Chinese Camp, California, Tuolumne County is a ghost town with a rich history that captures the imagination of those interested in the stories of the Gold Rush era. Below is detailed information about the town.
County: Tuolumne
Zip Code: 95309
Latitude / Longitude: 37.8702° N, 120.4346° W
Elevation: 1,135 feet (346 meters)
Time Zone: Pacific Standard Time (PST)
Established: 1849
Disestablished: Not formally disbanded but declined notably in the 20th century
Comments: Chinese Camp, originally known as “Camp Washington” or “Washingtonville,” was founded in 1849 during the California Gold Rush. It was later renamed due to the substantial Chinese immigrant population that settled there. The town became a hub for Chinese gold miners and played a crucial role in the early mining community. Its population once reached several thousand, primarily Chinese laborers working in nearby mines.
Remains: Several historic buildings and structures in Chinese Camp provide a glimpse into its past. Notable remnants include the 1854 St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church, one of California’s oldest surviving wooden churches.
Other structures include a former schoolhouse and various run-down structures that once served as homes and businesses. Wilderness near Chinese Camp is the location of the last remaining known population of the federally listed threatened plant species Brodiaea pallida, the Chinese Camp brodiaea. Chinese Camp is the remnant of a notable California Gold Rush mining town.
The settlement was first known as “Camp Washington” or “Washingtonville” and one of the few remaining streets is Washington Street. Some of the very first Chinese laborers arriving in California in 1849 were driven from neighboring Camp Salvado and resettled here, and the area started to become known as “Chinee” or “Chinese Camp” or “Chinese Diggings”. At one point the town was home to an estimated 5,000 Chinese.
Current Status: Chinese Camp is considered a semi-ghost town today. While it still has a small population, the town maintains a ghostly aura with its historic buildings and remnants of a bygone era.
Remarks: Chinese Camp is a fascinating destination for those interested in California’s Gold Rush history and the contributions of Chinese immigrants to the development of the American West. Its historic sites offer a unique opportunity for exploration and reflection on the diverse cultural heritage that shaped the region.
Despite its decline, Chinese Camp remains a tribute to the enduring spirit of those who sought fortune and freedom in the California hills. An 1892 Tuolumne County history indicates that, in 1856, four of the six Chinese companies (protective associations) had agents here and that the first tong war (between the Sam Yap and Yan Woo tongs) was fought near here when the population of the area totaled several thousand.
The actual location is several miles away, past the ‘red hills’, near the junction of Red Hills Road and J-59.
