioneer Jewish Cemetery]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Placerville, California}}
* {{Official website}}
* [http://www.mtdemocrat.com/ The ''Mountain Democrat''] (local newspaper)
* [http://www.placerville-downtown.org/ Placerville Downtown Association]

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[[Category:Placerville, California| ]]
[[Category:Cities in El Dorado County, California]]
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[[Category:Mining communities of the California Gold Rush]]
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[[Category:U.S. Route 50]]
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[[Category:Populated places established in 1848]]
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