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Forty different nationalities were represented among the miners of
Campo Seco during the early years, making it perhaps the most
cosmopolitan of all the mining camps in the Gold Country. The area was
first prospected by Mexican miners in 1849, and by the following year
quite a camp had grown up around them. It was due to the severe
scarcity of water that the place got its name, Campo Seco, meaning "dry
camp" in Spanish.The camp is located on Oregon Gulch, which was named for a group of
prospectors from Oregon who worked the area during 1849. By 1854, the
town had three hotels, two churches, several saloons, a brewery, livery
stable, smithy, restaurant, post office, stores, and many homes and
orchards. Most of the buildings were of wood and up to this time the
camp had not suffered a serious fire. The fire of 1854 nearly wiped out
the entire town. As the placers were still producing—a ninety-three
ounce nugget was found that year—and several hard rock mines were in
operation, the town was rebuilt. Most of the stone structures remaining
today date from after this fire.
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