What is the geography of Mariposa, California?
Mariposa is located at (37.487379, -119.968460), at 2,000 feet in elevation. It lies in the rugged foothills of the Sierra Nevada (US)Sierra Nevadas. Mariposa Creek flows through the town. According to the United States Census Bureau, the community has a total area of 8.3 km sq (3.2 square miles), all land. Mariposa County is home to much of Yosemite National Park, and a good deal of the local economy is related to the Park and to tourism. The county courthouse, constructed in 1854, is the oldest in continuous use in California. Tours are available. The county lies at the southern end of the Mother Lode, and Europeans were attracted to Mariposa by gold. During the 19th century California Gold Rush, its streams were panned and deep mines worked the underground veins. At one time John C. Frémont lived here and owned claims to much of the mineral wealth of Mariposa. He later was the first United States SenateUS Senator from the state, and the first United States Republican PartyRepublican
