Population41,876 (2025 est.)
Foothill Towns With Stories Beneath the Surface
Amador County, CaliforniaAmador County sits in California’s Sierra Nevada foothills, where Jackson serves as the county seat and Gold Country towns share the landscape with vineyards and oak woodlands. Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park offers a starting point for learning about Northern Sierra Miwok history and culture. The county’s mining heritage is another important chapter, but exploring both stories gives a fuller sense of the people and landscapes that shaped this part of California.
Amador County at a Glance
Population41,876 (2025 est.)
County SeatJackson
Largest cityIone
Established1854
ZIP CodesSee postal resources
Total Area, Including Water606 sq mi (total)
Major RoutesState Route 16; State Route 26; State Route 49; State Route 88; State Route 104; State Route 124
Area CodesVaries by community
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Discover Amador County
Amador County
Amador County was created in 1854 from portions of Calaveras and El Dorado counties and named for José María Amador. Its establishment followed the upheaval of the California Gold Rush, which transformed communities across the foothills. The area's history reaches much further back, however. At Indian Grinding Rock, bedrock mortars connect the landscape with Miwok food preparation and community life. The park and its museum provide a way to approach that longer history alongside the county's mining-era towns.
Jackson provides a civic starting point, while nearby foothill communities open different routes through the county's Gold Country setting. Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park combines outdoor features with museum interpretation, making it a place to spend time learning as well as walking. Vineyards add another part of the present-day landscape. A visit can bring these interests together without reducing the county to a single gold-rush story or one kind of destination.
What Shapes Us
Miwok Heritage
Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park preserves bedrock mortars and offers museum interpretation, connecting visitors with Northern Sierra Miwok history and relationships with the land.
Gold Country Towns
Jackson and neighboring foothill communities connect the county's civic geography with its mining-era development, offering places to explore the changes brought by the Gold Rush.
Working Foothill Landscape
Vineyards and oak-covered terrain add a present-day agricultural and natural setting to the county, complementing the historical stories preserved in its towns and parks.
Explore the foothills through their many layers of history.
A Closer Look
Amador County
Places and perspectives from Amador County
Amador County headlines via Google News
Amador Area California Highway Patrol-Amador County Deputy Sheriff’s K-9 Fund Halloween Open House - Ledger Dispatch
Amador Area California Highway Patrol-Amador County Deputy Sheriff’s K-9 Fund Halloween Open House Ledger Dispatch
Read the Story Oct 30, 2026 • 2 min read
Around Amador County
Stories from every corner of Amador County.
Amador Area California Highway Patrol-Amador County Deputy Sheriff’s K-9 Fund Halloween Open House - Ledger Dispatch
Amador Area California Highway Patrol-Amador County Deputy Sheriff’s K-9 Fund Halloween Open House Ledger Dispatch
Oct 30, 2026 • 2 min read
Operation Care Takes Historic Steps Toward Establishing Amador County’s First Child Advocacy Center - Ledger Dispatch
Operation Care Takes Historic Steps Toward Establishing Amador County’s First Child Advocacy Center Ledger Dispatch
Oct 30, 2026 • 2 min read
Breaking: Suckertown Rd Fiddletown Fire reported in Amador County on Oct. 28 - Sacramento Bee
Breaking: Suckertown Rd Fiddletown Fire reported in Amador County on Oct. 28 Sacramento Bee
Oct 29, 2026 • 2 min read
Update: Lambert Fire burns 0.7 acres in Amador County - Sacramento Bee
Update: Lambert Fire burns 0.7 acres in Amador County Sacramento Bee
Oct 25, 2026 • 2 min read
Hometown Heroes: Amador County internist receives CMA’s 2026 Plessner Award - Ledger Dispatch
Hometown Heroes: Amador County internist receives CMA’s 2026 Plessner Award Ledger Dispatch
Oct 22, 2026 • 2 min read
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County Resources
Find the Right Local Connection
Start with the organization responsible for the service you need. Follow its official link for current requirements, office locations and availability.
Government
Start with the county’s public information and department directory for local contacts and service information.
Schools
Public school contacts
Selected local schools from the NCES 2024-2025 directory. Contact the school or district to confirm enrollment, attendance boundaries and current services; this is not a complete school list.
Ione Elementary – Elementary; grades KG-06. 415 South Ione St., Ione, CA 95640. 209-257-7000.
Ione Junior High – Middle; grades 06-08. 450 S Mills St., Ione, CA 95640. 209-257-5500.
Jackson Elementary – Elementary; grades KG-06. 220 Church St., Jackson, CA 95642. 209-257-5600.
Argonaut High – High; grades 09-12. 501 Argonaut Ln., Jackson, CA 95642. 209-257-7700.
Pioneer Magnet School for the Visual and Performing Arts – Elementary; grades KG-06. 24625 Highway 88, Pioneer, CA 95666. 209-295-6500.
Plymouth Elementary – Elementary; grades KG-06. 18601 Sherwood, Plymouth, CA 95669. 209-257-7800.
Sutter Creek Elementary – Elementary; grades KG-06. 340 Spanish St., Sutter Creek, CA 95685. 209-257-7200.
Hospitals
Local hospital contacts
Facility contacts from the CMS Hospital General Information directory, updated July 22, 2026. Contact the facility directly to confirm current services and appointment arrangements.
Sutter Amador Hospital – Acute Care Hospitals. 200 Mission Blvd, Jackson, CA 95642. 209-223-7500.
Public Safety
Start with the county’s public information and department directory for local contacts and service information.
Emergency Services
Start with the county’s public information and department directory for local contacts and service information.
Parks & Public Lands
Start with the county’s public information and department directory for local contacts and service information.
Trails
Start with the county’s public information and department directory for local contacts and service information.
Utilities
Start with the county’s public information and department directory for local contacts and service information.
Libraries
Local library contacts
Locations and public phone numbers are from the IMLS FY2024 Public Libraries Survey. Call the branch to confirm current hours and services before visiting.
Amador County Library – 530 Sutter St., Jackson, CA 95642. 209-223-6400.
Ione Branch Library – 25 East Main St., Ione, CA 95640. 209-274-2560.
Pine Grove Branch Library – 19889 Hwy 88, Pine Grove, CA 95665. 209-296-3111.
Pioneer Branch Library – 25070 Buckhorn Ridge Rd., Pioneer, CA 95666. 209-295-7330.
Plymouth Branch – 9375 Main St., Plymouth, CA 95669. 209-245-6476.
Courts
Start with the county’s public information and department directory for local contacts and service information.
DMV
California — Locations & Hours
California — Renew Registration
Transportation
Start with the county’s public information and department directory for local contacts and service information.
Postal Services
USPS location finder — Search by street address, city or ZIP Code for nearby post offices, collection boxes and available services.
USPS ZIP Code lookup — Find the mailing ZIP Code for a specific street address.
USPS Hold Mail — Arrange a temporary mail hold and review identity-verification requirements.
USPS change of address and forwarding — Review forwarding options and submit an address-change request through USPS.
USPS package pickup — Check pickup availability for your address and schedule eligible shipments.
Veterans
National services available to local residents
VA accredited representatives — Find help with VA claims and benefit applications.
VA health care applications — Review application options and supporting information.
VA disability claims — Find the official steps for submitting a disability claim.
GI Bill and education benefits — Review how to apply for VA education benefits.
Veteran career and employment support — Explore VA employment, training and career assistance.
Employment
National services available to local residents
USAJOBS federal employment — Search federal openings by location and occupation.
Apprenticeship Finder — Search apprenticeship opportunities by location and occupation.
My Next Move career exploration — Explore occupations, industries and career interests.
Government job-training resources — Find routes to state training programs and support for different job seekers.
Unemployment benefit guidance — Find your state program and its application and eligibility information.
Get to Know Amador County
Useful answers for residents, visitors and anyone planning their next step.
Local Questions
Amador County Questions, Answered
Explore practical details about the county and the organizations that serve it.
41,876 (July 1, 2025 Census estimate). This is a dated Census Bureau estimate, rather than a live resident count.
605.950 square miles, including water (2020 Census geography). The total combines land and water area.
The bedrock mortar cups were used by Miwok people to grind acorns and other seeds into meal. The park interprets this cultural landscape and its connection with Northern Sierra Miwok people. The Miwok People — California State Parks.
Yes. The Chaw’se Regional Indian Museum complements the park’s outdoor features with cultural interpretation and collections. Check the park’s visitor information for current access. Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park.
Start with these official California resources: Renew DL/ID; Locations & Hours; Renew Registration. Choose the page for the service you need, then check its office or online instructions before making a trip. These links cover state services; they do not establish that every transaction is available at a county office.
Use USPS ZIP Code Lookup for the mailing ZIP Code of a specific street address. Use the USPS location finder to search for nearby postal facilities and available services. An address lookup is more useful for mailing than assuming the entire county shares one ZIP Code.
The VA explains how to find and appoint an accredited representative for benefit claims. Contact a representative to confirm availability before appointing them. For education benefits, use the GI Bill application guidance. These are national VA services available to eligible local residents, rather than a listing of county offices.
Search USAJOBS for federal positions and the Apprenticeship Finder for apprenticeship opportunities, using location filters to narrow the results. USAGov job-training guidance points to training programs and state resources. Check each listing for current availability, eligibility and application instructions; a search result does not guarantee an opening in the county.
Jackson provides a civic starting point, while nearby foothill communities open different routes through the county's Gold Country setting. Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park combines outdoor features with museum interpretation, making it a place to spend time learning as well as walking. Vineyards add another part of the present-day landscape. A visit can bring these interests together without reducing the county to a single gold-rush story or one kind of destination.
The 2020 Census geography figures record 594.584 square miles of land and 11.366 square miles of water in Amador County. The county’s total area includes both. These are geographic measurements for that Census vintage, not a measurement of current water levels or public recreation access.
In the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate series, Amador County had an estimated 40,567 residents on July 1, 2020, and 41,876 on July 1, 2025. Over that interval, the estimated population increased by 1,309 residents, or about 3.2%. Both figures come from the same estimate vintage, which revises earlier years for a consistent comparison.
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Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
My Local Guide
Local Businesses
Businesses Serving Amador CountyExplore the businesses listed for this county.
Businesses serving Amador County
Additional county facts: county overview and references.
Connect with local businesses.Amador County