Mariposa | |
|---|---|
  Mariposa  Mariposa | |
| Coordinates:37°29′06″N119°57′59″W / 37.48500°N 119.96639°W /37.48500; -119.96639 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | Mariposa |
| Area | |
• Total | 4.040 sq mi (10.46 km2) |
| • Land | 4.037 sq mi (10.46 km2) |
| • Water | 0.003 sq mi (0.0078 km2) 0.07% |
| Elevation | 2,015 ft (614 m) |
| Population (2020)[3] | |
• Total | 1,526 |
| • Density | 378/sq mi (146/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific Time Zone) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code | 95338 |
| Area code | 209 |
| FIPS code | 06-45932 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2408181[2] |
Mariposa (/ˌmærɪˈpoʊzə,-sə/ ⓘ;[4]Spanish for "Butterfly") is anunincorporated community andcensus-designated place (CDP) in and thecounty seat ofMariposa County, California, United States.[5] The population was 1,526 at the2020 census.[3] Named for the monarch butterflies thatoverwinter there, the community's history is deeply intertwined with theCalifornia Gold Rush of the 19th century.
During theCalifornia Gold Rush, prospectors flocked to Mariposa for its rich mineral resources in streams and underground veins. Among them wasJohn C. Frémont, Mariposa's most prominent resident, who leveraged his extensive mineral claims to achieve national prominence. He became the firstU.S. senator from California and the inauguralRepublican presidential candidate, significantly impacting both Mariposa and American politics during the 19th century's period of expansion.[6]
Mariposa has numerous museums and landmarks that highlight its mining history. The county's proximity toYosemite National Park also significantly contributes to its economy, with tourism playing a central role in supporting local businesses.[7]
Mariposa is nestled at an elevation of 2,015 feet (614 m) in the rugged foothills of theSierra Nevada. According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the CDP covers a total area of 4.04 square miles (10.46 km2), with nearly all of it being land.[1] The community is situated in the valley ofMariposa Creek, which flows south then southwest into the San Joaquin Valley.
Major highways intersect in Mariposa;California State Route 49 andCalifornia State Route 140 merge for 0.8 miles (1.3 km) through the town's main street. Route 49 extends southeast toOakhurst and northwest toCoulterville, while Route 140 leads southwest toMerced in theSan Joaquin Valley and northeast toYosemite Valley.
The area's soil predominantly consists of brown to reddish brownloam of the Blasingame series, and a gravelly loam known as the Boomer series.[citation needed] These soils support a thick grassland and diverse trees such asblue oak,black oak,gray pine, andponderosa pine. To the west-northwest of the town, sparse vegetation and rockland are underlain byserpentine soil of the Henneke series.
According to theKöppen climate classification system, Mariposa has ahot-summer Mediterranean climate (abbreviated "Csa" on climate maps) and wet winters.[8]
| Climate data for Mariposa, 1991–2020 simulated normals (2142 ft elevation) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 56.8 (13.8) | 58.1 (14.5) | 62.1 (16.7) | 66.7 (19.3) | 76.5 (24.7) | 86.4 (30.2) | 93.9 (34.4) | 93.4 (34.1) | 87.8 (31.0) | 77.0 (25.0) | 64.8 (18.2) | 56.3 (13.5) | 73.3 (23.0) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 46.4 (8.0) | 47.7 (8.7) | 50.9 (10.5) | 54.5 (12.5) | 62.4 (16.9) | 70.9 (21.6) | 78.4 (25.8) | 77.7 (25.4) | 72.5 (22.5) | 63.0 (17.2) | 52.7 (11.5) | 46.0 (7.8) | 60.3 (15.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 36.1 (2.3) | 37.2 (2.9) | 39.9 (4.4) | 42.3 (5.7) | 48.6 (9.2) | 55.4 (13.0) | 63.0 (17.2) | 62.1 (16.7) | 57.2 (14.0) | 48.9 (9.4) | 40.8 (4.9) | 35.6 (2.0) | 47.3 (8.5) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 6.23 (158.12) | 5.18 (131.55) | 4.66 (118.24) | 2.42 (61.55) | 1.13 (28.73) | 0.31 (7.93) | 0.07 (1.82) | 0.03 (0.79) | 0.17 (4.24) | 1.62 (41.13) | 2.63 (66.91) | 5.41 (137.34) | 29.86 (758.35) |
| Averagedew point °F (°C) | 35.4 (1.9) | 37.9 (3.3) | 41.0 (5.0) | 41.9 (5.5) | 44.4 (6.9) | 46.0 (7.8) | 47.8 (8.8) | 45.5 (7.5) | 42.8 (6.0) | 39.7 (4.3) | 37.9 (3.3) | 34.5 (1.4) | 41.2 (5.1) |
| Source: PRISM Climate Group[9] | |||||||||||||
Before Spanish arrival, the Southern SierraMiwok lived in what is now Mariposa. In 1806, a Spanish priest traveling with early California explorerGabriel Moraga named the area. When the expedition came upon a creek filled with thousands of yellow butterflies, they called it “Las Mariposas,” the Spanish word for butterflies.[10]
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In 1847, John C. Frémont purchased a 70-square-mile land parcel known as Las Mariposas for $3,000.[11] Formerly owned by GovernorJuan Bautista Alvarado, the ranch turned profitable once Frémont discovered a five-mile quartz vein producing hundreds of pounds of placer gold monthly. Its “floating grant” status, however, sparked extensive property and mineral-rights disputes. Squatters and mining companies contested ownership until 1856, when theU.S. Supreme Court ruled in Frémont’s favor. The Mariposa Estate covered 44,000 acres in the heart of theMother Lode region, where gold pockets in quartz veins could yield between $100 and $30,000. By 1915, total output surpassed $12 million in gold.[12][11]
Mariposa’s rise as a gold rush boom town began along a seasonal trickle called Agua Fría, where prospectors—lured by tales of glimmeringplacer gold—pitched their first camp.[13] When floods and fires during the winter of 1849–1850 forced them to higher ground, they relocated nearMariposa Creek, establishing a bustling county seat by 1851. Thehistoric courthouse, completed in 1854, still stands.
During the early 1850s, tensions between local Native tribes—primarily the Southern SierraMiwok—and white settlers peaked, prompting theMariposa War.[14] The conflict stemmed largely from the presence of miners and the trading operations ofJames Savage along theMerced River andMariposa Creek.[14] Alarmed by escalating violence, Mariposa residents formed volunteer militias. With state backing, these militias eventually secured control of the area.[14] Modern historians also consider the Mariposa War part of theCalifornia Genocide, and it indirectly led to the so-called “discovery” and naming ofYosemite Valley. By the late 19th century, many Miwok people had been forced from their ancestral lands.
In 1914, voters in Mariposa County narrowly approved the creation of a county high school. Following a bond measure of $12,000 and the donation of nearly eight acres of land by the Mariposa Commercial and Mining Company, the school’s permanent campus opened in 1917.[15]
During World War II, the U.S. Army constructed theMariposa Auxiliary Field (1942–1945) to train pilots; post-war, the site was redeveloped as today’s Mariposa-Yosemite Airport.[16]
On July 18, 2017, the town was evacuated due to the rapidly spreadingDetwiler Fire, which threatened Mariposa and its surroundings.[17]
In the2020 census, the Mariposacensus-designated place reported a total population of 1,526.[18] About 40.0% of residents have at least a bachelor's degree.[18] The community has a notably older demographic, with a median age of 49.8 years and 33.2% of the population aged 65 years or older. The area encompasses 588 households.[18] The median household income stands at $52,661, while the employment rate is relatively low at 32.7%.[18]
In terms of racial demographics,Hispanic orLatino individuals constitute 208 residents, about 14% of the total population, which is significantly lower than the statewide average of nearly 40%.[18] American Indians account for 53 residents, representing approximately 3.5% of the population.[18]
The rate of residents below the poverty line is high, at 30.6% compared to 12.0% in the state.[18] The percentage of government workers in the workforce is remarkably high at 24.8% compared to the statewide average. The homeownership rate is high at 62.8%.[18]
In theCalifornia State Legislature, Mariposa is inthe 4th senatorial district, represented byRepublican Marie Alvarado-Gil, and inthe 8th Assembly district, represented byRepublican David Tangipa.[19] The County is administered by its elected five-member County Board of Supervisors.
The county's policing agency is the Mariposa County Sheriff and staff. The Mariposa County Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical aid.[20]
The Mariposa Town Historic District, listed on theNational Register of Historic Places in 1991, represents a significant part of California’sGold Rush history.[23]The district includes sixty-three historic buildings, among the oldest in the state, reflecting the architectural styles of the era.[24] Key landmarks within the district include theMariposa County Courthouse, constructed in 1854, andSt. Joseph’s Catholic Church, completed in 1863, known for itsCarpenter Gothic design.[25]
With a history dating back to 1939, the Mariposa Fairgrounds in Mariposa, California, are a central hub for community and cultural events. They host the Mariposa County Fair, known for its rodeo anddemolition derby.[26][27]
TheCalifornia State Mining and Mineral Museum, part of the state park system and located in Mariposa on the county fairgrounds, showcases California's mining history and mineral resources. The museum's collection, started in 1880 and originally managed by the first StateMineralogist Henry G. Hanks, includes over 13,000 items such as minerals, rocks, gems, and fossils, and highlights significant artifacts like the crystalline goldFricot Nugget from theGold Rush. It features interactive exhibits like a replica mine tunnel and a workingstamp mill, illustrating the gold extraction process from quartz rock.[28]
Founded in 1957, the Mariposa Museum & History Center in Mariposa County features exhibits related toNative American culture,Spanish settlement, theGold Rush,Yosemite, and Mariposa history. The museum also houses a significant archive, including photographs, special collections, and county records in its vault.[29]
Some living past and present notable residents in alphabetical order include:
Media from Commons
Travel information from WikivoyageMunicipalities and communities ofMariposa County, California,United States | ||
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