Knoxville, California

Knoxville
unincorporated community
Knoxville is located in California
Knoxville
Knoxville
Location in California
Knoxville is located in the United States
Knoxville
Knoxville
Knoxville (the United States)
Coordinates: 38°49′40″N 122°20′26″W / 38.82778°N 122.34056°W / 38.82778; -122.34056
Country United States
State California
CountyNapa County
Elevation
[1]
1,322 ft (403 m)

Knoxville is an unincorporated community in Napa County, California.[1] It lies at an elevation of 1322 feet (403 m).[1] Knoxville is located 23 miles (37 km) north-northeast of Saint Helena.[2]

The Knoxville post office opened in 1863, moved in 1904 and 1907, and closed permanently in 1912.[2] The name commemorates Ranar B. Knox, owner of a local mine and first post master.[2]

Knoxville was a mercury mining district in the 1860s and 1870s. It declined in the late nineteenth century, only to temporarily bounce back during the World Wars as the need for mercury in detonating devices increased. While a school, post office, and mill once stood at the site, by 1979 only the derelict store remained.[3]

The Knoxville area is now a popular site for off-highway vehicle recreation, with dozens of miles of former mining trails.[4]

Aerial view of a Homestake Mining operation near Knoxville

References

  1. ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Knoxville, California
  2. ^ a b c Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, Calif.: Word Dancer Press. p. 649. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
  3. ^ Thomas, Laura R. (May 26, 1979). "Knoxville...quicksilver mine is silent". The Napa Valley Register. Napa, CA. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  4. ^ Hufstader, Louisa (November 26, 2000). "Law enforcement may come to Napa's badlands". The Napa Valley Register. Napa, CA. Retrieved December 13, 2023.


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