Georgetown Map
Georgetown (formerly, Growlersburg) is a census-designated place (CDP) in El Dorado County, California. It is the northeastern-most town in the Californian Mother Lode. The population was 2,367 at the 2010 census, up from 962 at the 2000 census. The town is registered as California Historical Landmark #484.
Founded August 7, 1849, by George Phipps and party, Georgetown was nicknamed "Growlersburg" because of the heavy gold-laden quartz rocks that "growled" in the miners' pants pockets as they walked around town. The first post office was established in 1851. After the disastrous fire in 1852 the old town was moved from the canyon in lower Main Street to its present site, and, unique in early-day planning, Main Street was laid out 100 feet (30 m) wide, with side streets 60 feet (18 m). After this new reconstruction, the residents of the city proclaimed their town as the "Pride of the Mountains". The hub of an immensely rich gold mining area, Georgetown had a population of about three thousand in 1854-56. As a gold rush camp, the community outlasted many other towns because the gold found nearby was solid primary deposits, as opposed to placer deposits. Gold production continued until after the turn of the 20th century.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 15.1 square miles (39.2 km²), of which over 99% is land.
Nearby cities include Meadow Vista, Placerville, Auburn, Colfax, Camino.