Altaville, California

{{Short description|Unincorporated community in California, United States}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}

{{Infobox settlement   |name = Altaville |other_name = |native_name = |nickname = |settlement_type =Unincorporated community |image_skyline = |imagesize = |image_caption = |pushpin_map =California#USA |pushpin_label_position =bottom |pushpin_mapsize = |pushpin_map_caption =Location in California |pushpin_image=California Locator Map with US.PNG  |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name =United States |subdivision_type1 = State |subdivision_name1 = California |subdivision_type2 =County |subdivision_name2 = Calaveras County |subdivision_type3 = |subdivision_name3 = | |established_title =  |established_date = |coordinates = {{coord|38|05|02|N|120|33|43|W|type:city_region:US-CA|display=inline,title}} |elevation_footnotes = <ref>{{gnis|1659688}}</ref> |elevation_m =470 |elevation_ft =1542 |footnotes = {{Designation list|embed=yes|designation1=California|designation1_number=288<ref name=CHL/>}} }} '''Altaville''' (''Alta'', Spanish for "Upper" and ''Ville'', French for "town") is a former unincorporated community in Calaveras County, California, now located in the northwest portion of the city of Angels Camp. It sits at an elevation of 1,542 feet (470 m) above sea level and is located at {{coord|38|05|02|N|120|33|43|W|}}, at the intersections of SR 49 and SR 4. The community is in ZIP code 95221 and area code 209.

The town was established in 1852 on Cherokee Creek and was known variously as '''Cherokee Flat''', '''Forks-of-the Road''', '''Low Divide''', and '''Winterton''' over its history.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{California's Geographic Names|740}}</ref> Notorious bandit Joaquin Murrieta supposedly spent so much time here that a mountain northwest of the creek was named Joaquin Mountain. Although gold was discovered here in 1854, it didn't last long, but the town survived due to its position as an important point for supplies and machinery. D.D. Demerest established a foundry here in 1854, and others soon followed. Most of the stamp mills and a large part of the mining machinery erected in Calaveras and Tuolumne Counties were built at the Altaville Foundry. A brick schoolhouse was built at Altaville in 1858 and the townsite was established in 1873.

A post office was established in 1904, closed in 1943, and re-established in 1944.<ref name="ReferenceA" />

Altaville was also the site of an archaeological hoax, the Calaveras Skull.

The town today is registered as California Historical Landmark #288.<ref name=CHL>{{cite ohp|288|Altaville|2012-10-06}}</ref>

==References== <references/>

{{Calaveras County, California}} {{California Historical Landmarks in Calaveras County, California}}

Category:Unincorporated communities in Calaveras County, California Category:California Historical Landmarks Category:Unincorporated communities in California Category:1852 establishments in California Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1852