Status: Active Town Current Population: 2,178 Peak Population:
4,000 Elevation: 1,477 Feet Primary Mineral: Gold From a sign in
town: Jamestown - Gateway to the Southern Mines Founded in 1848,
one mile from the first gold find in Tuolumne County, at Woods
Crossing. Arriving in 1849, Col. George F. James, a merchant
popular for supplying free champagne to patrons, was elected
Alcalde, and the town was dubbed "Jamestown". Poor mining
investments indebted him and he quietly left town. Angry miners
changed the name of the town to "American Camp". Eventually,
"Jamestown" was restored. Jamestown's population was
approximately 4,000, before the devastating fire of October,
1885.