Georgetown (formerly Growlersburg)[4] is a census-designated place (CDP) in El Dorado County, California, United States.

[7] Founded August 7, 1849, by George Phipps and party, Georgetown was nicknamed "Growlersburg" due to the heavy, gold-laden quartz rocks that "growled" in the miners' pants as they walked around town.

The hub of an immensely rich gold mining area, Georgetown had a population of about three thousand from 1854 to 1856.

[5] During the Civil War the people of the town wanted to show their support for the Union.

[9] According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 15.1 square miles (39 km2), of which over 99% is land.

[10] Due to orographic lifting, Georgetown gets about four times the amount of precipitation as the western valley locations.

A small amount of it falls as snow that melts quickly due to the above freezing temperatures, but for no more than four inches a year.

[14] Federally, Georgetown is in California's 4th congressional district, represented by Democrat Mike Thompson.