Murphys, California
Encyclopedia
Murphys is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Calaveras County
, California
, United States
. The population was 2,213 at the 2010 census, up from 2,061 at the 2000 census.
, the first immigrant party to bring wagons across the Sierra Nevada to Sutter's Fort
in 1844. They earned a living as merchants, but like many others, began prospecting when the California Gold Rush
began. They first started in Vallecito
, which was known as "Murphys Old Diggings," before moving to another location in 1848 which became "Murphys New Diggings," "Murphy's Camp," and eventually just "Murphys."
The placer mining
in this location was wildly successful. Miners were limited to claims of 8 square feet (0.75 m2) and yet many were still able to become rich. The Murphy brothers themselves, however, made far more money as merchants than as miners. In fact, John was so successful that he left town at the end of 1849 and never returned, having a personal fortune of nearly $2 million. Roughly $20 million in gold was discovered in Murphys and the surrounding area. Two of the richest diggings were named Owlsburg and Owlburrow Flat.
Murphys was also a popular destination as a tourist resort, as the nearby giant sequoia trees in what is now Calaveras Big Trees State Park
were a major draw, and they continue to be so today. After visiting, John Muir
wrote in his book, The Mountains of California (1894):
Like many other mining towns, fire was its bane and the town was destroyed three times by flames, in 1859, 1874, and 1893. After the second major fire, there was little gold left to mine, and so the town was never rebuilt to its boomtown
condition. However, Murphys continued to thrive as a merchant
center, supplying many of the silver
mines in Nevada
with provisions via Ebbetts Pass
. The town is registered as California Historical Landmark
#275. A "Hall of Comparative Ovations" built by a chapter of the clampers
still stands in Murphys. The picture below labeled "Murphys' Famous Residents Wall" is a picture of the "Wall of Comparative Ovations" at the "Old Timer Museum" in Murphys,CA. The plaques on the wall are install and maintained by members of "E Clampus Vitus."
The first post office was established as Murphy's in 1851. The name was changed to Murphy in 1894, and finally to Murphys in 1935.
, the CDP has a total area of 10.3 square miles (26.7 km²), 99.98% of it land.
was 214.4 people per square mile (82.8/km²). The racial makeup of Murphys was 2,045 (92.4%) White, 9 (0.4%) African American, 17 (0.8%) Native American, 7 (0.3%) Asian, 10 (0.5%) Pacific Islander, 82 (3.7%) from other races
, and 43 (1.9%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 223 persons (10.1%).
The Census reported that 2,213 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 1,053 households, out of which 219 (20.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 505 (48.0%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 81 (7.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 37 (3.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 41 (3.9%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 7 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 378 households (35.9%) were made up of individuals and 226 (21.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10. There were 623 families
(59.2% of all households); the average family size was 2.70.
The population was spread out with 401 people (18.1%) under the age of 18, 109 people (4.9%) aged 18 to 24, 327 people (14.8%) aged 25 to 44, 726 people (32.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 650 people (29.4%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 54.1 years. For every 100 females there were 83.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.5 males.
There were 1,256 housing units at an average density of 121.7 per square mile (47.0/km²), of which 726 (68.9%) were owner-occupied, and 327 (31.1%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.1%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.5%. 1,491 people (67.4% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 722 people (32.6%) lived in rental housing units.
of 2000, there were 2,061 people, 945 households, and 611 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 200.0 people per square mile (77.2/km²). There were 1,094 housing units at an average density of 106.2 per square mile (41.0/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 94.27% White
, 0.34% Black
or African American
, 0.97% Native American
, 0.87% Asian
, 0.10% Pacific Islander
, 2.38% from other races
, and 1.07% from two or more races. 5.63% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 945 households out of which 22.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples
living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.71.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 19.8% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 19.6% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 28.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.3 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $42,344, and the median income for a family was $58,194. Males had a median income of $44,125 versus $31,394 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $24,567. About 6.6% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.4% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.
car show is held annually in Murphys at the Ironstone Vineyard. Proceeds from the event benefit the 4-H Club and Future Farmers of America.
Also, Ironstone hosts concerts every year. Past seasons have featured acts such as the Russian National Orchestra; Dave Koz; Robert Cray; Michael McDonald[7]; The Doobie Brothers; Los Lonely Boys[8]; Earth, Wind & Fire; Gretchen Wilson; John Michael Montgomery; Lynyrd Skynyrd; UB40; Vince Gill; Amy Grant; Carrie Underwood; Randy Travis; Bryan Adams; George Thorogood; Peter Frampton; B. B. King; Boz Skaggs; Huey Lewis and the News; Steely Dan; ZZ Top; Chris Isaak; Bonnie Raitt; The Moody Blues; Willie Nelson; Alan Jackson; Crosby, Stills & Nash; Faith Hill; Chicago; Crosby, Stills & Nash; The Fray; Chicago; Sugarland; Faith Hill; ZZ Top; Sheryl Crow; REO Speedwagon; Heart; Kansas; Pat Benatar; Joan Jett & the Blackhearts; Al Green; Coldplay; Bob Weir; and many others.[9]
Murphys is located in the 1st Senate
District, represented by Republican
Dave Cox
, and in the 25th Assembly
District, represented by Republican Kristin Olsen
. Federally, Murphys is located in California's 3rd congressional district
, which has a Cook PVI
of R +7 and is represented by Republican Dan Lungren
.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Calaveras County
Calaveras County, California
Calaveras County is a county located in the Gold Country of the U.S. state of California. Calaveras is the Spanish word for skulls; the county was reportedly named for the remains of Native Americans discovered by the Spanish explorer Captain Gabriel Moraga. As of the 2010 census, the county had a...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 2,213 at the 2010 census, up from 2,061 at the 2000 census.
History
John and Daniel Murphy were part of the Stephens-Townsend-Murphy PartyStephens-Townsend-Murphy Party
The Stephens-Townsend-Murphy Party consisted of ten families who migrated from Iowa to California prior to the Mexican-American War or the California Gold Rush. The Stephens Party is significant in California history because they were the first wagon train to cross the Sierra Nevada during the...
, the first immigrant party to bring wagons across the Sierra Nevada to Sutter's Fort
Sutter's Fort
Sutter's Fort State Historic Park is a state-protected park in Sacramento, California which includes Sutter's Fort and the California State Indian Museum. Begun in 1839 and originally called "New Helvetia" by its builder, John Sutter, the fort was a 19th century agricultural and trade colony in...
in 1844. They earned a living as merchants, but like many others, began prospecting when the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
began. They first started in Vallecito
Vallecito, California
Vallecito is a census-designated place in Calaveras County, California, United States. The population was 442 at the 2010 census, up from 427 at the 2000 census. The town is registered as California Historical Landmark #273...
, which was known as "Murphys Old Diggings," before moving to another location in 1848 which became "Murphys New Diggings," "Murphy's Camp," and eventually just "Murphys."
The placer mining
Placer mining
Placer mining is the mining of alluvial deposits for minerals. This may be done by open-pit or by various surface excavating equipment or tunneling equipment....
in this location was wildly successful. Miners were limited to claims of 8 square feet (0.75 m2) and yet many were still able to become rich. The Murphy brothers themselves, however, made far more money as merchants than as miners. In fact, John was so successful that he left town at the end of 1849 and never returned, having a personal fortune of nearly $2 million. Roughly $20 million in gold was discovered in Murphys and the surrounding area. Two of the richest diggings were named Owlsburg and Owlburrow Flat.
Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Calaveras Big Trees State Park is a state park of California, USA, preserving two groves of giant sequoia trees. It is located northeast of Arnold, California in the middle elevations of the Sierra Nevada...
were a major draw, and they continue to be so today. After visiting, John Muir
John Muir
John Muir was a Scottish-born American naturalist, author, and early advocate of preservation of wilderness in the United States. His letters, essays, and books telling of his adventures in nature, especially in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, have been read by millions...
wrote in his book, The Mountains of California (1894):
"MURPHY'S CAMP is a curious old mining-town in Calaveras County, at an elevation of 2400 feet (731.5 m) above the sea, situated like a nest in the center of a rough, gravelly region, rich in gold. Granites, slates, lavas, limestone, iron ores, quartz veins, auriferous gravels, remnants of dead fire-rivers and dead water-rivers are developed here side by side within a radius of a few miles, and placed invitingly open before the student like a book, while the people and the region beyond the camp furnish mines of study of never-failing interest and variety."
Like many other mining towns, fire was its bane and the town was destroyed three times by flames, in 1859, 1874, and 1893. After the second major fire, there was little gold left to mine, and so the town was never rebuilt to its boomtown
Boomtown
A boomtown is a community that experiences sudden and rapid population and economic growth. The growth is normally attributed to the nearby discovery of a precious resource such as gold, silver, or oil, although the term can also be applied to communities growing very rapidly for different reasons,...
condition. However, Murphys continued to thrive as a merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
center, supplying many of the silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
mines in Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
with provisions via Ebbetts Pass
Ebbetts Pass
Ebbetts Pass, named after John Ebbetts, is a high mountain pass through the Sierra Nevada range in Alpine County, California. Ebbetts is the eastern of two passes in the area traversed by State Route 4. The western pass is the Pacific Grade Summit . The pass is registered as California Historical...
. The town is registered as California Historical Landmark
California Historical Landmark
California Historical Landmarks are buildings, structures, sites, or places in the state of California that have been determined to have statewide historical significance by meeting at least one of the criteria listed below:...
#275. A "Hall of Comparative Ovations" built by a chapter of the clampers
E Clampus Vitus
The Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus is a fraternal organization dedicated to the study and preservation of Western heritage, especially the history of the Mother Lode and gold mining regions of the area...
still stands in Murphys. The picture below labeled "Murphys' Famous Residents Wall" is a picture of the "Wall of Comparative Ovations" at the "Old Timer Museum" in Murphys,CA. The plaques on the wall are install and maintained by members of "E Clampus Vitus."
The first post office was established as Murphy's in 1851. The name was changed to Murphy in 1894, and finally to Murphys in 1935.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP has a total area of 10.3 square miles (26.7 km²), 99.98% of it land.
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Murphys had a population of 2,213. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 214.4 people per square mile (82.8/km²). The racial makeup of Murphys was 2,045 (92.4%) White, 9 (0.4%) African American, 17 (0.8%) Native American, 7 (0.3%) Asian, 10 (0.5%) Pacific Islander, 82 (3.7%) from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 43 (1.9%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 223 persons (10.1%).
The Census reported that 2,213 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 1,053 households, out of which 219 (20.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 505 (48.0%) were opposite-sex married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 81 (7.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 37 (3.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 41 (3.9%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
POSSLQ
POSSLQ is an abbreviation for "Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters," a term coined in the late 1970s by the United States Census Bureau as part of an effort to more accurately gauge the prevalence of cohabitation in American households....
, and 7 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 378 households (35.9%) were made up of individuals and 226 (21.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10. There were 623 families
Family (U.S. Census)
A family or family household is defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes as "a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. They do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state...
(59.2% of all households); the average family size was 2.70.
The population was spread out with 401 people (18.1%) under the age of 18, 109 people (4.9%) aged 18 to 24, 327 people (14.8%) aged 25 to 44, 726 people (32.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 650 people (29.4%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 54.1 years. For every 100 females there were 83.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.5 males.
There were 1,256 housing units at an average density of 121.7 per square mile (47.0/km²), of which 726 (68.9%) were owner-occupied, and 327 (31.1%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.1%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.5%. 1,491 people (67.4% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 722 people (32.6%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,061 people, 945 households, and 611 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 200.0 people per square mile (77.2/km²). There were 1,094 housing units at an average density of 106.2 per square mile (41.0/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 94.27% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.34% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.97% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.87% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.10% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 2.38% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.07% from two or more races. 5.63% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 945 households out of which 22.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.71.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 19.8% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 19.6% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 28.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.3 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $42,344, and the median income for a family was $58,194. Males had a median income of $44,125 versus $31,394 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $24,567. About 6.6% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.4% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.
Annual cultural events
The Ironstone Concours d'EleganceConcours d'Elegance
A Concours d'Elegance dates back to 17th Century French aristocracy, who paraded horse-drawn carriages in the parks of Paris during Summer weekends and holidays...
car show is held annually in Murphys at the Ironstone Vineyard. Proceeds from the event benefit the 4-H Club and Future Farmers of America.
Also, Ironstone hosts concerts every year. Past seasons have featured acts such as the Russian National Orchestra; Dave Koz; Robert Cray; Michael McDonald[7]; The Doobie Brothers; Los Lonely Boys[8]; Earth, Wind & Fire; Gretchen Wilson; John Michael Montgomery; Lynyrd Skynyrd; UB40; Vince Gill; Amy Grant; Carrie Underwood; Randy Travis; Bryan Adams; George Thorogood; Peter Frampton; B. B. King; Boz Skaggs; Huey Lewis and the News; Steely Dan; ZZ Top; Chris Isaak; Bonnie Raitt; The Moody Blues; Willie Nelson; Alan Jackson; Crosby, Stills & Nash; Faith Hill; Chicago; Crosby, Stills & Nash; The Fray; Chicago; Sugarland; Faith Hill; ZZ Top; Sheryl Crow; REO Speedwagon; Heart; Kansas; Pat Benatar; Joan Jett & the Blackhearts; Al Green; Coldplay; Bob Weir; and many others.[9]
Museums and other points of interest
- Murphys HotelMurphys HotelThe Murphys Hotel in Murphys, California is one of the oldest hotels still operating in California.First called the Sperry and Perry Hotel, it was opened by James L. Sperry and John Perry on August 20, 1856. The town of Murphys was a popular stopping point along the stagecoach route from Milton to...
(CHL #267), one of the oldest continually operating hotelHotelA hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
s in California. Its historic register contains such names as Ulysses S. GrantUlysses S. GrantUlysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
and Mark TwainMark TwainSamuel Langhorne Clemens , better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist...
. - The Old Mining Camp of Brownsville (CHL #465) sits just to southwest of the town. A thriving mining camp on rich Pennsylvania Gulch in the 1850s and 1860s, the camp was named for Alfred Brown, former owner of Table Mountain Ranch. Laws of the Brownsville mining district provided that each miner could own one wet and one dry claim, not to exceed 150 square feet (13.9 m²) each
- The Peter L. Traver Building (CHL #466) is the oldest stone building in Murphys. Its iron shutters and sand on the roof protected it from the fires of 1859, 1874, and 1893. It served as a general store, a Wells FargoWells FargoWells Fargo & Company is an American multinational diversified financial services company with operations around the world. Wells Fargo is the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by assets and the largest bank by market capitalization. Wells Fargo is the second largest bank in deposits, home...
office, and later a garage. Today, it houses a not-for-profit museum documenting Murphys' gold-rush history. - Mercer CavernsMercer CavernsMercer Caverns are located outside of Murphys in Calaveras County California. They are named after the gold prospector Walter J. Mercer who discovered the caves around 1885 and filed a claim. They were later renamed as caverns. The caverns have a large number of speleothems, stalactites, and...
Politics
In the state legislatureCalifornia State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
Murphys is located in the 1st Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
District, represented by Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Dave Cox
Dave Cox
David E. Cox was an American politician from Holdenville, Oklahoma. A Republican, he served as a California State Senator, representing the 1st district from December 2004 until his death in July 2010, and also served as an California State Assemblyman for the six years immediately before his...
, and in the 25th Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
District, represented by Republican Kristin Olsen
Kristin Olsen
Kristin Olsen is an American politician currently serving in the California State Assembly. She is a Republican representing the 25th district, encompassing Calaveras, Mariposa, Mono, and Tuolumne counties, and parts of Madera and Stanislaus counties...
. Federally, Murphys is located in California's 3rd congressional district
California's 3rd congressional district
California's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district located in the U.S. state of California. It covers most of Sacramento County and part of Solano County, as well as all of Alpine, Amador and Calaveras counties...
, which has a Cook PVI
Cook Partisan Voting Index
The Cook Partisan Voting Index , sometimes referred to as simply the Partisan Voting Index , is a measurement of how strongly an American congressional district or state leans toward one political party compared to the nation as a whole...
of R +7 and is represented by Republican Dan Lungren
Dan Lungren
Daniel Edward "Dan" Lungren is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. The district covers most of Sacramento County and part of Solano County, as well as all of Alpine, Amador and Calaveras counties...
.
Famous residents
- Albert Abraham MichelsonAlbert Abraham MichelsonAlbert Abraham Michelson was an American physicist known for his work on the measurement of the speed of light and especially for the Michelson-Morley experiment. In 1907 he received the Nobel Prize in Physics...
, the first American to receive the Nobel in the sciences, grew up in Murphy's Camp and Virginia City, NevadaVirginia City, NevadaVirginia City is a census-designated place that is the county seat of Storey County, Nevada. It is part of the Reno–Sparks Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 855 at the 2010 Census.- History :...
. The elementary school is named for him.