Shasta County is located in the foothills and mountains of the northern Sacramento River Valley in Superior California and is one of the original counties, created in 1850.  Shasta County has a variety of natural resources including gold, copper, timber and farm/grazing land.  This has led to a rich history of gold and copper mining, ranching, farming and logging. 

The area was originally inhabited by five Indian tribes, the Achomawi, Atsugewi, Okwanuchu, Wintu and the Yana. These coexisted well with the early white visitors.  Over time the Indians were impacted by disease and attacks by the settlers, this greatly decreased their numbers.  The atrocities continued and those who survived were moved to reservations by 1860.   

The first white visitors to the area were Russian trappers coming from the north in about 1815.  Next came the Spanish from the south.  By 1830 large parties had moved in to trap for furs.  Several large Mexican Land Grants were awarded including Ranch Buena Ventura (26,632 acres in 1844) to Pierson B. Reading, the second known white resident.  By the mid 1840’s other small settlements were also developing in the county.  Gold was discovered on Clear Creek in 1848 and the rush was on by 1849.  Mining camps sprang up from the valley into the mountains as men rushed in from around the world.  The town of Shasta became the commercial center of northern California.     

In 1872 the railroad reached Shasta County and the towns of Cottonwood, Anderson and Redding (named for BB Redding, a General Land Agent for the railroad) were established.   Copper became the primary mineral by 1897 yet most of the miners did not find their fortune there, so they turned to ranching, farming and logging.  The foothills and mountains to the east and the Fall River Valley were popular locations and many of their descendents are still living in the area.  

Shasta Dam was built in the late 1930’s leading to an influx of workers and the creation of towns like Summit City, Toyon, Central Valley and Project City.  Whiskeytown Dam was built in the late 1950’s.  Recreation has flourished because of the unlimited opportunities provided by the dams and natural resources.

This information was extracted from published histories by Dottie Smith (http://www.cagenweb.com/shasta/)  and others. For more historical information click HERE.