Background & Location

Nevada City, California is a small town located in the Sierra Nevada foothills northeast of Sacramento. Together with our sister city, Grass Valley, we have a rich, colorful history dating back to the California Gold Rush when prospectors flocked here looking to strike gold. Today, Nevada City and Grass Valley are still meccas for those looking to strike a new kind of gold, including professional fulfillment, a close knit community, access to the Great Outdoors and a pleasurable, high-quality of life.

Regional Destinations

Our scenic setting appeals to those who like to strike a balance between country life and big city amenities. For those of you who occasionally want the city vibe, Sacramento is a mere one-hour drive and San Francisco is just over two hours. If you’re more of the outdoorsy type, Lake Tahoe is only an hour away. For wine buffs, you’ll find numerous wineries minutes away and a two and a half hour drive will take you to Napa Valley.

Local Attractions

Our historical downtown area, which attracts visitors year-round, is home to quaint shops, many restaurants, numerous film/live production theatres, and farmers’ markets. There are many special, seasonal events such as Victorian Christmas in Nevada City, Cornish in Grass Valley, and family-oriented holiday parades. As of 2014, the 54th annual Nevada City Bicycle Classic took place in historic downtown Nevada City on Father’s Day. This happens to be the largest and oldest bicycle race on the West Coast and second oldest in the nation! To experience an establishment full of rich history, downtown Grass Valley is home to the Holbrooke Hotel, which was established in 1851 to accommodate Gold Rush pioneers. Claiming fame for being the oldest continually operating saloon west of the Mississippi, the Holbrooke has preserved its guest books, which contain the signatures of famous presidents and authors. Among those include Ulysses S. Grant, James A. Garfield, Grover Cleveland, Mark Twain, and Bret Harte.

For outdoor enthusiasts, numerous nearby lakes and rivers offer an assortment of activities for people of all ages and experience levels. Nevada City is home to the scenic South Yuba River, where swimming, fishing, and hiking are just a few of our favorite summer pastimes. The calm waters of our mountain lakes attract those who wish to kayak, canoe, wakeboard, and water ski. If you wind up having too much fun at the lake and don’t want to leave, stay a few nights at one of the countless campsites at whichever lake you choose!

For more information about local attractions and events, please visit:
www.nevadacitychamber.com
www.grassvalleychamber.com



Education

Both Nevada City and Grass Valley offer a wide variety of schools for children of all ages. Students in the Nevada City School District produce some of the highest test scores in the state of California. Not only are there different schools to choose from but also different types, such as Montessori, public, and charter schools. For those of you seeking a higher education, our local Sierra College campus offers Associate Degrees and Certificate programs. One big advantage of this particular community college is that it has agreements with great local universities, such as Chico State, UC Davis, and Sacramento State. In addition, Sierra College also offers priority transfer opportunities to six other outstanding University of California campuses. This means students are guaranteed admission and will transfer as juniors! The participating UC’s are: Irvine, Santa Barbara, Merced, Riverside, San Diego, Santa Cruz, Los Angeles, and Berkeley.

Weather in the Gold Country

Nevada County has a Mediterranean climate, meaning we experience dry, hot summers and wet, cool winters. When people think of California, they often imagine sunny weather year-round with little to no rainfall. The beauty of living in the Gold Country is that we get to experience all four seasons. With snow at higher elevations during the winter, gorgeous fall colors during autumn, beautiful wildflowers mysteriously appearing in spring, and warm summer days full of outdoor fun, these sister towns are a sight to see throughout the year.

When you live in the Gold Country, you get to see all four seasons. With summer temperatures ranging from 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s nearly impossible to spend your lunch hour indoors. There is never a dull moment throughout the year seeing as each of the four seasons brings about new activities for you and your coworkers to enjoy. From kayaking in the summer to skiing the slopes during the winter, the Gold Country is too much fun to resist.