Penn Valley History

“Western Gateway and
Pantry to the Northern Mines”

Penn Valley was considered the western gateway to the northern mines during the California Gold Rush era because of its location on the wagon train route supplying goods from Sacramento to the gold mines in Grass Valley, Nevada City and beyond. It was also known as the “Pantry of the Northern Mines” because its rich farm lands and dairies supplied dairy products, meat and fresh produce to mines as far away as the State of Nevada.