IowaHill perches over many mines

from the Centennial Edition of the Colfax Records Sept.1965

From the Directory of Placer County,1861, "A history of Iowa Hill is connected with that of Independence Hill,Roach Hill, Bird's Flat,Monona Flat and Grizzly Flat". Gold was discovered in 1853 at Iowa Hill on the Kennedy claim, later known as the Jamison,situated on the head of a gulch that leads into the North Fork of the American River, In 1861 the Jamison and the North Star were the principal claims. The North Star was said to have yielded $300,000 from the first year's work, John C. Coleman was manager in 1861

From the 1975 Placer Weekly Argus Directory, The ridge on which the town stands has been tunneled through and through, developing the fact that the hill is a bed of auriferous dirt. Much of the gold bearing gravel being closely cemented together, a stamp mill similar to those used for crushing quartz, was erected by the North Star Company, being the first one of the kind erected in the State. The principal tunnel diggings were on Indian Canyon, extending about three miles above town. Hydraulic mining has been practiced to a considerable extent, but the scarcity of water has until recently hindered the profitable working of an extent of ground that at this time is scarcely equaled in the State. In the spring of 1873 the Iowa Hill Canal Company was organized, with a capital of one million dollars, work vigorously begun on an enterprise that fully carried out and developed one of the richest mining districts in the State. By the close of the season of 1874 the canal was so far completed as to be able to furnish 2,400 inches of twenty four hour water. Extensive reservoirs have been constructed and the work has been rapidly and economically pushed forward.

On the 2nd of February, 1857, the whole of the business portion of the town was burned, the loss being estimated at nearly $500,000. Rebuilding was promptly commenced and in a short time the town looked better than it was before the disaster.

In 1861 the town boasted of four hotels, three groceries stores, five dry goods and clothing stores, one fancy store, three variety stores, one brewery and soda factory, two hardware and tinware stores "besides the usual number of bowling alleys, billiard and lager beer saloons", a Catholic Church, Methodist Church, Masonic Lodge and I.O.O.F. Lodge, a school and a theatre.

Two attempts were made to publish newspapers in Iowa Hill, but both failed for want of support. Olmstead and Miller issued the News in 1855 and E. B. Boust the Patriot in 1859. The papers struggled along for some time, but was unable to secure a paying patronage, and the offices were moved away, the material of the News moved to North San Jaun and the Patriot to Dutch Flat.

The total gold production up to 1880 was estimated at $20,000,000. The introduction of water by the Iowa Hill Canal rendered the working of large tracts quite profitable that had before lain idle, or been worked at a disadvantage. The Morning Star Mine was fitted up as a hydraulic mine. Previously it was worked by drifting. It used 1,000 inches of water under a pressure of 500 feet.

In 1875 two daily lines of stages connected with the railroad at Colfax.

The last serious fire was in 1922 when most of the town was destroyed. Like many gold camps that never quite attained ghost town status, the few permanent resident's homes are being surrounded by more and more summer cottages.