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WoodstreetcalPhoto: VitaleBaby at en.wikipedia · Public domain
AHistory
History · California

California dates to 1849, and 29% of its homes were built before 1940

More historic than 90% of U.S. towns · #178 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. What drives it

4 places in town are on the National Register. Below: 28 old photos and papers, maps from 1891 on, and the census since 1860.

1849founded
4on the National Register
29%homes built before 1940
28old photos & papers
5famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
From California’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How California began

When was California founded?

1849

California dates its founding to 1849 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1860.

First census: 476 in 18602020 census: 5,362177 years

How historic is California?

A

More historic than 90% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1864.The full story ↓
History grade

What drives California’s History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, California is more historic than 90% of U.S. towns, #178 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its share of homes from before 1940 ranks highest and its National Register listings lowest.

A
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of California’s overall grade.
Founding era1849, from Wikidata: founded 1776–1849, an older era than 75% of U.S. townsA−Homes built before 194028.8% of homes (±6.5) · typical PA town 17.7% · U.S. 8.4%A−National Register4 listings, 5 historic buildings, 10.3 per 10,000 residents · typical PA town 2.1 · U.S. 2.4B+
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Ahead of 90%
NewerOlder
Pennsylvania towns of 2,500+ (1,035)Ahead of 83%

Pennsylvania towns list about as much on the Register as the country (a typical Pennsylvania town has 2.1 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so California’s 10.3 sits above most of its state (77% of Pennsylvania towns have fewer) while its 5 historic buildings outnumber those of 70% of U.S. towns.

How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from A− to A. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±6.5 points). Two sources give 1849.

Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →

What stands out about California’s past

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

A town in old photos28 old photos, postcards and papers, 1850–1933.On the map since 19026 editions of the USGS map, 1902 to 1979. Watch California change.Mapped building by building5 fire insurance maps, 1891 to 1913, drew every building in California.Lost villages4 hamlets and corners are still on the map.
★ What stands out · By decade

California, decade by decade

5 decades in the archive, from the 1850s to the 1930s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1850s–1900s11 items
1940 Census Enumeration District Descriptions - Pennsylvania - Washington County - ED 63-70, ED 63-71, ED 63-72, ED 63-…18501940 Census Enumeration District Descriptions - Penns…1940 Census Enumeration District Descriptions - Pennsylvania - Washington County - ED 63-75, ED 63-76, ED 63-77, ED 63-…18501940 Census Enumeration District Descriptions - Penns…1940 Census Enumeration District Maps - Pennsylvania - Washington County - East Pike Run - ED 63-73, ED 63-74, ED 63-75…18801940 Census Enumeration District Maps - Pennsylvania …1940 Census Enumeration District Maps - Pennsylvania - Washington County - East Pike Run - ED 63-73, ED 63-74, ED 63-75…18801940 Census Enumeration District Maps - Pennsylvania …California PA map 19021902California PA map 1902MapCalifornia, Washington County, Pennsylvania 19021902California, Washington County, Pennsylvania 1902California, Washington County, Pennsylvania, 19021902California, Washington County, Pennsylvania, 1902California, PA1908California, PACalifornia, PA1908California, PACalifornia, PA1908California, PAGroup portrait of men and women at Southwestern State Normal School1909Group portrait of men and women at Southwestern State…
1920s–1930s16 items
California PA Presby PHS0991923California PA Presby PHS099Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, North side of I-70, immediately adjacent to Township Road 6141933Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, North side of I-…Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, North side of I-70, immediately adjacent to Township Road 6141933Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, North side of I-…Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, North side of I-70, immediately adjacent to Township Road 6141933Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, North side of I-…Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, North side of I-70, immediately adjacent to Township Road 6141933Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, North side of I-…Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, North side of I-70, immediately adjacent to Township Road 6141933Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, North side of I-…Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, North side of I-70, immediately adjacent to Township Road 6141933Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, North side of I-…Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, North side of I-70, immediately adjacent to Township Road 6141933Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, North side of I-…Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, North side of I-70, immediately adjacent to Township Road 6141933Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, North side of I-…Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, North side of I-70, immediately adjacent to Township Road 6141933Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, North side of I-…Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, North side of I-70, immediately adjacent to Township Road 6141933Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, North side of I-…Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, North side of I-70, immediately adjacent to Township Road 6141933Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, North side of I-…Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, North side of I-70, immediately adjacent to Township Road 6141933Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, North side of I-…Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, North side of I-70, immediately adjacent to Township Road 6141933Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, North side of I-…Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, North side of I-70, immediately adjacent to Township Road 6141933Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, North side of I-…Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, North side of I-70, immediately adjacent to Township Road 6141933Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, North side of I-…
1940s–1990snothing yet
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Add from your album
Date unknown1 to date
Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, North side of I-70, immediately adjacent to Township Road 614Date?Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, North side of I-…
Today4 recent
California Lustron with basement garage2014California Lustron with basement garageWoodstreetcal2009WoodstreetcalCalpubliclib2009CalpubliclibCal2ndst2009Cal2ndst
On the map

California on the map, 1902 to 1979

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

California on the 1902 USGS mapCalifornia on the 1931 USGS mapCalifornia on the 1940 USGS mapCalifornia on the 1954 USGS mapCalifornia on the 1969 USGS mapCalifornia on the 1979 USGS map1902Brownsville 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 California.

Every building

California, building by building, 1891–1913

Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.

California fire insurance map, 1891, sheet 11891Sheet 1 of 1
Edition
Sheets
BrickWoodStone

Sanborn Map Company, via the Library of Congress. Editions published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.

The story

How California came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of California.

Read it all →

Upon its founding in 1849, name suggestions included Columbia and Sagamore. Because the town's founding coincided with the California Gold Rush, it was named California to symbolize growth and prosperity. Before there were mayors in California, there were burgesses, the first of whom was Solomon Sibbitt.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

From the old history books

What they wrote about California, 1882–1910

Passages that mention California, cut from the printed page as they were published.

servetl as such for eight years. Afterward he served as mine foreman for oiic and one-half years, at Webster, in Westmoreland County, and then bought an old mine in Fayette County, across the river from California, Pa., ;ind moved to California. He operated that mine for tno years and then went int…
20th century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania1910 · page 1059Read the page →
Read the text

servetl as such for eight years. Afterward he served as mine foreman for oiic and one-half years, at Webster, in Westmoreland County, and then bought an old mine in Fayette County, across the river from California, Pa., ;ind moved to California. He operated that mine for tno years and then went into partnership with Joseph Coatsworth and Joseph Good and they bought the old Alps mine in Fayette County, directly across, from the old

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
On the 26th of November, 1853, in accordance with the petitions of many citizens, the Washington County Court of Quarter Sessions issued an order declaring the town of California a borough. The inhabitants of the town, therefore, in the spring of 18.54, held a meeting at the school-house, when the …
History of Washington County, Pennsylvania1882 · page 629Read the page →
Read the text

On the 26th of November, 1853, in accordance with the petitions of many citizens, the Washington County Court of Quarter Sessions issued an order declaring the town of California a borough. The inhabitants of the town, therefore, in the spring of 18.54, held a meeting at the school-house, when the following officers were elected for one year. viz. : Solomon Sibbitt, burgess ; James P. Ailes, St. Clair

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
in the ninetieth year of his age. After the Maple Creek Presbyterian Church abandoned their house of worship in this township they erected a handsome edifice in the village of California, which is still in use as their place of worship. Schools. — Two of the earliest school-teachers in Fallowfield …
History of Washington County, Pennsylvania1882Read the page →
Read the text

in the ninetieth year of his age. After the Maple Creek Presbyterian Church abandoned their house of worship in this township they erected a handsome edifice in the village of California, which is still in use as their place of worship. Schools. — Two of the earliest school-teachers in Fallowfield township were Thomas Sutton and Joshua Peunell. It was full seventy years ago that the latter

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.

Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.

Timeline

California, 1849 to 1935

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1849
    FoundingCalifornia is established
  3. 1850In the archive1940 Census Enumeration District Descriptions - Pennsylvania - Washington County - ED 63-…
  4. 1864Post officeThe California post office opens
  5. 1868Born hereFred C. Gilchrist is born here
  6. 1880In the archive1940 Census Enumeration District Maps - Pennsylvania - Washington County - East Pike Run …
  7. 20th century
  8. 1902In the archiveCalifornia PA map 1902
  9. 1902On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  10. 1911Post officeThe Daisytown post office opens
  11. 1915Born herePhilip J. Corso is born here
  12. 1915Born hereHenry Adams is born here
  13. 1923In the archiveCalifornia PA Presby PHS099
  14. 1925Born hereViola Liuzzo is born here
  15. 1933In the archiveEbenezer Methodist Episcopal Church, North side of I-70, immediately adjacent to Township…
  16. 1935BuiltPennsylvania Railroad Passenger Station is built
Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

1940 Census Enumeration District Descriptions - Pennsylvania - Washington County - ED 63-70, ED 63-71, ED 63-72, ED 63-…
Retake this view1940 Census Enumeration District Descriptions - Pennsylvania - Washington County - ED 63-70, ED 63-71, ED 63-72, ED 63-…, 1850

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on California’s page.

Retake this view · +15
On the National Register

4 historic places in California

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.

places listed
4
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
5
each building in a district counts
first listed
1974
Old Main, California State College
Old Main, California State CollegePennsylvania Railroad Passenger Station, built 1935Jennings-Gallagher HouseMolly Fleming House
Buildings

Architectural styles listings

Colonial Revival2
Romanesque Revival1
Queen Anne1
Bungalow1
Craftsman1
Old Main, California State CollegeRomanesque Revival
Pennsylvania Railroad Passenger StationBuilt 1935
Jennings-Gallagher HouseQueen Anne
Molly Fleming HouseBungalow

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

People over time

California, census by census

05001,0001,5002,0002,5003,0003,5004,0004,5005,0005,5006,0006,5007,0007,500190019502000Peak: 6,795

Between 476 and 6,795 people in every census since 1860.

17 censuses, 1860–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on California’s Wikipedia page.

Famous people

5 famous people were born in California

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
V
Viola LiuzzoAmerican activist and murder victim · b. 1925
Philip J. CorsoUS Army officer · b. 1915
Fred C. GilchristAmerican politician · b. 1868
H
Henry AdamsAmerican football player · b. 1915
M
Maude GilchristAmerican teacher, school administrator and bota… · b. 1861
Places that used to be

Old corners and burying grounds

California’s post office has been open since 1864.

California
1864–today
Daisytown
1911–today
18601940today
Hamlets and corners on the map
DaisytownGranvillePhilipsburgSmallwood
2cemeteries and burying grounds inside California
Highland Cemetery - WestPhillipsburg

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Help out

Finish California’s story

Most archives stop around 1920. The photos from after that are in family albums, not libraries.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
3 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Date a photo1 archive item has no date. Guess the decade.+2Retake an old view1940 Census Enumeration District Descri…: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
Stories next door

History across the town line

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

West Pike Run TownshipIts storyBWest BrownsvilleIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townCenterville5 historic placesA+Coal CenterIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townJefferson TownshipIts storyB−NewellIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townLong BranchIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townFallowfield Township1 historic placeA−ElcoIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town

Questions about California’s history

What year was California founded?

In 1849, according to Wikidata. California’s post office opened in 1864, and the census of 1860 counted 476 people here.

How does California rank for history?

California is more historic than 90% of U.S. towns, #178 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.

What is on the National Register in California?

4 listings: 4 buildings, among them the Old Main, California State College (listed 1974, the first). 5 historic buildings in all.

How old are the homes in California?

29% of California’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±6.5 points), against a typical 18% for a Pennsylvania town; the median home was built in 1964.

Memory lane

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

Town Square →
Start a conversation
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).

From Wikimedia Commons (29), the Library of Congress (3), Wikidata (4), the National Register of Historic Places (4), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System, Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress) and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.