Nevada City (originally, Ustumah, a Nisenan village; later, Nevada, Deer Creek Dry Diggins, and Caldwell’s Upper Store) is the county seat of Nevada County, California, United States, 60 miles (97 km) northeast of Sacramento, 84 miles (135 km) southwest of Reno and 147 miles (237 km) northeast of San Francisco. The population was 3,068 as of the 2010 Census. Take a look below for 15 interesting and amazing facts about Nevada City, California, United States.

1. European-Americans first settled Nevada City in 1849, during the California Gold Rush, as Nevada (Spanish for “snow-covered”, a reference to the snow-topped mountains in the area).

2. The Gold Tunnel on the north side of Deer Creek was the city’s first mine, built in 1850.

3. The first sawmill in Nevada City was built on Deer Creek, just above town, in August 1850, by Lewis & Son, with a water wheel.

4. In 1850–51, Nevada City was the state’s most important mining town, and Nevada County the state’s leading gold-mining county. In 1851, The Nevada Journal became the first newspaper published in the town and county.

5. The town of Nevada was incorporated on April 19, 1856. In 1864, the word “City” was added to its name to relieve confusion with the nearby state of Nevada, and the town has legally been known as Nevada City ever since.

6. The former town of Coyoteville later became Nevada City’s northwestern section.

7. The Nevada City Downtown Historic District covers the downtown section roughly bounded by Spring, Bridge, Commercial, York, Washington, Coyote, and Main Streets. Several historical buildings have received National Register of Historic Places or California Historical Landmark status, and have been preserved.

8. Nevada City is located at 39°15′41″N 121°01′07″W at 2,500 feet above sea level.

9. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km2), 99.83% of it land and 0.17% water.

10. Nevada City elects a five-member city council. Council members select the mayor and vice mayor from their ranks. Council members appoint residents to a five-member Planning Commission.

11. Nevada City launched a “Goat Fund Me” campaign to raise $25,000 to have goats graze through dense brush in the municipal greenbelt. Nevada City is considered particularly at risk of wildfire, a “very high fire hazard severity zone” because of its wooded steep hillsides, narrow streets, 19th-century Gold Rush-era homes, and thick tree canopy.

12. Nevada City is in Nevada County. The District 1 Supervisor is Heidi Hall.

13. Live music, theater and dance are performed nearly continually at Miners Foundry Cultural Center and the Nevada Theatre.

14. The Nevada County Historical Society operates Historic Firehouse No. 1 Museum downtown and the Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum in the Seven Hills Business District area. The Miners Foundry Cultural Center has a small museum. Many businesses also have displays of photos and historic artifacts dating to the Gold Rush and pioneer eras. Several art galleries and businesses exhibit fine art.

15. The Constitution Day Parade is held the second Sunday of September since 1967. It is one of the oldest and largest Constitution observances in the western United States. The event features youth, business and nonprofit entries, the Ophir Prison Marching Kazoo Band and, since 1987, the Famous Marching Presidents (and their First Ladies).