Grass Valley History

Times were hard in the early days of Grass Valley California - the territory had to be cleared so houses could be built. Trees were cut down, burned or turned into lumber to build the homes and schools. Very little was wasted and the quality of life in Nevada County began to steadily develop. Water had to be carried by nearby springs prior to wells being dug. Stones were cut and shaped, and crops were sown and harvested by hand. 

The name Grassy Valley seemed appropriate when immigrants first came through the meadows here to provided fodder for their horses, oxen and cattle. Later, in 1849, a group of immigrants from Boston settled by the side of Wolf Creek. They built a store and cabins and named their settlement Boston Ravine. The main route through the area ran between Nevada City and Rough & Ready. The area that is now downtown Grass Valley was about halfway between the two settlements, so in 1850, it came to be known as Centreville. The Postal Service opened it's first office under that name. Ultimately the three settlements became one town and adopted the name Grass Valley. 

Little Known Grass Valley Facts:
Grass Valley was the first city in California to pass a law limiting cat ownership to one per household. In effort to put an end to the increasing number of stray cats, the law passed in 1987 and was the first of its kind.

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