Chronicles the story of "Dry Diggins," and how its name changed to "Old Hangtown" and then later to "Placerville." Includes links to other stories about the California Gold Rush.

A brief history of the department from its founding in 1853, with photograph from the early 1900s.

Brief history of gold discovery and mining in Placerville, from "Gold Districts of California" by W.B. Clark, on the Oakland Museum of California website. Links to other gold rush information.