Maine Prairie, California

Community and station in 1916

Maine Prairie is an unincorporated community located in Solano County, California east of Elmira, California on the Maine Prairie Slough at latitude 38.308 and longitude -121.759. The elevation is 7 feet (2.1 m). Maine Prairie appears on the Dozier U.S. Geological Survey Map.

During the American Civil War, it was a township large enough to support a California Militia Company, which was called the Maine Prairie Rifles. This company resided in the area from Sept. 19, 1863 to June 23, 1868. The township appears on an 1890 map of Solano County.^[1]

History

For nearly the town's entire existence, it was a farming community, based around the growth and sale of grain and produce. In 1866, the small town shipped approximately 30,000 tons of produce to market.^[2][3]

The township had an established post office beginning in April 1862.^[4] The town suffered from frequent flooding, especially in its early years, an example of which is shown in 1864 there was a severe flood in the area, which caused a "large number of cattle" to drown.^[5] There was controversy in 1865, when the Central Pacific Railroad was acquiring property in the area, and there was potential that land owners within twenty miles of the rail line would be forced to buy their land back from the railroad company because of a provision in the Pacific Railroad Acts.^[6]

A First Baptist Church was established on April 16, 1867, with a total of 6 initial members.^[7] The town was close to obtaining its own rail connection through the proposed "Maine Prairie and Cache Creek Narrow Gauge Railroad", which was supported by many farmers, ranchers, and landowners in the area, but did not have the financial backing to get started.^[8]

In addition to its farming, the town of Maine Prairie was also known for its hunting grounds, specifically for goose hunting.^[9] It was popular enough that former President Benjamin Harrison, and Supreme Court Justice Joseph McKenna took part in a hunting expedition that took place in Maine Prairie.^[10]

References

1. Vincent Verga; Ray Jones (2010). California: Mapping the Golden State Through History. Morris Book Publishing. p. 55. ISBN 978-0-7627-4530-2.
2. "SOLANO COUNTY". Vol. 32, no. 4970. Sacramento Daily Union. March 4, 1867. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
3. "Good Crops". Vol. XIV, no. 5. Marysville Daily Appeal. August 11, 1866. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
4. "Page 2 Advertisements Column 3". Vol. XII, no. 85. San Joaquin Republican. April 10, 1862. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
5. "Marysville Daily Appeal". Vol. X, no. 141. Marysville Daily Appeal. December 13, 1864. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
6. "RAILROAD LANDS". Vol. 29, no. 4386. Sacramento Daily Union. April 12, 1865. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
7. "Maine Prairie". Vol. 19, no. 6265. Daily Alta California. May 10, 1867. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
8. "THE MAINE PRAIRIE NARROW GAUGE ROAD". Vol. 43, no. 6647. Sacramento Daily Union. July 23, 1872. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
9. "GOOSE SHOOTING". Vol. 95, no. 26. Sacramento Daily Union. March 19, 1898. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
10. "THE MAINE PRAIRIE FEVER". Vol. 97, no. 18. Sacramento Daily Union. March 11, 1899. Retrieved January 20, 2024.

• J. P. Munro-Fraser, History of Solano County...and histories of its cities, towns...etc., Wood, Alley & Co., East Oakland, 1879. pp. 306-310. Maine Prairie

External links

• County Maps - SOLANO COUNTY CALIFORNIA (CA/VACAVILLE) MAP 1877 Shows Original Townships of: Silveyville, Green Valley, Tremont, Vallejo, Benicia, Vacaville, Elmira, Maine Prairie, Denverton, Rio Vista, Suisun, Montezuma, Mount Markley, Potrero Hills, California and Pacific Railroad, Vaca Valley Railroad, Pleasant Valley, Lagoon Valley, Wooden Valley, Sweeny Creek & Prospect Slough.
• Maine Prairie Map — Satellite Images of Maine Prairie

38°18′29″N 121°45′32″W