Copperopolis
Once the second largest national producer of copper, 19 million pounds in the civil war era. Copperopolis is now a quiet foothill town, at an elevation of 997 ft. “Copper” is where you will find a golf course consistently ranked as a top public access golf course in California, The Golf Club at Copper Valley. Just outside of town is Lake Tulloch with 55 miles of shoreline and the Lake Tulloch Resort. Copperopolis is the perfect place to stay while you enjoy boating and water sports. For more about Lake Tulloch visit the destination guide.
The current population is 2,363. Copperopolis has a variety of shops and dining destinations in the town square with more to come.
Forty miles directly east of Stockton on meandering Highway 4, Copperopolis is to the west of New Melones Lake. Our Map of Copperopolis. On the northeast of New Melones, further up Highway 4, is Altaville and Angels Camp. The Tuolumne/Calaveras border runs through the New Melones Reservoir and by taking Obyrns Ferry Road you can get to Highway 108, Jamestown, and Sonora to the southeast. The climate is moderate with cool winters without snow, and warm summers.
History of Copperopolis
Copperopolis, originally known as Copper Canyon was founded in 1860. It provided most of the metal for the shells and bullets of the Union Army during the Civil War. The ore was taken to Stockton, shipped downriver to San Francisco, put on sailing ships and taken around Cape Horn, where they finally arrived at smelters in Boston, and Philadelphia.
Enjoying great prosperity between 1860 and 1867 the population grew to 10,000, much larger then any of the nearby gold camps. At the end of the war, the price of copper dropped to 19 cents a pound compared to 55 cents during the war. This forced closure of many of the mines and population dwindled. For more about mineral finds in the area see the rock hounding section in the recreation guide.
Copperopolis history includes the infamous outlaw, Black Bart. Black Bart began his career robbing the Sonora-Milton express coach on July 26, 1875. He brought the loot to his home just four miles east of Main Street in Copperopolis.
After 28 robberies on November 3, 1883 Jimmy Rolleri, interrupted Black Bart’s robbery with a blast from his hunting rifle. In Bart’s haste to escape, he dropped his silk handkerchief with the laundry mark FX07. Wells Fargo Agents and San Francisco lawmen were able to trace the laundry mark to the front door of Charles Bolton where evidence of previous robberies were found and Bolton was arrested. He was sentenced to six years in San Quentin and after his release was never heard from again. For a website devoted to Black Bart click here.
Copperopolis Zip Code: 95228
US Post Office –
405 Main Street
209-785-2326
Fire –
370 Main Street
209-785-2393
