11/02/2015
We've got a delivery to a small California town we had never heard of before...have you? Its Soulsbyville in Tuolumne County. Here is a little bit of information about it for you.
Soulsbyville is located eight miles east of Sonora Highway 108. The town is all residential with one local market and a post office. The population of Soulsbyville was 2,215 at the 2010 census, up from 1,729 at the 2000 census. Formerly a California Gold Rush town, Soulsbyville is now registered as a California Historical Landmark.
Soulsbyville is named after Ben Soulsby, who resided in the area during the California Gold Rush. Soulsby ran a lumber mill near the intersection of Community Drive and Soulsbyville Road. His contribution to society is forever embossed in the following elementary school song: "Drop on by, we're up the hill. We're the kids from Soulsbyville. See the town with the old saw mill, we're the kids from Soulsbyville. Living here is mighty fine, named for Ben Soulsby's old gold mine, come see us, if you will. WE'RE THE KIDS FROM SOULSBYVILLE!".
In January 2007, the visit of a smew, a small diving duck rarely seen in the United States, and only the fourth California state record for the species, brought numerous birders to visit the nearby Willow Springs Pond.
Nearby attractions: New Melones Lake, Black Oak Casino, the towns of Murphys, Sonora and Columbia State Historic Park. And several caverns to explore.