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Mormon Island was once a mining community, which had an abundance of Mormon immigrants, seeking fortune along the American River. At its peak, the community once was home to 2500 residents, 4 hotels, 1 school, and 7 saloons. The community dwindled after the California gold rush and only a scattered few families were left in the 1940s.
What was left of Mormon Island was eventually razed, as the Folsom Dam project was set to flood the town. The only visible remnant of this community is a relocation cemetery, located south of the lake on the dry side of Mormon Island Dam (off of Green Valley Road in Folsom, California). The cemetery is also home to other cemeteries that were flooded as well as relocated graves from Prairie City which were unearthed during construction of an on-ramp to Highway 50 from Prairie City Road.
Geographical Information
The "island" was formed by the American River to the western, northern, and eastern sides and a man-made canal formed the southern side. The canal was used to divert water in an effort to find gold deeper within the river bed. Over time, the bulk of the town formed south of this site.
When the lake is at very low levels, some foundations of buildings and an arched bridge can be seen.
References
- Theodore, Henry (1898). History of California - Volume III.