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History · Coleville

Coleville’s post office opened in 1868

Most of Coleville was built recently: 0.0% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1997. Below: maps from 1956 on.

1868first post office
0on the National Register
0.0%homes built before 1940
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Photo: Carol M. Highsmith · Public domain
Quick answers

How Coleville began

When was Coleville founded?

1868

The Coleville post office opened in 1868, the earliest record of the town by name.

2020 census: 419158 years
Founding year: the first Coleville post office (Blevins & Helbock, CC0).The full story ↓

What stands out about Coleville’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Coleville are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Coleville’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Coleville’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
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The story

How Coleville came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Coleville.

Read it all →

The first post office at Coleville was established in 1868. The name honors Cornelius Cole, a United States senator. On June 1, 2007, the Larson fire threatened Coleville while burning 1,100 acres (450 ha) and causing US$3,000,000 damage.

Coleville is the hometown of General John Abizaid and the birthplace of trick shooter Lillian Smith.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

By decade

Coleville, decade by decade

Today15 recent
Coleville, United States Jul 03, 2017 043826 PM2017Coleville, United States Jul 03, 2017 043826 PMWest u.s.a 8 1212014West u.s.a 8 121Andryss Motel in the town of Coleville in northern Mono County in California's Antelope Valley2012Andryss Motel in the town of Coleville in northern Mo…Craft shop located2012Craft shop locatedThe town of Coleville in northern Mono County in California's Antelope Valley2012The town of Coleville in northern Mono County in Cali…Signs2012SignsThe town of Coleville in northern Mono County in California's Antelope Valley2012The town of Coleville in northern Mono County in Cali…The West Walker Motel located in Coleville in northern Mono County in California's Antelope Valley2012The West Walker Motel located in Coleville in norther…The Sierra Retreat Motel located in Coleville in northern Mono County in California's Antelope Valley2012The Sierra Retreat Motel located in Coleville in nort…Signs in Coleville located in northern Mono County in California's Antelope Valley2012Signs in Coleville located in northern Mono County in…Craft shop located in Coleville in northern Mono County in California's Antelope Valley2012Craft shop located in Coleville in northern Mono Coun…Cattle along the road in Northern California2012Cattle along the road in Northern CaliforniaCattle along the road in Northern California2012Cattle along the road in Northern CaliforniaAndryss Motel in the town of Coleville in northern Mono County in California's Antelope Valley2012Andryss Motel in the town of Coleville in northern Mo…Little Brown Bat - Flickr - GregTheBusker2010Little Brown Bat - Flickr - GregTheBusker
On the map

Coleville on the map, 1956 to 1988

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Coleville. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Coleville on the 1956 USGS mapColeville on the 1988 USGS map1956Topaz Lake sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Coleville.

Famous people

Famous people close to Coleville

Nobody well known was born in Coleville itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.

See all →
WovokaFounder of the Ghost Dance movement · b. 1856
Nevada BarrAmerican novelist · b. 1952
Joe DiniAmerican politician · b. 1929
Jesse BrinkleyAmerican boxer · b. 1976
L
Lawrence JacobsenAmerican politician · b. 1921
Tanner ThorsonAmerican racing driver · b. 1996
Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

TopazIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townWalkerIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town

Questions about Coleville’s history

What year was Coleville founded?

The Coleville post office opened in 1868, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
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Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (11), the Library of Congress (4), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.