Camanche, California

Camanche Limerick Clay's Bar
Former settlement
Camanche Location in California
Coordinates: 38°12′48″N 120°56′07″W
Country	United States
State	California
County	Calaveras County
Elevation [1]	220 ft (67 m)
California Historical Landmark
Reference no.	254[2]

Camanche (originally, Limerick; also, Clay's Bar)[3] is a former settlement in Calaveras County, California, United States. Located at an elevation of 220 feet (67 m), the town was once called Limerick, before it was renamed to Camanche in 1849. The settlement of Camanche is now submerged under Camanche Reservoir.

History

In 1849, it was renamed to Camanche (after Camanche, Iowa). Gold mining at nearby Cat Camp, Poverty Bar, and Sand Hill brought its population to a peak of 1,500. Mokelumne River water was brought in by Lancha Plana and Poverty Bar Ditch. A fire on June 21, 1873, destroyed Camanche's large Chinatown. Buhach, an insect powder made from a plant, was manufactured on the nearby Hill Ranch. Camanche is now inundated by Camanche Reservoir.

A post office was opened in Clay's Bar in 1861 and renamed Camanche in 1864 before closing in 1886; it was re-established in 1887 and closed for good in 1962.[3]

The settlement is registered as California Historical Landmark #254.[2]

See also

• List of ghost towns in California

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Camanche, California
2. "Camanche". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved 2012-10-06.
3. Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, Calif.: Word Dancer Press. p. 753. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.