Alpine
County California, the least populated county in California, is located south of
Lake Tahoe and north of Yosemite along the crest of the central Sierra Nevada.
El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne, and Mono counties and Douglas County,
Nevada border Alpine County. The main routes in Alpine County are state highways
88, 89, and 4. Markleeville, the County seat, is home to many of the county’s
offices. Since Alpine County has no incorporated cities, most public services
are provided by county departments and agencies. Created March 16, 1864,
Alpine County derived its name from the English word alpine meaning
"of, pertaining to, or connected with, the Alps." Its geographical
position, lying as it does on the crest of the Sierra Nevada
mountains, makes it particularly an alpine county.
Alpine County
includes the Alpine County Chamber of Commerce that declares, "Two people per
square mile and you." 96% of the county's land is in public ownership with few
opportunities for land development and growth. A county with no traffic light,
high school, bank, theater, dentist or supermarket still manages to enjoy a
healthy, happy lifestyle through tourism. Fishing, camping, hiking,
rafting, skiing and winter snow sports are some of the attractions for people
who seek to get away from crowded L.A. and San Francisco. The first inhabitants
were Washo, who occupied the mountains and valleys of western Nevada and eastern
California. They excelled in basketry and spent their summers around the shores
of Lake Tahoe, while a southern band of the tribe, the Hung Lel Ti, lived around
the Diamond Valley area of Alpine County. alpinecounty.com
If you
think the residents of Alpine County lack the modern conveniences and
cosmopolitan lifestyle others enjoy, you'll be surprised. Located 31 miles from
South Lake Tahoe, there's casino gambling at Nevada Stateline, live stage shows
with dance revues, boutique shopping, ski gondola rides and just about anything
you heart desires. Alpine County maintains its cherished natural environment
while experiencing the best cultural, food and entertainment activities a short
drive away.
NO. 240 MARKLEE'S CABIN SITE - Jacob J. Marklee recorded his land claim of 160
acres on June 23, 1862, in Douglas County, Nevada, but after the boundary survey
his claim was in California. During the rush to the Comstock Lode, the town of
Markleeville was built upon Marklee's land - the Alpine County Courthouse now
occupies the site of his cabin.
Location: County Courthouse, Markleeville
NO. 315 KIT CARSON MARKER - On this spot, the summit of the Kit Carson Pass,
stood the Kit Carson Tree on which the famous scout Kit Carson inscribed his
name in 1844 when he guided the then Captain John C. Frémont, head of a
government exploring expedition, over the Sierra Nevada. The original
inscription was cut from the tree in 1888 and is now in Sutter's Fort,
Sacramento.
Location: On State Hwy 88 (P.M. 5.2), 14.5 mi W of Woodfords
NO. 318 EBBETTS PASS ROUTE - The Emigrant Trail through Ebbetts Pass, discovered
by and named after 'Major' John Ebbetts, was opened up in the early 1850s, but
no wagon road went that way until 1864, when a toll road, under the name of
Carson Valley and Big Tree Road, was completed to help open up the Comstock Lode
in Nevada.
Location: Ebbetts Pass on Hwy 4 (P.M. 18.5), 18 mi SW of Markleeville
NO. 378 MEMORIAL TO PIONEER ODD FELLOWS - On some large rocks near Carson Pass,
a group of pioneers inscribed their names and the emblem of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows in 1849.
Location: On State Hwy 88 (P.M. 5.3), 14.4 mi W of Woodfords
NO. 661 OLD EMIGRANT ROAD - Here the Old Emigrant Road of 1848 swung down across
the meadow now covered by Caples Lake (Twin Lakes) and climbed along the ridge
at the right to the gap at the head of the valley. From this summit (9,460 feet)
it descended to Placerville. This rough and circuitous section became obsolete
in 1863 when a better route was blasted out of the face of the cliff at Carson
Spur.
Location: Lake Caples, on State Hwy 88 (P.M. 2.4), 173 mi W of Woodfords
NO. 805 PONY EXPRESS REMOUNT STATION AT WOODFORDS - Woodfords became a remount
station of the Pony Express on April 4, 1860, when Warren Upson scaled the
mountains in a blinding snowstorm and made his way down the eastern slope of the
Sierra on his way to Carson City. Five weeks later the Pony Express was rerouted
by way of Echo Summit and Luther Pass.
Location: On Hwy 89, 0.1 mi N of intersection of State Hwy 4 and Old Pony
Express Rd, Woodfords
