Sonora, California

Founded by Mexican miners — many experienced ones from the state of Sonora, Mexico — during the California Gold Rush. Sonora was once a booming center of industry and trade in California's Mother Lode. Most of the gold that was removable with traditional mining techniques was quickly extracted, leaving miners to use more complex and expensive mining techniques to reach deep pockets of quartz and gold. Sonora as well as other mining towns of the era experienced economic hardship when the value of gold decreased. As easier accessible gold deposits dried up, businesses and miners realized extracting the gold cost more than it was worth. As "gold fever" died down, Sonora's size and population steadily decreased over the years.[5]

A local museum serves to remind locals and visitors of the Gold Rush era and what Sonora was once like.

As detailed by novelist David Carkeet, in his memoir, Campus Sexpot, Sonora was fictionalized as "Wattsville", the setting of Dale Koby's cult/underground classic (also titled Campus Sexpot).[6] The sequel, From Roundheel To Revolutionary by Jeff Daiell, also takes place primarily in "Wattsville"/Sonora.

California State Highway 49 along North Washington Street

Sonora is located at 37°59′04″N 120°22′54″W,[7] around the intersection of California State Highways 49 and 108 The altitude is 1,825 feet (556 m). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.1 square miles (8.0 km²), 99.55% of it land and 0.45% of it water.

Sonora has cool, wet winters and hot, mostly dry summers. Average January temperatures are a maximum of 54.5 °F (12.5 °C) and a minimum of 33.5 °F (0.8 °C). Average July temperatures are a maximum of 101.6 °F (38.7 °C) and a minimum of 58.8 °F (14.9 °C). There are an average of 95.5 days annually with highs of 90 °F (32 °C) or higher and an average of 52.2 days annually with lows of 32 °F (0 °C) or lower. The record high temperature was 113 °F (45 °C) on June 22, 1961, and July 15, 1972. The record low temperature was 8 °F (−13 °C) on December 9, 1972.

Average annual rainfall is 32.07 inches (815 mm), almost all from November through April, although there are occasionally afternoon and evening thunderstorms in the summer months, which drift down from the Sierra Nevada. There are an average of 60 days annually with measurable precipitation. The wettest “rain year” has been from July 1994 to June 1995 with 56.40 inches (1,432.6 mm) and the driest from July 1975 to June 1976 with 15.26 inches (387.6 mm).[8] The most rainfall in one month was 21.69 inches (551 mm) in December 1955, including 7.10 inches (180.3 mm) on December 27, the record 24-hour rainfall. Average annual snowfall is only 4.7 inches (0.12 m). The most snowfall in one month was 30.5 inches (0.77 m) in January 1933.[9] The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is Csa (Mediterranean climate).[10]

The area economy was historically based on the mining and timber industries, but now relies on tourism.[15] One of two active lumber mills in Tuolumne County was shut down in 2009, but reopened in July 2011.[16]

As the closest city to Yosemite National Park, Sonora provides services to some of Yosemite's visitors. The city also benefits from its proximity to Railtown 1897 State Historic Park.

The city's schools include its namesake educational institutions Sonora Union High School[17] and Sonora Elementary School,[18] as well as Dario Cassina High[19] and the Foothill Horizons Outdoor School.

Columbia Community College is part of Yosemite Community College District (YCCD) which also includes Modesto Junior College is the sole college in Tuolumne County and offers two-year degrees. Individuals wishing to attend a university must commute 50 miles to University of California, Merced or California State University, Stanislaus in Turlock.

Sonora uses a city council consisting of five council members, including the mayor. The city council appoints a city administrator to implement the council's policies and enforce ordinances. As of March 2020, the current mayor of Sonora is Matt Hawkins and the current city administrator is Mary Rose Rutikanga.[20][21]

In the California State Legislature, Sonora is in the 8th Senate District, represented by Republican Andreas Borgeas, and in the 5th Assembly District, represented by Republican Frank Bigelow.[22]

In the United States House of Representatives, Sonora is in California's 4th congressional district, represented by Republican Tom McClintock.[23]

The newspaper of record for the Sonora area is the Union Democrat.[24]

The Tuolumne County Film Commission describes Sonora as "one of the country's most versatile locations", where more than "300 film and television series" have been made.[25]

Local museums depict the Gold Rush era and historic Sonora.

The small town is home to two resident theatre companies. The community theatre Stage 3 [26] produces comedic and dramatic plays in its small space, often providing pre-show musical entertainment from local singers and groups. The professional theatre company Sierra Repertory Theatre[27] produces a variety of musicals and plays each year at two different theatre buildings, the East Sonora Theatre and the Fallon House Theatre in Columbia.

Sonora is also home to the Tuolumne County Arts Alliance.[28]

• Vaughn Armstrong – actor
• Melvin Belli – attorney
• David Carkeet - writer
• Jack Cassinetto – painter
• Phil Coke – MLB pitcher
• Molly Culver - actress
• Charles Dellschau – artist
• T.J. Dillashaw - UFC Bantamweight Champion
• Ross Dwelley - NFL tight end
• Larry Franco - Film Producer (Hulk - Jumanji - more)
• James P. Hogan – writer
• Jenny O'Hara – actress
• Josh Parry - NFL fullback
• Dan Pastorini – NFL quarterback
• Francis "Rocco" Prestia - bassist of Tower of Power
• Tata Vega - Entertainer
• Kahale Warring - NFL Tight End

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sonora, California.

• Official website