Coarsegold,
California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
, is a
census-designated place
A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only.
CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counte ...
in
Madera County, situated in the central part of the state.
As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 4,144.
Coarsegold holds historical significance as Madera County's last surviving "gold town" and is notable for its Native American heritage, particularly as the headquarters of the
Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians, a
federally recognized tribe
A federally recognized tribe is a Native American tribe recognized by the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs as holding a government-to-government relationship with the US federal government. In the United States, the Native American tribe ...
. The community celebrates its
frontier culture with annual events such as the Coarsegold Rodeo and the Tarantula Awareness Festival. Positioned between
Fresno and
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park ( ) is a List of national parks of the United States, national park of the United States in California. It is bordered on the southeast by Sierra National Forest and on the northwest by Stanislaus National Forest. The p ...
, the town appeals to both retirees and commuters, thanks to its strategic location along
Highway 41.
Human History
Native People

The Chukchansi, native to the Coarsegold region, have a history dating back over 8,000 years. They are part of a larger group known as the
Yokuts, classified by anthropologists based on linguistic similarities among approximately 60 tribes in the
Central Valley. While these tribes shared cultural traits and languages, they also maintained distinct dialects.
The discovery of gold marked a period of significant disruption for the Chukchansi, characterized by loss of land, spread of diseases, and societal upheaval. These events, coupled with policies of forced assimilation like the removal of children to boarding schools, led to a marked decline in the native population.
Gold Rush
Following the 1849 gold strike at Coarsegold, miners spread throughout the region, particularly along the
Fresno River. By 1852, a settlement had formed at the river's only fordable point, marked by the establishment of a
trading post
A trading post, trading station, or trading house, also known as a factory in European and colonial contexts, is an establishment or settlement where goods and services could be traded.
Typically a trading post allows people from one geogr ...
by John Ledford and George M. Carson. Initially constructed from adobe, the site featured a store, saloon, and living quarters.
The trading post changed hands, eventually becoming known under J.L. Hunt and J.R. Roan. During this period, scarce goods led to high prices, especially for whiskey and flour. The area, known as The Crossing, was notorious for violent encounters among miners, leading to numerous burials on a nearby hill.
The Crossing also served as a launch point for the first tourist group to
Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Valley ( ; ''Yosemite'', Miwok for "killer") is a U-shaped valley, glacial valley in Yosemite National Park in the western Sierra Nevada (U.S.), Sierra Nevada mountains of Central California, United States. The valley is about long a ...
and was central to the community's history, including the first private school in California. The area experienced typical frontier challenges such as horse thefts, sluice box robberies, and a significant Chinese population facing theft. To combat lawlessness, locals formed a
vigilante group.
In 1856,
Fresno County was established, with the area becoming part of the initial supervisorial district. The gold from the region was notably valuable, prompting the construction of infrastructure like schools and mines. Notable individuals from this era include Theodore Thure Strombeck, an early settler and member of the
Mariposa Battalion and the local vigilantes.
Coarsegold has previously had several names, including "Coarse Gold", "Gold Gulch", "Michaels", "Oro Grosso", "Texas Flat", and "Coarse Gold Gulch".
The place was first called "Texas Flat" after miners from Texas discovered gold there in 1849.
By 1874, the name had changed to "Michaels", honoring Charles Michaels, a local merchant.
A rival mining camp inhabited by Mexicans there was called "Oro Grosso", the Spanish translation of "coarse gold".
The current name derives from the
California Gold Rush of the mid-19th century, when prospectors discovered coarse nuggets of gold in a nearby creek. At one time, several dozen gold mines operated in the area.
Stagecoach Era

By the 1860s, Coarsegold became well-known as an important stop for people heading to the mountains for cattle raising, farming, and lumbering. The town grew even more popular after the wagon road to
Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Valley ( ; ''Yosemite'', Miwok for "killer") is a U-shaped valley, glacial valley in Yosemite National Park in the western Sierra Nevada (U.S.), Sierra Nevada mountains of Central California, United States. The valley is about long a ...
was completed in 1876, attracting tourists worldwide. However, in the 1880s, Coarsegold saw less traffic after a new road was built directly from the valley to the mining areas in
Grub Gulch and
Ahwahnee, leading straight to Yosemite.
The Coarse Gold Gulch post office opened in 1878, changed the name to "Goldgulch" in 1895 and to "Coarsegold" in 1899.
Picayune Rancheria
By the early 20th century, the number of indigenous people in California, including the Chukchansi, had drastically reduced. In an attempt to address the displacement, the U.S. government created "Rancherias" in 1902. These were smaller than reservations and intended to provide living spaces and means for subsistence. The
Rancheria at Picayune was specifically allocated to the Chukchansi in 1912, representing a federal recognition of their land rights, albeit in a limited form.
Geography
Coarsegold is located on
Highway 41 between
Fresno and the southern entrance to
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park ( ) is a List of national parks of the United States, national park of the United States in California. It is bordered on the southeast by Sierra National Forest and on the northwest by Stanislaus National Forest. The p ...
, at an elevation of .
Fresno is to the south, and the south entrance of Yosemite is to the north. Nearby communities include
Oakhurst to the north and
Yosemite Lakes Park the same distance to the southwest.
Indian Lakes Estates is southeast of the center of Coarsegold.
According to the
U.S. Census Bureau, the CDP has an area of , of which , or 0.38%, are water.
The area is drained by Coarse Gold Creek, a south-flowing tributary of the
Fresno River.
Climate
Coarsegold has a
Mediterranean climate (''
Csa'' according to the
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
system) with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters.
[Weatherbase climate summary for Coarsegold](_blank)
/ref> Its average annual precipitation is .[Western Regional Climate Center: NCDC 1981-2010 Normals for Coarsegold](_blank)
/ref> It is located in hardiness zone 8b.[Plantmaps hardiness zone for Coarsegold](_blank)
/ref>
Demographics
The 2020 United States Census reported that Coarsegold had a population of 4,144.
The town's median age is 40.5, older than the state's 37.9. A notable 90.0% of Coarsegold homes are owner-occupied, well above California's 55.8% average. Additionally, linguistic diversity is lower here, with only 7.1% speaking a non-English language at home, compared to 44.4% statewide.
Economically, Coarsegold has a median household income of $81,814, slightly below the state's $91,551. However, its poverty rate is lower at 8.2%, compared to California's 12.2%. The town's employment rate is 49.8%, under the state's 60.0%, and 22.7% of its residents have at least a bachelor's degree, less than the state's 37.0%.
Demographically, Coarsegold has fewer foreign-born residents (3.9%) and fewer non-English speakers than California overall. Yet, it has a high percentage of veterans (17.8%) and a substantial older population, with 27.0% over 65, compared to 15.8% in the state.
Lastly, Coarsegold residents face longer commutes than most Californians, with an average travel time to work of 41.7 minutes, surpassing the state average of 28.3 minutes.
Culture
Since 2008, Chukchansi language courses have been offered at the local elementary school in Coarsegold. By 2012, these classes expanded to include both children and adults.
Initiated in 1953 to celebrate the town's centennial, the Coarsegold Rodeo has become an annual tradition, occurring on the first weekend of May.
Additionally, the Tarantula Awareness Festival is held yearly in Coarsegold. This event corresponds with the mating season of local tarantulas, marking the transition to cooler temperatures and the start of autumn rains. It provides an opportunity to learn about and observe these spiders in their natural habitat.
Notable residents
* Creed Bratton, actor and musician; raised in Coarsegold
* Richard Kiel, actor; lived in Coarsegold from 1980 to 2002
* Lee Newton, actress; raised in Coarsegold
* Anthony Ruiz
Anthony Ruiz (born November 3, 1977) is an American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the Light Heavyweight and Middleweight divisions of MMA. A professional since 2003, he has competed for Bellator MMA, Strikeforce (mixed m ...
, mixed martial artist
* Grace Lee Whitney, actress; lived in Coarsegold from 1993 until her death in 2015
Media
The 1993 adventure game '' Freddy Pharkas: Frontier Pharmacist'' is set in a fictional 1880s Coarsegold and was published by Sierra On-Line, then based in nearby Oakhurst. The company also released '' Cranston Manor'' in 1981, another game set in Coarsegold.
The Coarsegold (Coarse Gold) mining site is the destination for stars Joel McCrea and Randolph Scott in the 1962 film '' Ride the High Country''.
References
External links
Coarsegold visitors' website
Coarsegold Chamber of Commerce
{{authority control
Census-designated places in Madera County, California
Census-designated places in California