Nevada County Welcomes You!

From rolling western slopes to thick forests and towering peaks of the Sierra Nevada, this is Nevada County, a land of blue skies, sparkling rivers and lakes, green forests and golden opportunity.

Discover this special place on earth where friendly locals preserve rich historical traditions, retain a deep sense of community and enjoy a bounteous outdoor environment. Explore the colorful streets and shops of Nevada City and Grass Valley, two of California’s most interesting Gold Rush towns. See tiny villages, such as Rough & Ready, Penn Valley and Washington, that dot the Nevada County landscape. Experience the heritage of California’s most successful gold mining region. Discover the historic mountain hamlet of Truckee, a cradle of California winter sports and world‐class center of outdoor recreation. Browse through the shops of Historic Downtown Truckee’s Commercial Row and tour Donner Memorial State Park to learn about the Donner Party’s ordeal beneath the snows of 1846.

Visit museums, galleries, concerts and stage plays, climb aboard a horse drawn carriage, and sip award‐winning local wines. Attend unique community celebrations such as the Nevada County Fair, Nevada City Bicycle Classic, the Draft Horse Classic and Harvest Fair, Music in the Mountains , and Truckee Thursdays.

All across Nevada County, visitors will find unique specialty shops, first‐class restaurants, award‐winning wineries and a range of lodging from historic hotels to Victorian bed and breakfast inns and mountain hideaways, all with a special brand of local friendliness and hospitality.

Visit www.gonevadacounty.com for complete information on all the sites and activities of Nevada County, California!

We hope you enjoy Nevada County as much as we do!

Photo by Brian Lowenthal

Life is good in the Northern Gold Country

For a romantic country weekend, a vacation or even a lifetime, Grass Valley and Nevada City in the Northern Sierra Gold Country are colorful, vibrant communities with diversions aplenty. Located along Highway 49, the state's "Golden Chain" highway, Grass Valley and Nevada City are picturesque Gold Rush towns with many preserved and restored historic buildings, including old firehouses, steepled churches, Victorian bed & breakfast inns, and wonderful old hotels that once lodged American presidents and still welcome Gold Country travelers. Five miles apart at the 2,500‐foot elevation, amid thick forests of oak, pine and cedar, the area is away from the busy Interstate highway system yet only an hour's drive from Sacramento to the southwest and Lake Tahoe to the east.

Visitors will find some of California's best Gold Rush history, abundant outdoor recreation and wide choices in dining, lodging, nightlife and the arts. Sierra Vintners, the local winery association, offers 15 vineyards and wineries, many with countryside wine tasting, and several downtown tasting rooms.

The area features a number of noted restaurants, featuring California cuisine, fresh, local and organic foods. More than a dozen different ethnic food choices are offered in the County.

Grass Valley, the larger of the two cities and the area's center of commerce, is built around a downtown historic district that dates to the 1850s. The nearby 780‐acre Empire Mine State Historic Park includes the site of California's richest gold mine.

Nevada City, with its quaint brick storefronts and Victorian homes, is among the best‐preserved towns in California with a downtown historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Rivers, lakes, hiking and biking trails, self‐guided nature walks, gold mining attractions and five golf courses surround the sister cities. The South Yuba River State Park, the state's first river corridor state park, parallels the wild and scenic South Yuba River for 20 miles.

Sitting high atop the Sierra Nevada in Nevada County is the mountain town of Truckee California. With record breaking weather, majestic mountain terrain, pristine lakes, and historic old town charm, Truckee is the gem atop the high sierra crown. As a town that boasts the coldest temperatures and most snow fall, National Geographic Adventure recently ranked Truckee in the top 25 of best ski towns in the world. Truckee is a favorite among guests and locals due to its rich history, world class terrain, and inviting atmosphere.

Concerts, live theatre and a variety of festivals can be found throughout Nevada County, with award‐winning local organizations such as Music in the Mountains and Center for The Arts attracting patrons from across the region. Street festivals, major events and activities for all ages make for year‐round entertainment throughout Nevada County!

Nevada County Fact Sheet

Location Nevada County, California is a land of blue skies, green trees and golden opportunity. The county extends eastward from the rim of the Sacramento Valley, spans the snowcapped Sierra, and continues to the Nevada state line. Life in Western Nevada County is centered about the historic Gold Rush towns of Grass Valley and Nevada City. All‐weather highway access is via State Routes 20, 49 and 174. Grass Valley and Nevada City are 60 miles northeast of Sacramento, 50 miles west of Truckee‐Tahoe, and 80 miles west of Reno. Eastern Nevada County includes the town of Truckee and the Donner Lake‐Donner Summit area, where year‐round recreational opportunities attract visitors from far and wide. Truckee is reached via Interstate 80, old U.S. 40 and State Route 89. Truckee is located 100 miles east of Sacramento, 50 miles east of Grass Valley and Nevada City and 35 miles west of Reno.

County Seat Nevada City Eric W. Rood Administrative Center 950 Maidu Avenue, Nevada City CA 95959 General Information: 530‐265‐1218 www.mynevadacounty.com

Land Area Square Miles 974 Population Density 103.6 (Per square mile)

Population Grass Valley 12,860 Nevada City 3,068 Truckee 16,180 Nevada County 98,764

Cities Truckee was established in 1863 and incorporated as a city in 1993 Grass Valley was established in 1851 under the name Centerville and renamed Grass Valley the following year. It was incorporated in 1860 Nevada City was established in 1849 under the name Nevada. It was incorporated in 1856, in 1864 “City” was added to the name Population Centers in unincorporated Nevada County include Penn Valley, Lake Wildwood, Rough & Ready, Alta Sierra, Lake of the Pines, Washington, North San Juan, Kingvale and Soda Springs.

Transportation Roads: Interstate 80, State Routes 20, 49, 89 and 174. Rail: The Southern Pacific Railway runs through Truckee. Daily Amtrak service. Air: Sacramento International Airport is 90 minutes from Grass Valley‐Nevada City Reno/Tahoe International Airport is 45 minutes from Truckee. Private flights: Nevada County Air Park, Grass Valley Truckee Tahoe Airport, Truckee

Climate On the western slope of the Sierra, the western part of the county has warm, dry summers and cool wet winters. Average annual precipitation is 53 inches with occasional winter snow at the mid‐elevations In the Sierra, Truckee offers a comfortable year‐around alpine climate with average winter snowfall of 202 inches.

Geography The rollling rangelands of far western Nevada County are dotted with ranches and vineyards and defined by the many rivers and streams flowing from the Sierra. The mid‐elevations are thick with deep green forests, sparkling lakes and rivers. The higher elevations and granite faced mountain peaks provide pristine watershed and outdoor adventure galore.

Nevada County Lifestyle At first glance, visitors to Nevada County are enthralled by the mountains, rivers and beautiful small towns with their historic brick buildings and white church steeples.

The tree‐lined Victorian neighborhoods of Grass Valley and Nevada City are a showcase of restored homes that date to the Gold Rush. Ranches, vineyards, family farms and woodsy cottages surround the city centers. In the mountains, Truckee reflects Old West charm and hearty high country living and is fast becoming a mecca for outdoor recreation and a healthy livestyle.

In this spirit, Nevada County continues to attract new residents and business people who seek to live and work in clean, healthy places where life is good.

Real estate values and business opportunities in Nevada County are as good as they have been in many years. Now may be the time to take a look. Contact the Nevada County Association of Realtors at www.nevadacountyaor.com

Towns of Nevada County

Grass Valley offers unique stores, hotels, bed & breakfast inns, wine tasting rooms, art galleries, world‐class restaurants, entertainment and real estate. Nestled in the heart of the Sierra Nevada Foothills, Grass Valley is truly a postcard image. Bathed in a wondrous mix of cedar, pine, and an assortment of deciduous trees that burst forth a multitude of Fall colors as the cooler temperatures arrive, this circa 1800 Gold Rush era town offers a window into the past while providing the best the present has to offer.

Neighboring Nevada City is a colorful town that has prepared for its future by preserving its past. The historic district, including 93 buildings, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In addition, eight individual buildings are listed on the register and the town also contains 18 state and local landmarks.

Rough and Ready is just a short drive west of Grass Valley. Rough and Ready provides ideal country living, and yet is reasonably close to metropolitan areas. The proximity to outdoor recreational activities seems to appeal to home‐based business entrepreneurs and self‐ employed professionals who enjoy living in Rough and Ready. The town hosts Secession Days on the last Sunday in June with food, fun and entertainment.

During the Gold Rush days, Penn Valley never could brag about any great Bonanzas. But, Penn Valley did get the reputation as ‘The Pantry of the Northern Mines’. Discouraged miners left the boomtowns and gold mines, and pioneered the valley to seek riches from a different source ‐ agriculture. They traded their gold pans for ploughs, and turned Penn Valley into lush grazing lands, orchards, and farms. Today the valley is still a peaceful place, but continues to gain business opportunities and residential growth. Horses, llamas, deer and wild turkeys all coexist in the area with about 12,000 residents. The Western Gateway Park, Historic Bridgeport and Lake Englebright are all a short drive away.

Truckee may be an athlete’s dream in the winter, but cold temperatures and massive snowfall also lend to high lake and river water levels during summer creating a long list of summer recreational activities as well. Summer activities in the quaint mountain town include boating, rafting, fishing, paddle boarding, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing and much more. Temperatures average around 40‐79° in the summer and activities for all ages make Truckee a leading destination in outdoor adventure fun. From Donner Lake to the historic downtown area, history is visible throughout the entire town. Historic downtown Truckee entertains guests with western‐style storefronts, fine dining, and boutique shopping. With natural beauty, world class terrain, historic charm and cultural diversity, Truckee has something for everyone.