About Penn Valley CDP, California
Penn Valley is a census-designated place (CDP) in Nevada County, California, United States. The population was 3,585 at the 2010 census.
Penn Valley is located in the Sierra Nevada foothills, about 30 miles (48 km) northeast of Auburn and about 60 miles (97 km) from Sacramento. It lies along State Route 20 and is bordered by Rough and Ready to the east and Smartsville to the west.
The town of Penn Valley was founded in 1864 as a stop on the Bear River-Marysville stagecoach route. It was originally known as Cedar Flat but was renamed after James W. Penn, an early settler.
The area around Penn Valley was originally inhabited by the Maidu people. The first European settlers were miners who came to the area in search of gold during the California Gold Rush.
agriculture has been the mainstay of the Penn Valley economy since its founding. The area is now home to many vineyards and wineries. Fruit, vegetables, and nuts are also grown in the Penn Valley area.
Penn Valley is a popular recreation destination. There are several golf courses in the area, as well as hiking and camping opportunities in the nearby Sierra Nevada mountains.