38°36′19″N 119°46′10″W / 38.60528°N 119.76944°W
Silver Mountain | |
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Former settlement | |
Silver Mountain Location in California | |
Coordinates: 38°36′19″N 119°46′10″W / 38.60528°N 119.76944°W | |
Country | United States |
State | California |
County | Alpine County |
Elevation | 6,411 ft (1,954 m) |
Silver Mountain (also, Kongsberg, Konigsberg,[2] Köngsberg[3] and Silver Mountain City[3]) is a former settlement in Alpine County, California. It was located on Silver Creek 5 miles (8 km) north-northeast of Ebbetts Pass,[3] at an elevation of 6411 feet (1954 m).
Silver Mountain was founded in 1858 by Norwegian[4] miners who named the place Köngsberg or Konigsberg.[3] Within a year, the town had a population of around 3,000.[4] The Konigsberg post office opened in 1863, closed a while in 1864, was renamed Silver Mountain in 1865, and closed for good in 1883.[3] By 1886, the mines were no longer productive and the town was abandoned.[4]
Silver Mountain was the first county seat of Alpine County, when the County was formed in 1864.[5] The county seat was moved to Markleeville in 1875.[5]