The Bartleson-Bidwell Party became the first emigrant party to cross the Sierra east to west in 1841. It is believed that they crossed somewhere in the vicinity north of Sonora Pass following the Stanislaus canyons into the foothills and the area where Sonora is located today.
In July of 1848 near what is now Jamestown, gold was found by Benjamin Wood and James Savage at the west end of Wood’s Creek.
1849 Friction between the insurgent Americans and the native Mexican miners increases. Called Sonoranians, the Spanish speaking miners vacate their camp and make a new camp at the east end of Wood’s Creek now the site of Sonora High School.
Tuolumne County was established by the California Legislature on February 18, 1850. The word Tuolumne is believed to be a transliteration of the Mi Wuk word “Talmalamne” meaning a cluster of stone dwellings. Originally the area was divided into six townships: Sonora, Mormon Camp, Jacksonville, Don Pedro’s Bar and Tuolumne. Representative Malcolm M. Stewart of the San Joaquin district in the Assembly went to that first meeting and called the town formerly known as Sonoranian Camp or Sonora as we know it today “Stewart". Thus "Stewart" became the county seat of Tuolumne County. Later that year the name was changed back to Sonora by petition and an amendment approved by the State Senate. In March John Walker, a member of the Hildreth Party finds gold near what is now Columbia. On September 9, 1850 California became a part of the United States. We also entered the Union as a "free state" as a result of the Compromise of 1850
Citizens vote on May 25, 1851 to consolidate both the Georgetown and Jamestown camps by one name, Jamestown. The City of Sonora was also incorporated by California legislature this year.
In 1852 gold is discovered in Turn Back Creek near Carters-Summerville in Tuolumne Township. Also that year the first water company was incorporated the Tuolumne County Water Company would eventually gobble up its competition and dominate water distribution in the county. The Jamestown Methodist Church was founded in 1852. According to the census that year the population of Tuolumne County was 17,657
The East Belt mineral lode was discovered in 1853 and produced such important mines as the Confidence, Independence, Soulsby and Eureka Mines. Hydraulic mining is employed to cut down the outcrops on hillsides of alluvial gravel. The water flowing downhill washed the soil into large long sluices strung along the base.
The Tong War of 1856 Tensions between the Tuolumne County Sam Yap Company and the Calaveras County Yan Wo Company, both headquartered near Chinese Camp erupted in violence. In the Columbia Gazette of October 1856 a comment directed toward the Yan Wo by the Sam Yap stated “There are a great many now existing in the world who ought to be exterminated.” An estimated 2500 men fought in the battle that followed. Most were armed in traditional fashion, carrying long pikes, butcher’s knives, and tridents. The Sam Yap Company had purchased 150 muskets and bayonets in San Francisco in preparation for the confrontation and after a hundred rounds or so The Yan Wo clan were forced to retreat. Surprisingly there were only 4 fatalities were recorded.
The Strawberry Dam is constructed by the Tuolumne Water Company in 1856. The water is diverted to the gold fields in Columbia.
New Tuolumne County jail opens 1857.
In 1858 Near the town of Tuolumne the Eureka Mine was established by Cornish miners in vicinity of what was then called Summersville. 1858 also saw the completion of over 70 miles of ditch and flume system owned by Columbia & Stanislaus River Water Company stretching from above Donnell Flat to Columbia.
The oldest Episcopal Church in California opens its doors in 1859. Named St. James Episcopal Church or as it is affectionately known. “The Red Church”
Built in 1860, the Columbia School House was two story brick structure that was used until 1937.
The Jamestown Methodist Church was constructed in 1861.
1864 was a big year, President Lincoln signed bill granting Yosemite Valley & Mariposa Grove to State of California, as inalienable public trust. The Sonora Pass Road opens. This toll road later becomes State Highway 108 and later that December, Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) arrives at Jackass Hill, near Tuttletown.
In the year 1866 a California law was enacted that made the rancher responsible for any damages done when livestock trespassed onto another’s property whether there was a fence or not.
By 1870 California passed more fence line laws to keep livestock contained.
Big Oak Flat Road opened to Yosemite Valley and tourism flourishes in 1874
In the year 1879, the Bonanza Mine, lying just north of the “Red Church” yields a pocket of gold worth an estimated $250,000.
Thirty-one years later Hydraulic mining was outlawed in 1884.
1888 Summersville (Tuolumne) residents petitioned to have their own post office. Fearing confusion, the Postal Service denied the towns petition because an existing post office called “Somersville” in Contra Costa County. Later that December it was agreed that since the post office was located at the store of Charles Carter, the town would be called “Carters.” The request was subsequently affirmed and Carters-Summersville was born.
In the year 1890 Yosemite National Park is formed.
The Second Gold Rush began in 1893 at the Old Rawhide Mine, owned by Captain W. A. Nevills, re-opened and struck an immense body of rich ore with three shafts and 40-stamp mill; rekindled interest in quartz hard rock mining.
On January 1, 1897 the Sierra Railway of California was incorporated . Thomas S. Bullock along with William Crocker and Prince Andre Poniatowski, who represented wealthy French investors established the first forty-one miles from Oakdale to Jamestown by November 10, 1897. Bullock who had been competitively forced out of Arizona brought rails and engines from his original railroad investments used on the Prescott and Arizona Central Railroad. The new Jamestown depot hosted a roundhouse and the operations central maintenance facility. The connection line to Sonora was completed later the following year. The Emporium in Jamestown was also constructed this year. The Eastlake design building at 18180 Main Street was built by C. H. Wilson. Originally built as a pioneer department store, it served as the county telephone exchange from 1906-1923.
Construction starts in 1898 on the three-story Roman pressed brick building that is the new Tuolumne County Court House.
West Side Flume & Lumber Co. is established by Bullock in May of 1899 and the railroad adds another 12 miles to reach Carters-Summerville (later renamed Tuolumne after the fire of 1905).
By February 1, 1900 the end of the main line was completed with a depot located only a few hundred yards from the new mill of the West Side Flume and Lumber Company. The depot became known as the "Tuolumne Station". Later that year the WSFL&LC incorporates the Hetch Hetchy & Yosemite Valley RR (narrow gauge)
Standard Lumber Co. is incorporated. D. H. Steinmetz is the general manager. Thomas S. Bullock opens Turnback Inn and establishes a post office in the WSFL&LC main office in 1901.
Tuolumne County High School starts meeting in basement of Tuolumne County Courthouse in 1903. This is the predecessor to Sonora High School.
Stanislaus Forest Reserve renamed Stanislaus National Forest in 1905.
In Tuolumne, St Josephs Catholic Church was constructed in the year 1908.
The community of Carters / Summersville / Tuolumne is officially named “Tuolumne” in 1909.
In 1910 the Mi Wuk Rancheria is established near Tuolumne.
1916 the New Strawberry Dam (Pinecrest Lake) completed
The Pickering Lumber Company acquires the Standard Lumber Company and its Sugar Pine Railroad in 1921.
1923 O’Shaughnessy Dam (Hetch Hetchy) completed. The Turnback Inn burns to the ground.
1924 the Don Pedro Dam completed.
In 1925 Pickering acquires the West Side Lumber Company and its railroad.
1929 the Melones Dam completed.
1930 Lyons Reservoir is rebuilt.
Built in 1936 on the site where the Turnback Inn had stood The Tuolumne Veterans Memorial Hall was erected in Art Deco style with funding from President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal Public Works Project. The Sycamore trees that line the park and streets of Tuolumne were planted about the same time.
1938 Sierra Railroad’s last regularly scheduled passenger train ends service in Tuolumne County.
In 1945 the Columbia State Historic Park is established.
1949 Harry T Meyer and Arch Selby lost their lives in the worst wildfire since 1935.
Dodge Ridge snow ski recreation area opens in 1951.
In 1952 the motion picture "High Noon" with Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly filmed at various Tuolumne County locations, including St Josephs Church in Tuolumne.
West Side Lumber Co. discontinues narrow gage rail road operations in 1961 after a decision in favor of using logging trucks.
A year later in 1962 West Side Lumber Co.’s Tuolumne saw mill is shut down by a strike and burns down later in the year never to reopen.
"Petticoat Junction" TV program filmed in Tuolumne County using Sierra Railway equipment in 1963.
Fiberboard Paper Products purchases Pickering Lumber Company in 1965.
Columbia College opens in 1968.
In 1983, Pacific Gas and Electric sold a portion of the ditch system known as the Tuolumne Water System to the County of Tuolumne. State of California Parks & Recreation opens Railtown 1897 State Historic Park; steam excursion and interpretive living history
The Sonora Mining Company in Jamestown started a high volume open pit gold mine in 1986. The ore was transported to Nevada for gold extraction due to California environmental restrictions.
In September of 1987 the Stanislaus Complex Fire scorches 147,000 acres.
"Back to the Future III", starring Michael J. Fox & Christopher Lloyd was filmed in the red hills area in 1989
1992 marked the year that Tuolumne County consolidated with the Tuolumne Regional Water District. Phoenix Lake and most of the remaining ditch assets were transferred to the newly formed Tuolumne Utilities District (TUD).
In 1993 largest crystalline gold specimen in North America was found on Christmas Eve at the Sonora Mining Co.
Sonora mining closes after 8 years in 1994.
In 1995 Sierra Pacific Industries acquires the Louisiana Pacific lumber mill in standard.
The "Back to the Future III" set is burned to the ground in 1996 after a fire in the Red Hills.
The original West Side Lumber Co. property was sold at auction to Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians for housing development in 2002.
2009 Sierra Pacific Industries discontinues mill operations in Standard. 108 years after it opened as the Standard Lumber Company.