Grass Valley

[Stella Kreuter]

GrassValley, which was originally known as Boston Ravine and later named Centerville, dates from the California Gold Rush, as does nearby Nevada City. Gold was discovered at Gold Hill in October 1850 and population grew around the mine. When a post office was established in 1851, it was renamed Grass Valley the next year for unknown reasons. The town was incorporated in 1860.[5]

The essential history of Grass Valley mining belongs to the North Star, Empire and Idaho-Maryland mines, for continuous production over a span of years. From 1868 until 1900, the Idaho-Maryland mine was the most productive in the district. From 1900 until 1925, the North Star and the Empire produced the most gold in the county. In 1932, the Empire and North Star were physically connected at the 4600-foot level and 5300-foot level.[6]

Grass Valley still holds on to its Cornish heritage, with events such as its annual Cornish Christmas and St. Piran's Day celebrations.[13] Cornish pasties are a local favorite dish with a few restaurants in town specializing in recipes handed down from the original immigrant generation. Grass Valley is also twinned with Bodmin in Cornwall (UK).

A variety of igneous and metamorphic rock supports Grass Valley. Granitic rock such as quartz diorite underlies the downtown core and extends south along Highway 49. Metavolcanic rock and diabase underlie areas around the granitic zone. Neighborhoods around Nevada County Golf Course and Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital are underlain by ultramafic rock[18] which supports infertile soils of the Dubakella series. Here the vegetation is sparse considering the high average annual precipitation, with much grassland, and forested areas are often dominated by several species of oaks and the crooked, thin-crowned gray pine.[19] Luxuriant forest dominated by straight, dense ponderosa pine inhabits the more fertile soils, which include Musick series on granitic rock and Sites series on mafic or metamorphic rock.[20][21]

Grass Valley has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Kppen Csa) with warm to hot, dry summers and wet, cool, rainy winters. Summer is very dry, but thunderstorms may occur. Rainfall averages over 50 inches (1,300 mm) per year, in extreme contrast with the semi-arid valley below, which average as low as 12 inches (300 mm) in some parts. The high rainfall also gives the area green vegetation typical of an oceanic climate. This contributes to a heavy fuel-loading of brush and grass, which dry out during the near-rainless summer, posing a wildfire hazard.

Winters are cool but rarely cold. There are at least one or more snow events per year, often in the late winter. Frequent and large disruptive winter storms occur some years, while other years may have little to no snow. Less marine influence means that snow tends to occur more irregularly than some communities at similar elevation nearby to the south, such as Pollock Pines.

The combined communities of Grass Valley and Nevada City have a fairly diversified economy. The Gold Rush days left a historical legacy and tourism and the related services sector constitute the bulk of the local economy.[27] Nevada County is sometimes thought of as a bedroom community for families, with significant numbers of retirees. Those of working age often commute to Sacramento Valley cities to work, especially to job centers in Roseville, Yuba City, and Sacramento; and sometimes as far as the Bay Area. These commutes are quite long, resulting in many residents becoming super commuters. Many of those who do not commute to the Sacramento Valley work locally in retail, wholesale, trade, engineering, manufacturing, construction, and other businesses, as well in local and state government. A significant number of high-tech electronics companies are in the area.

Another significant sector of the local economy is agriculture, as the soil in Nevada County is quite fertile. Around the time of the Gold Rush, farmers planted orchards, vegetables, and other produce as ranchers brought in cattle, sheep, and other livestock. While the proportion of land dedicated to agriculture has significantly decreased over the last few decades, agriculture continues to be an important aspect of the local economy, including organic agricultural products. Nevada County has also become known for its growing wine industry.[27]

Major employers in Grass Valley include Nevada Union High School, Nevada Irrigation District, Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital, Golden Empire Nursing and Rehab Center, AJA Video Systems, Inc. and Briar Patch Food Co-op.[28]

August 24th, 6:00 PM-9:00 PM Join us on August 24th on the Mill Street Plaza to honor and celebrate the vibrant youth of our community! Get ready to take part in exciting activities including a thrilling skate ramp, a refreshing dunk tank, and much more. This event promises fun and enjoyment for the entire family!

Step into a world of enchantment and prepare to be captivated! Join us on September 8th on the picturesque Mill Street Plaza, where twinkling lights and summer breezes will set the stage for an unforgettable evening.

September 28, 2024 From 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, Downtown Grass Valley Brew Fest is returning to Mill Street on September 28th! The Fourth Annual, highly anticipated October Brew Fest tasting event takes place in historic downtown Grass Valley, CA utilizing the charming streetscape to host a variety of breweries, food vendors, a main stage for musical entertainment, and a showcase of our unique shops and restaurants.

This list of who is downtown is being continually updated in an on-going effort to support our businesses in communicating their hours during Covid-19 concerns. Scroll down for list of businesses. Need to update your information? Contact GVDA office 530-272-8315 in...@downtowngrassvalley.com

Nestled in the heart of the Sierra Nevada Foothills, Grass Valley, California 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.

Victor Community Support Services Grass Valley is located in picturesque Grass Valley nestled among the other Nevada County cities of Nevada City, Lake Wildwood, Rough & Ready, Alta Sierra, North San Juan, Lake of the Pines, Cedar Ridge and outlying rural areas. Approximately 100,000 people call Nevada County home. It is an area known for its pristine rivers, rolling valleys, beautiful mountains, four full seasons, an abundance of recreational possibilities and a wealth of cultural opportunities.

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