Nevada City is the county seat of Nevada County, California, United States, 60 miles (97 km) northeast of Sacramento, 84 miles (135 km) southwest of Reno and 147 miles (237 km) northeast of San Francisco. The population was 3,152 as of the 2020 census.

The settlement was originally a Nisenan village named Ustumah.

European Americans first settled Nevada City in 1849, during the California Gold Rush, as Nevada (Spanish for "snow-covered", a reference to the snow-topped mountains in the area). It was later called Deer Creek Dry Diggins, and Caldwell's Upper Store. The Gold Tunnel on the north side of Deer Creek was the city's first mine, built in 1850. The first sawmill in Nevada City was built on Deer Creek, just above town, in August 1850, by Lewis & Son, with a water wheel. In 1850–51, Nevada City was the state's most important mining town, and Nevada County the state's leading gold-mining county. In 1851, The Nevada Journal became the first newspaper published in the town and county. The first cemetery in town, the Pioneer Cemetery, was founded around 1851 behind the Nevada City United Methodist Church, Nevada County's first denominational church.

The town of Nevada was incorporated on April 19, 1856. In 1864, the word “City” was added to its name to relieve confusion with the nearby state of Nevada, and the town has legally been known as Nevada City ever since. The former town of Coyoteville later became Nevada City's northwestern section.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km), 99.83% of it land and 0.17% water.

Nevada, Missouri, is named after Nevada City.

Most of Nevada City lies on brown sandy loam soils of the Hoda series which developed on granitic rock.

Owing to its exposed location on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada, Nevada City receives moderate to heavy rainfall for California at 59 inches (1.5 m), though its climate is otherwise fairly typical for the state, classified as Mediterranean (Csa/Csb). Although exceedingly heavy snow falls on the nearby mountains, it rarely falls in the city. During a typical year, there are 31 days with temperatures of 90 °F (32 °C) or higher, 75 freezing nights, and 60 days where the temperature fails to reach 50 °F (10 °C). The record high temperature is 111 °F (44 °C), set on August 14, 1933, and the record low is −1 °F (−18 °C), set on January 21, 1937, and on December 9, 1972.

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	4,022		—
1890	2,524		−37.2%
1900	3,250		28.8%
1910	2,689		−17.3%
1920	1,782		−33.7%
1930	1,701		−4.5%
1940	2,445		43.7%
1950	2,505		2.5%
1960	2,353		−6.1%
1970	2,314		−1.7%
1980	2,431		5.1%
1990	2,855		17.4%
2000	3,001		5.1%
2010	3,068		2.2%
2020	3,152		2.7%
2023 (est.)	3,224		2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

The 2020 U.S. Census showed that Nevada City had a population of 3,152. The racial makeup of Nevada City was 2,684 (85.2%) White, 26 (0.8%) African American, 55 (1.7%) Native American, 53 (1.7%) Asian, 4 (0.12%) Pacific Islander, 65 (2.1%) from other races, and 265 (8.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 268 persons (8.5%).

There were 1,373 households and 1,623 housing units in Nevada City. 158 housing units (9.7%) are vacant.

There were 14.4% under 18 in Nevada City.

The 2010 United States Census reported that Nevada City had a population of 3,068. The population density was 1,399.7 inhabitants per square mile (540.4/km). The racial makeup of Nevada City was 2,837 (92.5%) White, 26 (0.8%) African American, 28 (0.9%) Native American, 46 (1.5%) Asian, 0 (0%) Pacific Islander, 40 (1.3%) from other races, and 91 (0.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 205 persons (6.7%).

The Census reported that 2,829 people (92.2% of the population) lived in households, 56 (1.8%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 183 (6.0%) were institutionalized.

There were 1,356 households, out of which 317 (23.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 510 (37.6%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 155 (11.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 79 (5.8%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 97 (7.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 15 (1.1%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 488 households (36.0%) were made up of individuals, and 168 (12.4%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09. There were 744 families (54.9% of all households); the average family size was 2.67.

The population was spread out, with 517 people (16.9%) under the age of 18, 199 people (6.5%) aged 18 to 24, 720 people (23.5%) aged 25 to 44, 1,075 people (35.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 557 people (18.2%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.8 males.

There were 1,510 housing units at an average density of 688.9 units per square mile (266.0 units/km), of which 786 (58.0%) were owner-occupied, and 570 (42.0%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.8%. 1,678 people (54.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,151 people (37.5%) lived in rental housing units.

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,001 people, 1,313 households, and 740 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,425.0 inhabitants per square mile (550.2/km). There were 1,415 housing units at an average density of 671.9 units per square mile (259.4 units/km). The racial makeup of the city was 94.3% White, 0.4% African American, 1.4% Native American, 0.7% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.5% of the population.

There were 1,313 households, out of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.1% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.6% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.71.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 19.7% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 32.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,667, and the median income for a family was $46,149. Males had a median income of $32,070 versus $29,183 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,399. About 1.7% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.

Nevada City's tourist attractions include:

• Nevada City Winery was the first bonded winery to open in Nevada County after Prohibition.

Live music, theater and dance are performed at Miners Foundry Cultural Center, and the Nevada Theatre.

• Firehouse No. 1 Museum
• Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad & Transportation Museum
• The Miners Foundry Cultural Center has a small museum

Recurring and annual events include:

• Mardi Gras, Fourth of July Parade, Teddy Bear Convention, and Psychic Faire.
• Constitution Day Parade, founded in 1967; one of the oldest and largest Constitution Day observances in the western United States.
• Wild and Scenic Film Festival, founded in 2003, showcasing films about environmental issues, outdoor adventure, and extreme sports.
• Nevada City Film Festival, founded in 2001.
• Nevada City Storytelling Festival, founded in 1985.
• Summer Nights, an outdoor street festival of art and music.
• Victorian Christmas street fair.
• Nevada City Classic, founded in 1960, a professional cycling race.

The Nevada City Downtown Historic District included several sites on the National Register of Historic Places or which have California Historical Landmark status.

Nevada City elects a five-member city council. Council members select the mayor and vice mayor from their ranks. Council members appoint residents to a five-member Planning Commission.

Nevada City launched a "Goat Fund Me" campaign to raise $25,000 to have goats graze through dense brush in the municipal greenbelt. Nevada City is considered particularly at risk of wildfire, a "very high fire hazard severity zone" because of its wooded steep hillsides, narrow streets, 19th-century Gold Rush-era homes, and thick tree canopy.

Nevada City is in Nevada County. The District 1 Supervisor is Heidi Hall.

In the state legislature, Nevada City is in the 1st Senate District, represented by Republican Megan Dahle, and the 1st Assembly District, represented by Republican Heather Hadwick.

Nevada City is in California's 1st congressional district, represented by Republican Doug LaMalfa.

According to the California Secretary of State, as of February 10, 2019, Nevada City has 2,353 registered voters. Of those, 1,225 (52.1%) are registered Democrats, 384 (16.3%) are registered Republicans, and 297 (12.6%) have declined to state a political party.

Nevada City has its own school district with three schools: Deer Creek (K–4), Seven Hills (5–8) and Nevada City Charter School (K–8). Other large schools in the area include Nevada City School of the Arts, Yuba River Charter School, and Forest Charter School

After 8th grade, most students attend Nevada Union High School in nearby Grass Valley as part of the Nevada Joint Union School District. Other high schools in the area include Silver Springs High School, Ghidotti High School, Sierra Academy of Expeditionary Learning, Forest Charter, Bitney Prep High School, and Bear River.

Other local schools include the California College of Ayurveda and Connected Communities Academy.

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Nevada City was the setting for the 2006 Hallmark Channel original movie, The Christmas Card.

Nevada City is twinned with Penzance, a seaside town in Cornwall, UK, and the nearby tin and copper mining town of St Just in Penwith, Cornwall, UK. The twinning is a result of Cornish migration during the Californian gold rush in which Cornish mining expertise migrated to the area. City Hall has a room dedicated to the twinning and houses Cornish memorabilia and items donated on various exchanges. Penzance Youth Wind Band has joined forces with Nevada Union High School's instrumental music department on two occasions.

• Scotts Flat Lake
• Yuba River
• The Willo Steakhouse

• Davis, H. P. (1940). National hotel and coffee shop, Nevada City, California.
• Hagaman, W. R. (2001). A short history of the Chinese cemetery at Nevada City, California: and Chinese burial customs during the Gold Rush. Nevada City, CA: Cowboy Press.
• Hattich, L. (1969). Feasibility study on Nevada City Theater, Nevada City, California. Boulder, Colo: Economic Development Internship Program, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education.
• Hidden Nugget Placer Mining Co. (1910). Hidden Nugget Placer Mining Company, Nevada City, California. Nevada City, CAlif: The company.
• Mann, R. (1982). After the Gold Rush: society in Grass Valley and Nevada City, California, 1849–1870. Stanford, Calif: Stanford University Press.
• Marsh, Martin Keith (2001). The Yellowjackets: A History of Nevada City High School Football (1901–1951). Grass Valley, CA: Cottage Hill. ISBN 978-0-9658240-2-6.
• Nevada City Chamber of Commerce. (1932). Homes among the hills: Nevada City, California : gold, health, happiness. Nevada City, Calif.?: Nevada City Chamber of Commerce?.

• Official website
• Nevada City Chamber of Commerce
• Nevada City at Western Mining History. Accessed August 22, 2021.