About Downieville

Downieville is a census-designated place in and the county seat of Sierra County, California, United States.Downieville sits at an elevation of 3,888 feet (1,185 m). The 2010 United States census reported Downieville's population was 282.

Downieville was settled in late 1849 during the California Gold Rush and was first known as "The Forks" for its geographical location. It was shortly thereafter renamed after the town's founder, Major William Downie (1820-1893), a Scotsman who led an expedition of nine miners, including seven blacks, up the North Fork of the Yuba River and who was the town's first mayor. Major Downie's travels are documented in his 1893 autobiography, "Hunting for Gold." Downieville reached a peak population of over 5,000 people in 1851 but declined sharply by 1865. Downieville is situated at the confluence of the Downie River and North Fork of the Yuba River. Downieville was vying to become the state capital of California along with fifteen other California communities in 1853 before the capital was moved to Benicia, and then shortly thereafter its current location in Sacramento. In July 1851 Downieville gained a distinction it may not have wanted when a mob lynching occurred on July 5. One particularly infamous crime was when a Mexican woman named Josefa Segovia was lynched by a mob in Downieville. She was accused of killing a white man who had attempted to assault her after breaking into her home. It remains the only lynching of a pregnant female in California history.

Downieville is a popular mountain biking destination, hosting the world famous race, the Downieville Classic, a two-day event consisting an Enduro style or Super-D downhill race as well as an extremely challenging cross country race. The Single Speed World Championship was also held in Downieville in 2003.

Downieville is home to the state's oldest weekly newspaper, the Mountain Messenger. Default wired telephone numbers for the town follow the format (530) 289-xxxx. In a typical year, the high school graduates about a half-dozen students. Downieville has its own post office (on Main Street) and its ZIP code is 95936. The elevation is around 2,900 feet (880 m).