Angels Camp, California

{{Short description|City in California, United States}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2014}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Angels Camp, California | other_name = Angels | nickname = Frogtown | settlement_type = City | motto = "Redefining The Rush" | image_skyline = Downtown Angels Camp CA.jpg | image_caption = Downtown Angels Camp in 2008 | image_flag = Angels camp ca flag.png | image_seal = Angels Camp ca seal.png | seal_size = | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 11 | mapframe-point = none | pushpin_map = USA | pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States | pushpin_relief = 1 | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = United States | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = California | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name2 = Calaveras | government_type = | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Michael Chimente<ref name=CC>{{cite web|url=https://angelscamp.gov/city-hall/mayor-city-council-2/|title=Mayor & City Council|access-date=May 4, 2025|website=City of Angels}}</ref> | leader_title1 = Vice Mayor | leader_name1 = Caroline Schirato<ref name=CC/> | leader_title2 = City Administrator | leader_name2 = Pamela Caronongan<ref name=administrator>{{cite web|url=https://angelscamp.gov/city-hall/city-administrator/|title=City Administrator|access-date=May 4, 2025|website=City of Angels}}</ref> | established_title = Mining camp | established_date = 1848<ref name=Koeppel/> | established_title2 = Incorporated | established_date2 = January 24, 1912<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc|title=California Cities by Incorporation Date|format=Word|publisher=California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions|access-date=March 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103002921/http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc|archive-date=November 3, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> <!-- Area------------------>| unit_pref = Imperial | area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 30, 2021}}</ref> | area_total_sq_mi = 3.64 | area_land_sq_mi = 3.63 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.01 | area_total_km2 = 9.42 | area_land_km2 = 9.41 | area_water_km2 = 0.01 | area_water_percent = 0.25 | elevation_footnotes = <ref name=elevation>{{Cite gnis|1667877|Angels Camp|access-date=October 20, 2014}}</ref> | elevation_m = 421 | elevation_ft = 1381 | population_as_of = 2020 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 3667 | population_density_sq_mi = 1009.64 | timezone = PST | utc_offset = -8 | timezone_DST = PDT | utc_offset_DST = -7 | coordinates = {{coord|38|04|06|N|120|32|23|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}} | postal_code_type = ZIP code | postal_code = 95222 | area_code = 209 | blank_name = FIPS code | blank_info = {{FIPS|06|02112}} | blank1_name = GNIS feature IDs | blank1_info = {{GNIS 4|1667877}}, {{GNIS 4|2409709}} | website = {{URL|http://angelscamp.gov}} | footnotes = {{Designation list|embed=yes|designation1=California|designation1_number=287<ref name=CHL/>}} | pop_est_as_of = | pop_est_footnotes = | population_est = | population_density_km2 = 389.78 }}

'''Angels Camp''' (formerly '''Angel's Camp''', '''Angels''', '''Angels City''', '''Carson's Creek''' and '''Clearlake'''), is the only incorporated city in Calaveras County, California, United States. The population was 3,667 at the 2020 census. It lies at an elevation of 1381 feet (421 m).

Established in 1849, the town was a quartz mining destination<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Parks |first=California State |title=ANGELS CAMP |url=https://dbw.parks.ca.gov/ListedResources/Detail/287 |access-date=2026-01-13 |website=California State Parks |language=en}}</ref> in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.<ref name=":0" /> Over $100 million was generated from mining activities.<ref name=":4" /> Black Bart, Joaquin Murieta, and other outlaws were said to have spent time in the town.<ref name=":4" /> Mark Twain based his short story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" on a story he claimed to have heard at the Angels Hotel in 1865.<ref name=AAA>{{cite book|title=Northern California|year=2012|publisher=AAA Publishing|location=Heathrow, Florida|pages=46}}</ref> The event is commemorated with a Jumping Frog Jubilee each May at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds, just east of the city. Because of this, Angels Camp is sometimes referred to as "Frogtown."

The city is California Historical Landmark #287.<ref name=CHL>{{cite ohp|287|Angels Camp|2012-10-06}}</ref>

==History== thumb|Angels Camp around 1900 In May 1848, Henry Pinkney Angell, a native of Rhode Island, is said to have left Monterey, California with 92 men in search of gold. By July, they were gold mining on Weber Creek before moving on to a small unnamed tributary of the Stanislaus River. It was decided to set up camp where the tributary met Dry Creek, since the area seemed promising. In this new camp, Angell set up a store<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=History of the City of Angels |url=https://angelscamp.gov/history |access-date=2026-01-13 |website=City of Angels |language=en-US}}</ref> on the banks of the creek<ref name="Koeppel">{{cite book |last=Koeppel |first=Elliot H. |title=The California Gold Country: Highway 49 Revisited |date=August 1999 |publisher=Malakoff & Co. |isbn=978-0-938121-12-1 |chapter=Angels Camp |chapter-url=http://www.malakoff.com/goldcountry/angelsca.htm}}</ref> to trade essential items for gold. By the spring of 1849, the camp population had grown to 300 miners.<ref name=":0" />

The first post office was established in 1851 (and called Carson's Creek). It was renamed along with the town in 1853.<ref name=":3">{{California's Geographic Names|740}}</ref> In 1853, Angel opened Magee and Angel's Hotel, in a partnership with Cave City.<ref name=":2" />

The placers around his camp were productive but gave out after a few years, and the population began to dwindle until gold-bearing quartz veins were discovered in the town, which brought people back.<ref name="Koeppel" /> The first major quartz discovery was in 1854, in the grounds where the Winters brothers and Davis & Company were ground sluicing. The vein of quartz was 10 to 90 feet wide. In the 1880s, technological progress allowed the miners to go deeper than they had before, and new mines were established.<ref name=":0" /> Those mines operated for the next few decades, producing more than $20 million worth of gold, processed by stamp mills in town.<ref name="Koeppel" /> By 1890, the census recorded 917 residents of the town.<ref name=":0" />

In 1902, the Sierra Railroad was introduced.<ref name=":2" /> The city was incorporated under the name of "Angels" in 1912.<ref name=":3" />

During World War I, the major mines shut down, due to both labor shortages and rising operating costs.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=History of the City of Angels |url=https://angelscamp.gov/history |access-date=2026-01-13 |website=City of Angels |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Angels Camp |url=https://www.calaverashistory.org/angels-camp |access-date=2026-01-13 |website=Calaveras Heritage Council |language=en}}</ref> However, there was a revival in mining activity in the 1930s, which reportedly generated at least $30 million.<ref name=":2" /> During World War II, the final gold mines were closed in 1942, as they were deemed non-essential businesses.<ref name=":1" /> It was said that when the last mill finally ceased operations, the townspeople couldn't sleep, the silence was so loud.<ref name="Koeppel" />

==Geography== Angels Camp is located at {{Coord|38|04|06|N|120|32|23|W|type:city}}.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|3.6|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

Angels Camp is about {{convert|1400|ft|m}} above sea level, with Angels Creek flowing through the middle of town.

===Climate=== According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Angels Camp has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csa" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=271640&cityname=Angels+Camp%2C+California%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Angels Camp, California] Retrieved January 1, 2018.</ref>

==Demographics== {{US Census population |1880= 330 |1890= 917 |1920= 941 |1930= 915 |1940= 1163 |1950= 1147 |1960= 1121 |1970= 1710 |1980= 2302 |1990= 2409 |2000= 3004 |2010= 3836 |2020= 3667 |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/history/pdf/2010angelscamp.pdf|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=January 1, 2018}}</ref> }}

The 2020 United States census reported that Angels Camp had a population of 3,667. The population density was {{convert|1,009.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Angels Camp was 81.1% White, 0.7% African American, 2.1% Native American, 1.3% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 3.8% from other races, and 10.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.5% of the population.

The census reported that 98.4% of the population lived in households, 1.6% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.

There were 1,635 households, out of which 24.5% included children under the age of 18, 46.5% were married-couple households, 7.3% were cohabiting couple households, 30.0% had a female householder with no partner present, and 16.1% had a male householder with no partner present. 29.4% of households were one person, and 17.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.21. There were 1,036 families (63.4% of all households).

The age distribution was 18.2% under the age of 18, 5.5% aged 18 to 24, 19.6% aged 25 to 44, 26.1% aged 45 to 64, and 30.6% who were 65{{nbsp}}years of age or older. The median age was 51.6{{nbsp}}years. For every 100 females, there were 89.5 males.

There were 1,907 housing units at an average density of {{convert|525.1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}, of which 1,635 (85.7%) were occupied. Of these, 68.2% were owner-occupied, and 31.8% were occupied by renters.<ref>{{cite web |title=Angels city, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?g=1600000US0602112 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=March 31, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Angels city, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDHC2020.P16?g=1600000US0602112 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=March 31, 2025}}</ref>

The median household income was $60,353, and the per capita income was $31,454. About 10.5% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line.<ref>{{cite web |title=Angels city, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDP5Y2023.DP03?g=1600000US0602112 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=March 31, 2025}}</ref>

==Government== In the state legislature, Angels Camp is in {{Representative|casd|4|fmt=sdistrict}},<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.ca.gov/senators|title=Senators|access-date=May 13, 2025|publisher=State of California}}</ref> and {{Representative|caad|8|fmt=adistrict}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers|title=Members Assembly|access-date=May 13, 2025|publisher=State of California}}</ref> Federally, Angels Camp is in {{Representative|cacd|5|fmt=district}}.<ref>{{cite GovTrack|CA|5|access-date=May 13, 2025}}</ref>

==Notable people== *Sara Carter — musician and entertainer, Carter Family *T.J. Dillashaw — former UFC bantamweight champion<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/10979081/tj-dillashaw-clinches-135-pound-title-upsetting-barao|title=TJ Dillashaw clinches 135-pound title|last=Okamoto|first=Brett|publisher=ESPN|date=May 24, 2014|access-date=January 1, 2018}}</ref> *Amanda Folendorf — first deaf female mayor in the United States<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2018/02/08/first-deaf-female-mayor/|title=New Angels Camp Leader Is Nation's First Female Deaf Mayor|date=February 8, 2018|access-date=July 17, 2018}}</ref> *Mike McCormick — Major League Baseball player *Catfish Metkovich — Major League Baseball player *Tommy Orange — Native American writer and novelist *Kyle Rasmussen — United States Ski Team member and two-time Alpine skiing World Cup Downhill champion *Frank Elbridge Webb — Engineer and presidential candidate in 1928 and 1932 *Ione Bright - Broadway actress, b. 1887 ==See also== *Prince-Garibaldi Building *California Historical Landmarks in Calaveras County *Birthplace of Archie Stevenot *Robinson's Ferry

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{wikivoyage|Angels Camp}} *{{Official website}} *{{HABS|survey=CA-1499|id=ca0066|title=Angels Camp, General View, Main Street, Angels Camp, Calaveras County, CA}} *[https://westernmininghistory.com/towns/california/angels-camp/ Angels Camp Mining History] at Western Mining History. Numerous historic images and a nice 1850 map of the camps & diggings then. {{Commons category|Angels Camp, California}}

{{Calaveras County, California}} {{California Historical Landmarks in Calaveras County, California}} {{California Gold Rush}} {{Sierra Nevada}} {{authority control}}

Category:Cities in Calaveras County, California Category:Mining communities of the California Gold Rush Category:Populated places in the Sierra Nevada (United States) Category:California Historical Landmarks Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1848 Category:1848 establishments in California Category:Historic American Buildings Survey in California