California is an inner-city area of

Derby Derby ( ) is a city and unitary authority area in Derbyshire, England. It lies on the banks of the River Derwent in the south of Derbyshire, which is in the East Midlands Region. It was traditionally the county town of Derbyshire. Derby gai ...

to the south west of the city in between the A516 (Uttoxeter New Road) and A5250 (Burton Road). It is part of the Abbey ward.

History

The name California first appears on local maps from the 1880s, and may derive from the

California Gold Rush The California Gold Rush (1848–1855) was a gold rush that began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The news of gold brought approximately 300,000 people to California fro ...

of 1849, but the reason for such an association is unclear.

Amenities

The area is home to Bemrose Community School and some of the halls of residence for the

University of Derby , mottoeng = Experience is the best teacher , established = 1851 – Teacher Training College1992 – gained university status , type = Public , chancellor = William Cavendish, Ear ...

. There are two playing fields nearby; Stockbrook Park and Rykneld Recreation Ground ('The Rec'). Many of the houses in the area are red brick terraces and there are many pubs nearby including the Junction Tavern, the Rowditch and the Bedford Arms. Towards the south of the area is neighbouring Rowditch district which is home to a large student population. Whilst many of the nearby inner-suburbs of Derby including the West End and Morley Estate have undergone recent gentrification, California has largely retained its traditional character.

References

Areas of Derby {{Derbyshire-geo-stub