 The lumber industry spread quickly throughout Placer County and grew alongside mining. Apart from water, timber was the most important resource needed for mining, where it was primarily used in constructing sluices and flumes, and shoring up miles of underground tunnels.
By 1861, there were 23 sawmills in operation in the county, using steam and water to power saws and lathes while milling millions of board feet per year.
In 1859, the Comstock Lode, discovered near Virginia City, brought on a wave of expansion in lumbering on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada and in the Truckee River and Tahoe basins. Meanwhile, throughout the 1860s, the second-largest consumer was the Central Pacific Railroad, which needed a constant supply of timber for railroad ties and to build trestles and snowsheds over the Sierra. With the completion of the transcontinental railroad, this opened new markets for California lumber to eastward consumers.
Initially, oxen provided the power to move heavy equipment, but by the 1880s, steam-powered tractors and dedicated “narrow gauge railroads” had taken over and ushered in a new heyday for the industry.
Photo: Towle Brothers Company, hauling timber near Alta. Circa 1890. Placer County Museums collection.
Explore our new interactive timeline — updated every Thursday with photographs, milestones and the stories of people who built this county. Explore timeline
 Whether it’s representing your community or sharing your expertise on topics like agriculture or parks, there are always opportunities for you to help advise county leaders on the issues that matter to you most. Recruitment is open now to fill seats on the following committees or commissions, among others. Learn more and apply
 Don’t miss the fun coming this next week in...
Roseville: Mahany Park Certified Farmers' Market, Maidu Park Farmers' Market, Roseville Fountains Farmers' Market, Kaiser Riverside Farmers' Market, Kaiser Eureka Farmers' Market, Sutter Roseville Farmers Market, Big Trucks Summer Event - Electric, Neighborhood clean-up event, Spear Throwing
Rocklin: 26 Parks in 2026, Living Smart Farmers Market
Lincoln: Farmers’ Market at Fowler Ranch, Kaiser Lincoln Farmers' Market, 2026 National Competition “Feats Of Clay” Exhibit, Kick the Dust Up
Auburn: Auburn Old Town Farmer’s Market – Placer Farmers Market, Farmers Market at Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital, Music On The Square, Market in the Square, Bike Month Street Party
Colfax: Colfax Farmers’ Market, Live In Colfax!,
North Lake Tahoe: Tahoe City Farmer’s Market, Big Blue Adventure Tail Wagger 5K
...and many Placer County Library and Placer County Museum events.
Visit our regional partners to discover more of the fun happening right here in Placer County!
Placer County Visitors' Bureau
North Tahoe Community Alliance
Tahoe City Downtown Association
The Arts Council of Placer County
Placer Valley Tourism
PlacerGROWN
Placer Wine Trail
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