Silverado, California
Encyclopedia
Founded in 1878, Silverado , a California Historical Landmark
, is an unincorporated
community in Silverado Canyon
, which is located in the Santa Ana Mountains
in eastern Orange County, California
. Portions of the town sit on a former Mexican land grant Rancho Lomas de Santiago
. The majority of Silverado is located within the boundaries of Cleveland National Forest
. The area was mined extensively for silver
during the late 19th century. Remnants of mining operations such as the Blue Light Mine are still scattered throughout the surrounding mountains. Timber was harvested for use by the railroad. Coal was mined in a nearby area known at the time as Carbondale. Ancient sea life fossils can be found within the sandstone cliffs in the area. During Spanish rule, the canyon was visited by Spanish explorers and was known by the name Cañada de la Madera (Timber Canyon). The town in Spain by that name bears a remarkable resemblance to Silverado Canyon. (The name Silverado is a type of Spanglish
indicating a place where silver is found; a parallel formation to El Dorado
.) The area enjoyed a renaissance in popularity in the 1940's as a hot springs vacation retreat, during which time hotels and restaurants prospered. A large number of weekend cabins were also built at that time. Home to a number of artists and craftsmen, the town now consists of a general store, a restaurant, a public library, an elementary school, a church, two fire stations, and a post office. It hosts an annual Country Fair, and an Easter breakfast. A local landmark near Silverado is Cook's Corner
, popular with bikers.
Torrential rains from Pacific storms in 1939, and again in 1969, washed away homes and devastated roads and bridges. The latter storm resulted in a number of flood related casualties. Until October, 2007, there had never been a wildfire
recorded in the canyon (where homes are) since records have been kept. On October 26, 2007, the Orange County Fire Authority
issued a mandatory evacuation of the area due to the Santiago Fire.
Today new homes and developments from nearby urban areas are encroaching on the canyons. The largest proposed projects are by the Irvine Company
, which plans to build two developments stretching along Santiago Canyon Road from Jamboree Road past Irvine Lake
. The first, situated on both sides of the Foohill Toll Road (Route 241)
, will consist of 1,746 homes on 496 acres (2 km²). The second development, overlooking Irvine Lake, will add 2,400 more homes on 1,000 acres (4 km2).
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:...
, is an unincorporated
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
community in Silverado Canyon
Silverado Canyon (Orange County)
Silverado Canyon is a roughly -deep gorge in the Santa Ana Mountains, in the U.S. state of California. The small stream it is associated with, Silverado Creek, rises on the north slope of Modjeska Peak at the elevation of and flows north and west, past the town of Silverado to join Santiago Creek...
, which is located in the Santa Ana Mountains
Santa Ana Mountains
The Santa Ana Mountains are a short peninsular mountain range along the coast of Southern California in the United States. They extend for approximately 36 mi southeast of the Los Angeles Basin largely along the border between Orange and Riverside counties.- Geography :The range starts in the...
in eastern Orange County, California
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
. Portions of the town sit on a former Mexican land grant Rancho Lomas de Santiago
Rancho Lomas de Santiago
Rancho Lomas de Santiago was a Mexican land grant given by Mexican Governor Pío Pico to Teodosio Yorba in 1846. The name means "Hills of St. James"...
. The majority of Silverado is located within the boundaries of Cleveland National Forest
Cleveland National Forest
Cleveland National Forest encompasses 460,000 acres , mostly of chaparral, with a few riparian areas. A warm dry mediterranean climate prevails over the Forest. It is the southernmost National forest of California. It is administered by the United States Forest Service, a government agency within...
. The area was mined extensively for 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...
during the late 19th century. Remnants of mining operations such as the Blue Light Mine are still scattered throughout the surrounding mountains. Timber was harvested for use by the railroad. Coal was mined in a nearby area known at the time as Carbondale. Ancient sea life fossils can be found within the sandstone cliffs in the area. During Spanish rule, the canyon was visited by Spanish explorers and was known by the name Cañada de la Madera (Timber Canyon). The town in Spain by that name bears a remarkable resemblance to Silverado Canyon. (The name Silverado is a type of Spanglish
Spanglish
.Spanglish refers to the blend of Spanish and English, in the speech of people who speak parts of two languages, or whose normal language is different from that of the country where they live. The Hispanic population of the United States and the British population in Argentina use varieties of...
indicating a place where silver is found; a parallel formation to El Dorado
El Dorado
El Dorado is the name of a Muisca tribal chief who covered himself with gold dust and, as an initiation rite, dived into a highland lake.Later it became the name of a legendary "Lost City of Gold" that has fascinated – and so far eluded – explorers since the days of the Spanish Conquistadors...
.) The area enjoyed a renaissance in popularity in the 1940's as a hot springs vacation retreat, during which time hotels and restaurants prospered. A large number of weekend cabins were also built at that time. Home to a number of artists and craftsmen, the town now consists of a general store, a restaurant, a public library, an elementary school, a church, two fire stations, and a post office. It hosts an annual Country Fair, and an Easter breakfast. A local landmark near Silverado is Cook's Corner
Cook's Corner
Cook's Corner is a Southern California bar built in 1884 that is popular with motorcyclists. It is located near Silverado in Trabuco Canyon, Orange County, California.-History:...
, popular with bikers.
Torrential rains from Pacific storms in 1939, and again in 1969, washed away homes and devastated roads and bridges. The latter storm resulted in a number of flood related casualties. Until October, 2007, there had never been a wildfire
Wildfire
A wildfire is any uncontrolled fire in combustible vegetation that occurs in the countryside or a wilderness area. Other names such as brush fire, bushfire, forest fire, desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, squirrel fire, vegetation fire, veldfire, and wilkjjofire may be used to describe the same...
recorded in the canyon (where homes are) since records have been kept. On October 26, 2007, the Orange County Fire Authority
Orange County Fire Authority
The Orange County Fire Authority is the agency that provides fire protection and emergency medical services for unincorporated areas of Orange County, California and cities that contract OCFA's services....
issued a mandatory evacuation of the area due to the Santiago Fire.
Today new homes and developments from nearby urban areas are encroaching on the canyons. The largest proposed projects are by the Irvine Company
Irvine Company
The Irvine Company is a privately held real estate development company based in Newport Beach, Orange County, Southern California. The corporate center of the company lies in Newport Center. A large portion of its operations are centered in and around the City of Irvine, a planned city of 250,000...
, which plans to build two developments stretching along Santiago Canyon Road from Jamboree Road past Irvine Lake
Lake Irvine
Lake Irvine is a reservoir in Orange County, California. The lake is on Santiago Creek, is located northeast of the city of Irvine close to Irvine Regional Park....
. The first, situated on both sides of the Foohill Toll Road (Route 241)
California State Route 241
State Route 241 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California. For its entire run, Route 241 is a toll road. Its northern half is part of the Eastern Toll Road while its southern half is part of the Foothill Toll Road....
, will consist of 1,746 homes on 496 acres (2 km²). The second development, overlooking Irvine Lake, will add 2,400 more homes on 1,000 acres (4 km2).