Nortonville, California
Encyclopedia
Nortonville is a former settlement in Contra Costa County
, California
. It was located on Kirker Creek 5.5 miles (9 km) north-northeast of Mount Diablo, at an elevation of 801 feet (244 m).
Nortonville was founded by Noah Norton
in 1855. He, along with three partners named Cutler, Matheson and Sturgis, started the Black Diamond coal mine at Nortonville in 1860. The mine was incorporated as the "Black Diamond Coal Mining Company" in June, 1861.
Nortonville was also the southern terminus of the six mile long Black Diamond Coal Mining Railroad
(also known as the "Black Diamond Railroad"), built in 1868. The railroad connected Nortonville with the San Joaquin River, at Black Diamond Landing, California, with a stop at Cornwall, California
(the latter two towns are now a part of the city of Pittsburg, California
).
The town was home to many Welsh
miners. In 1885 the Black Diamond Coal Mining Company moved all the coal miners from Nortonville to another of the Company's mines at Black Diamond
, Washington Territory
. The Nortonville mine was so deep that it acted as a drain for the surrounding mines, and when the owners of the other mines refused to contribute to the cost of pumping out the water, the Company simply shut down and moved its operations. Currently what is left behind at Nortonville is a deserted area. The brick foundation of the mine's hoisting works, remnants of the railroad bed, and an old Cemetery are all the remain. The cemetery is known as the "Rose Hill Cemetery," which was named for Emma Rose, daughter of Alvinza Hayward
, who was president and chief stockholder of the Black Diamond Coal Mining Company. In the 1940's Mrs. Rose donated the cemetery to the County.
Four other coal mining towns were established in the same mining district: Somersville
, Stewartsville
, West Hartley
and Judsonville
.
A post office operated at Nortonville from 1874 to 1910, with closures in 1887 and from 1890 to 1891.
in Contra Costa County
. The town site is now part of the Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve
.
Contra Costa County, California
Contra Costa County is a primarily suburban county in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 1,049,025...
, 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...
. It was located on Kirker Creek 5.5 miles (9 km) north-northeast of Mount Diablo, at an elevation of 801 feet (244 m).
Nortonville was founded by Noah Norton
Noah Norton
Noah Norton Noah Norton was a government agent, museum founder and California Gold Rush pospector. He was instrumental in founding two towns, Adrian, Michigan and Nortonville, California.-Early life:...
in 1855. He, along with three partners named Cutler, Matheson and Sturgis, started the Black Diamond coal mine at Nortonville in 1860. The mine was incorporated as the "Black Diamond Coal Mining Company" in June, 1861.
Nortonville was also the southern terminus of the six mile long Black Diamond Coal Mining Railroad
Black Diamond Coal Mining Railroad
The Black Diamond Coal Mining Railroad was 5.9 miles long and ran from Black Diamond Landing, California to Nortonville, California. It was owned and operated by the Black Diamond Coal Mining Company and therefore did not have its own official name. Over the years, it has been known by at least...
(also known as the "Black Diamond Railroad"), built in 1868. The railroad connected Nortonville with the San Joaquin River, at Black Diamond Landing, California, with a stop at Cornwall, California
Cornwall, California
Cornwall was an unincorporated community in Contra Costa County, California, before it was absorbed into the City of Pittsburg...
(the latter two towns are now a part of the city of Pittsburg, California
Pittsburg, California
Pittsburg is a city located in eastern Contra Costa County, California, the outer portion of the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 63,264 at the 2010 census....
).
The town was home to many Welsh
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
miners. In 1885 the Black Diamond Coal Mining Company moved all the coal miners from Nortonville to another of the Company's mines at Black Diamond
Black Diamond, Washington
Black Diamond is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 4,151 at the 2010 census.Based on per capita income, one of the more reliable measures of affluence, Black Diamond ranks 64th of 522 areas in the state of Washington to be ranked.-History:Black Diamond was...
, Washington Territory
Washington Territory
The Territory of Washington was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 8, 1853, until November 11, 1889, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Washington....
. The Nortonville mine was so deep that it acted as a drain for the surrounding mines, and when the owners of the other mines refused to contribute to the cost of pumping out the water, the Company simply shut down and moved its operations. Currently what is left behind at Nortonville is a deserted area. The brick foundation of the mine's hoisting works, remnants of the railroad bed, and an old Cemetery are all the remain. The cemetery is known as the "Rose Hill Cemetery," which was named for Emma Rose, daughter of Alvinza Hayward
Alvinza Hayward
Alvinza Hayward was a well-known gold mining millionaire who made his fortune in California. He later became a prominent financier and businessman in the San Francisco bay area.-Early life:...
, who was president and chief stockholder of the Black Diamond Coal Mining Company. In the 1940's Mrs. Rose donated the cemetery to the County.
Four other coal mining towns were established in the same mining district: Somersville
Somersville, California
Somersville is an unincorporated ghost town in eastern Contra Costa County, California. It is located north-northeast of Mount Diablo, at an elevation of 741 feet ....
, Stewartsville
Stewartville, California
Stewartville was an unincorporated place in eastern Contra Costa County, California that is now a ghost town. It was located northeast of Mount Diablo, at an elevation of 558 feet . It was a mining town for the nearby coal mines....
, West Hartley
West Hartley, California
West Hartley was an unincorporated community in eastern Contra Costa County, California. It was located northeast of Mount Diablo, at an elevation of 440 feet . It is now a ghost town. It was a mining town for the nearby coal mines....
and Judsonville
Judsonville, California
Judsonville was a city in eastern Contra Costa County, California, it was located northeast of Stewartville, which is now a ghost town. It was a mining town for the nearby coal mines....
.
A post office operated at Nortonville from 1874 to 1910, with closures in 1887 and from 1890 to 1891.
Location
Nortonville is located on Somersville Road just outside the city of AntiochAntioch, California
Antioch is a city in Contra Costa County, California. Located in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area along the San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta, it is a suburb of San Francisco and Oakland. The city's population was 102,372 at the U.S...
in Contra Costa County
Contra Costa County, California
Contra Costa County is a primarily suburban county in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 1,049,025...
. The town site is now part of the Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve
Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve
The Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve is a 6,000-acre park located north of Mount Diablo in Contra Costa County, California under the administration of the East Bay Regional Park District. The 60 miles of trails in the Preserve cross rolling foothill terrain covered with grassland, California...
.
External links
- "Nortonville" Nortonville on ghosttowns.com.
- Life Sketch of Pierre Barlow Cornwall, written by his son Bruce Cornwall, 1906.
- "History; The Company" (history of the Black Diamond Coal Mining Company). Retrieved 2011-02-02.