The first Euro-American settler in the area around Princeton was John S. Williams, who was sent by Thomas Larkin, the American Consul to Mexico, whose children were given an 44,364 acre land grant from Governor Manuel Micheltorena in 1844.

Williams built an adobe in 1847 near the abandoned Patwin village of Chah’ de’-he near Princeton and established a successful cattle ranch.

By 1897 Princeton was a small town of 250 people with a number of businesses including a bank, hotel, and grocery store.

[5] For nearly 130 years Princeton had an operating ferry that connected residents to the community of Afton across the Sacramento River.

[6] Ferry service temporarily resumed in 1988, with a 50-cent toll to defray maintenance costs,[7] but was ultimately shut down permanently at some point in the late 1990s.

[8] The remains of the ferry and dock can be found at 39°24'43.3"N 122°00'35.1"W. Today, Princeton is probably best known as the home of Farmers Brewing Company, which distributes craft beers regionally.

[14] Federally, Princeton is in California's 3rd congressional district, represented by Republican Kevin Kiley.