406 RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. 
burg. In 1849 a number of persons went there, and the place 
was called Yubaville. In January, 1850, the town was laid 
off and named after Mrs. Mary Covillaud, the wife of the chief 
proprietor. On the 31st of August and the 10th of Septem- 
ber, 1851, two large fires occurred, destroying almost the 
whole town. In the spring of 1852 the business part of the 
town was covered with water, and the next year it was raised 
twelve feet. The town was again flooded in December, 1861, 
and January, 1862. Marysville is at the head of navigation on 
the Feather River. The distance by water is about seventy 
miles from Sacramento; by the stage road it is forty-five miles. 
From Marysville the counties of Nevada, Sierra, Butte, Plu- 
mas, and Yuba, which contain an aggregate population of 
67,977, obtain all their supplies of imported goods. Stages 
run to the main towns of these counties every day. 
§ 277. Nevada.—Nevada, the fourth town of the state, cast 
1,423 votes at. the last Presidential election, and has a popula- 
tion of about 4,500. It is the largest town in the mining dis- 
tricts, but owes much of its importance to its trade. It is on 
an important route of travel across the Sierra, and does an ex- 
tensive trade with the adjacent mining counties of Sierra and 
Plumas. The immediate vicinity of Nevada is the most pro- 
ductive quartz district in the state. The town of Nevada was 
founded in 1849. Grass Valley, which lies only five miles dis- 
tant, is nearly as large as Nevada. The latter place is sixty- 
nine miles distant from Sacramento. 
§ 278. Los Angeles.—The town of Los Angeles, formerly 
called Pueblo de los Angeles, or the Pueblo de la Reina de los 
Angeles—the town of the Queen of the Angels—is the largest 
town in the southern part of the state, and has a population of 
about 3,500. It was founded about 1780, and was built up to 
nearly its present size previous to the American conquest. 
The population was probably nearly as large under the Mexi- 
can dominion as at present, but the finest buildings in the 
place have been erected within the last twelve years. The 
town is situated on the western bank of the Los Angeles 
