Jacksonville Road is an approximately 10-mile-long rural highway located in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Tuolumne County. The corridor of Jacksonville Road begins at California State Routes 49 and 120 at the Don Pedro Reservoir and extends northward to Campo Seco Road at the outskirts of Jamestown. Jacksonville Road is named after the former community of Jacksonville. Jacksonville had been founded in 1849 during the height of the California Gold Rush. The town site was ultimately razed and submerged during the expansion of the Don Pedro Reservoir in the late 1960s.
Jacksonville and Jacksonville Road can both be seen on the 1935 Division of Highways map of Tuolumne County.
Part 1; the history of Jacksonville Road
Jacksonville was a community located on the Tuolumne River in southwest Tuolumne County. Jacksonville was settled during Spring 1849 by Julian Smart along a location on the Tuolumne River which became a hot bed of mining activity. Jacksonville was named in honor of Colonel Alden Jackson who settled in the community during Autumn of 1849. Jacksonville obtained Post Office Service during October 1851 and is reported to have had a census population of 252. Unlike many other Gold Rush era mining towns Jacksonville would remain relevant into the onset of American involvement in World War II due to the prospects of the Eagle-Shawmut Mine.
Jacksonville can be seen in southwest Tuolumne County the 1857 Britton & Rey's Map of California.
Jacksonville Road appears on the 1882 Bancroft's map of California spanning from Jacksonville northwest to Seco near Jamestown.
Jacksonville appears on the 1893 United States Geological Survey map of Sonora. Jacksonville is shown to be located on the southern end of Jacksonville Road near the Moffat Bridge. The Moffat Bridge connected Jacksonville to the original Priest Grade and Big Oak Flat.
Jacksonville and Jacksonville Road can both be seen on the 1935 Division of Highways map of Tuolumne County. The southern terminus of the Jacksonville Road is shown to be located at California State Routes 49 and 120 near the Tuolumne River.
The southern terminus of Jacksonville Road can be seen in greater detail on the 1947 United States Geological Survey map of San Jose.
The November/December 1962 California Highways & Public Works announced a public hearing was held May 18, 1962, in Sonora to discuss the relocation of California State Route 120 from Yosemite Junction to Groveland due to the proposed expansion of the Don Pedro Reservoir. The proposed realignment of California State Route 120 also would include portions of California State Route 49 through the Chinese Camp and Jacksonville area.
California State Route 49/California State Route 120 near Jacksonville appears on the cover of the July/August 1963 California Highways & Public Works. California State Route 49/California State Route 120 are cited to have been straightened during 1957. A portion of the older alignment can be seen on the left side of the cover photo.
The July/August 1963 California Highways & Public Works announced that an adopted realignment corridor of California State Route 120 and California State Route 49 between Yosemite Junction-Moccasin had been selected in anticipation of the Don Pedro Reservoir being expanded. At article regarding California State Route 49 in the same volume features a photo of the highway near Jacksonville.
Construction on the expansion of Don Pedro Dam began in August 1967 and was formally dedicated upon completion during May 1971. California State Route 120 and California State Route 49 were realigned in the Chinese Camp-Moccasin corridor to a new two-lane expressway. The town site of Jacksonville was submerged under the waters of Don Pedro Lake. Jacksonville Road was extended approximately by one mile to meet the then new state highway alignment via a bridge over the Don Pedro Reservoir. The older terminus of Jacksonville Road is still present and is now signed as Harney Road.
Part 2; a drive on Jacksonville Road
Modern California State Routes 49 and 120 crosses over the Don Pedro Reservoir via the James E. Roberts Memorial Bridge.
Upon crossing the James E. Roberts Memorial Bridge California State Routes 49 and 120 intersect Jacksonville Road. North of the intersection an overlook of Don Pedro Lake faces the former town site of Jacksonville. Historic plaques regarding the history of Jacksonville and Don Pedro Lake can be found at the overlook.
Upon crossing the James E. Roberts Memorial Bridge California State Routes 49 and 120 intersect Jacksonville Road. North of the intersection an overlook of Don Pedro Lake faces the former town site of Jacksonville. Historic plaques regarding the history of Jacksonville and Don Pedro Lake can be found at the overlook.
Northbound Jacksonville Road crosses over the Don Pedro Reservoir via a bridge constructed in 1970.
Jacksonville Road continues north and crosses over Sullivan Bridge via a bridge constructed in 1970.
An older alignment of Jacksonville Road over Sullivan Creek can be found west of the modern highway. The alignment is now part of private property, and a vintage arch concrete bridge has been repurposed as part of a driveway.
Jacksonville Road enters the community of Stent and makes a left-hand turn at Stent Cutoff Road. The community was founded around the Jumper Mine a short southeast from Jamestown.
Jacksonville Road narrows and enters the Jamestown area. The highway makes a sharp right approaching Bell Mooney Road.
Jacksonville Road terminates at Campo Seco Road near an intersection with Algerine Road.
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