| History of Sonora California |
In 1848 miners from Sonora Mexico found gold here and established a
camp. Sonora became known as the "Queen of the Southern Mines" and
was the biggest town in the Mother Lode. On February 18, 1850 the
California legislature established Tuolumne County, and on May 1, 1851
incorporated the city of Sonora. The "Great Fire" of 1852 damaged or
burned down every building on Washington Street. Some stone exteriors
from the subsequent reconstruction are still around. Homes in Sonora fell
victim to the fire as well.
One of the richest gold mines in California was located on Washington
Street. The "Big Bonanza Mine" was less than 100 yards from St. James
Episcopal Church. Local miners found large nuggets where Sonora High
School now stands. A group of gamblers tried to force them out and a few
men were killed in the ensuing gun fight. When this news reached the
mines near by, hundreds of angry miners from came to help their
embattled comrades and the gamblers were forced to retreat. In 1851 the
"Big Bonanza Mine" yielded a 28 lb. nugget and in 1879 produced 990 lbs.
of gold in one week. An incredible 12 tons of gold were taken from the
Sonora area between early 1849 and the spring of 1850.
One of the oldest churches in California, and the most elegant old building
in Sonora, is St. James Episcopal Church, also known as the "Red Church".
Originally built in 1848, it was rebuilt after a fire in 1859.
The county jail dates back to 1857 and was in use till 1960. In 1865 a
drunk set his cell on fire and burned down the entire jail. He was the only
fatality, due to a jammed door.
In the 1860s as the placer gold declined and men left to serve in the Civil
War thousands of Chinese miners came to work the abandoned placer
mines. The area east of Stewart Street, between Lyons and East Bradford
streets became Sonora's Chinatown.
After the gold rush, Sonora's central location kept it going. Today it is a
busy county seat and offers Antique Shoppers and Dinners. It is the
"nearest biggest little town" this side of Yosemite National Park.
Present Day Sonora
According to the 2000 U.S.Census, the city includes an area of 3.0 square
miles.
There are 4,423 people, 2,051 households, and 1,046 families residing in
the city with a population density of 1,456.2 people per square mile. There
are 2,197 housing units at an average density of 723.3/sq mi.
The racial makeup of the city is 91.36% White, 0.68% African American,
1.49% Native American, 1.22% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 1.99% from
other races, and 3.12% from two or more races. 8.41% of the population
are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 2,051 households out of which 24.0% have children under the
age of 18 living with them, 33.2% are married couples living together,
14.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 49.0%
are non-families. 40.3% of all households are made up of individuals and
15.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The
average household size is 2.06 and the average family size is 2.75.
In the city the population is spread out with 20.4% under the age of 18,
9.5% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and
20.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 41 years. For
every 100 females there are 82.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and
over, there are 77.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $28,858, and the median
income for a family is $39,722. Males have a median income of $40,958
versus $26,111 for females. The per capita income for the city is $19,248.
16.9% of the population and 10.9% of families are below the poverty line.
Out of the total population, 22.8% of those under the age of 18 and 7.2%
of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
