PLACER AND NEVADA COUNTIES

Placer and Nevada counties are celebrating their 175th anniversary this year, marking a milestone that reflects generations of community, innovation, and resilience.

Established on April 25, 1851, Placer and Nevada counties’ stories are deeply tied to the California Gold Rush, when prospectors first arrived seeking opportunity in the Sierra foothills. 

Over the decades that followed, agriculture, the development of the First Transcontinental Railroad and the mobilization during World War II all played key roles in shaping the communities that make up Placer County today.

Nevada County was formed out of portions from the neighboring Yuba County. It was named after the mining town Nevada City, which came from the Spanish word for snowy or snow-covered.

Placer County staff created a 175th anniversary emblem to celebrate the region’s legacy. The emblem features golden 175 numerals in a nod to the gold rush along with snow-covered mountains, the Foresthill Bridge, and rolling agricultural farmland.

Residents and visitors alike are invited to join the celebration through a series of community events taking place across the county, from Lake Tahoe to Roseville, as the county honors this important milestone in its shared history. For more information about Placer County’s 175th anniversary events, visit placer.ca.gov/175.

Nevada County has yet to announce 175th anniversary events.

~ MR/Placer County press release