The city was founded in 1849 as part of the California Gold Rush.

Mining need lot of water and the Dry Creek Tunnel and Fluming Company both ran a water system, with a two-mile ditch, to the town and mines nearby, built with Chinese labor.

In 1866 the Hardscrabble's hydraulic mining run off threatened the town.

The Dry Creek Tunnel and Fluming Company water right were transferred to the Happy Valley Land and Water Company that serves the Happy Valley area.

A historical was place near the form town by the Ono Grange #445, E Clampus Vitus, Trintarianus Chapter # 62 and the Department of the Interior and Bureau of Land Management.