Cool, California

38°53′14″N 121°00′53″W

Cool
Unincorporated community
Cool Location in California Show map of California Cool Cool (the United States) Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 38°53′14″N 121°00′53″W
Country	United States
State	California
County	El Dorado County
Elevation [1]	1,532 ft (467 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	4,100

Cool, formerly known as Cave Valley, is a small town in El Dorado County, California,^[1] about 40 miles (64 km) from Sacramento, the state capital. Cool is at an elevation of 1,532 feet (467 m).^[1]

The population is 4,100 according to the 2010 census and is contained within the area code 530 with a ZIP code of 95614.

Geography

It is built on State Route 49 between Auburn and Placerville on a hill at an elevation more than 1,500 feet (450 m) in an area full of trees, trails, camping, and other recreational activities.

The temperature ranges from 75° to 105 °F (23 °C to 41 °C) in the summer and 25° to 50 °F (-4 °C to 10 °C) in the winter.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Cool has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csa" on climate maps.^[2]

History

The first post office was established in 1885.^[3] Penobscot Public House, established in 1850, was a way station and stage coach stop during the days of the Gold Rush. The Penobscot Ranch still exists today.^[4]

Ultramarathon

The Way Too Cool 50 Kilometer run starts and ends in the town in early March. It follows sections of the Western States Trail with more than 4000 ft (1200+ m) elevation change along its 31-mile length.

Politics

In the state legislature, Cool is in the 1st Senate District, represented by Republican Megan Dahle,^[5] and the 5th Assembly District, represented by Republican Joe Patterson.^[6]

Federally, Cool is in California's 4th congressional district, represented by Democrat Mike Thompson.^[7]

Education

The Black Oak Mine Unified School District serves Cool. Cool currently has just one school – Northside STEAM School – catering to elementary students (TK–6).^[8] Residents are zoned to Golden Sierra Junior Senior High School for grades 7–12.^[9]

Until 2007 there was also another K–8 school in Cool, the Cool Christian School.^[10]

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Cool, California
2. Climate Summary for Cool, California
3. Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, Calif.: Word Dancer Press. p. 469. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
4. Marenco, Linnea. "Penobscot Ranch". Living. El Dorado County. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
5. "Senators". State of California. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
6. "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
7. "California's 4th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
8. "Home Page." Northside School. Retrieved on October 27, 2010.
9. "Welcome to the Black Oak Mine Unified School District Archived 2010-02-12 at the Wayback Machine." Black Oak Mine Unified School District. Retrieved on October 27, 2010.
10. "Cool Christian School"

Pacific Historian 10 (Summer 1966 pages 19–42): Goodness, Gold, and Gold, The California Mining Career of Peter Y. Cool 1851-52.

External links

• Way Too Cool 50k webpage
• http://www.historichwy49.com