Once known as "Bedbug" and "Freeze Out,"[10] Ione was an important supply center on the main road to the Mother Lode and Southern Mines during the California gold rush.

Ione is the historical home of the Sierra Miwok Indians.

In 1840, the future town site became part of the Mexican land grant Rancho Arroyo Seco in Alta California.

The town is located in the fertile Ione Valley; it is believed to have been named by Thomas Brown around 1849 after one of the heroines in Edward Bulwer-Lytton's drama The Last Days of Pompeii, but conflicting legends and sources for the name exist.

[11] During the days of the California gold rush, the miners knew the town by the names of "Bedbug" and "Freezeout."

Unlike other communities in Amador County that were founded on gold mining, Ione was a supply center, stage and rail stop, and agricultural hub.

[13] The town of Ione continued to grow and prosper after its gold rush founding.

It was garrisoned by Company D, 2nd California Volunteer Cavalry, who stayed for three months before moving to a new post.

The town included one public school, four churches, four general stores, one meat market, one laundry, one brewery, a restaurant, millinery shop, an art gallery, six saloons, a drug store and barber shop, and many other business establishments.

The centennial also celebrated the completion of the Stockton and Ione Railroad, which had been incorporated in 1873 to build a 40-mile (64 km) long narrow gauge railroad from Stockton via Linden to Ione.

Three are listed as California Historical Landmarks: Ione is located at 38°21′10″N 120°55′58″W / 38.35278°N 120.93278°W / 38.35278; -120.93278.

In the state legislature, Ione is in the 8th Senate District, represented by Democrat Angelique Ashby,[21] and in the 5th Assembly District, represented by Republican Joe Patterson.

[4] Federally, Ione is in California's 5th congressional district, represented by Republican Tom McClintock.