Photo of the week

This #PlacerLife photo of a logging truck in Tahoma was taken by @snomountainapparel on Instagram.

Featured story

Auburn Library to celebrate grand reopening with ribbon cutting Aug. 22

After undergoing 18 months of renovations, the Placer County Library on Nevada Street in Auburn is ready to welcome the community back with a grand reopening celebration on Saturday, Aug. 22.

The festivities begin with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9:30 a.m., followed by guided tours, family-friendly activities and opportunities for residents to explore the newly renovated library throughout the day.

The nearly $10 million renovation transformed the more than 50-year-old library into a modern, accessible space while preserving one of Auburn's most cherished community resources.

Read more

Placer 175

Your history is our history. Help us make sure it’s preserved

For our 175th anniversary year, we’ve launched an interview collection project, inspired by StoryCorps, to record and preserve the stories of community members. Interviews will be archived at the Library of Congress and locally.
Learn more

Housing

Share your thoughts on future housing project near Tahoe City

The county is returning to the planning stage and seeking community feedback for a new housing development in Tahoe City. Located at 3205 North Lake Blvd., the site is formerly known as Dollar Creek Crossing. Give us your feedback!
Learn more

Environment

Environmental review begins on proposed Gateway Park

As proposed by the applicant, 40 Acre Conservation League, Gateway Park would feature a nature center, lake recreation, trail connections to Tahoe National Forest, a community park, seasonal snow play, overnight cabins and more. Read more

Health and safety

Dive safely: Placer County pool inspections ensure a clean summer!

Environmental Health staff work year‑round to ensure public pools across Placer County stay safe, clean and enjoyable. Check out this new video highlighting the steps you can take to keep your family safe and healthy this summer! Watch video

In other news

Film production spotlight: Helping Subaru bring “wild to well adventured” to life in Placer County

Free historic walking tours at Tahoe City Day scheduled for this Saturday, Aug. 8

Placer County Health and Human Services earns three national awards from NACo

World Breastfeeding Week: Eligible moms can get support from Placer County WI

The Placer County Sheriff’s Office visits 20 neighborhoods during National Night Out

175 years of Placer County history

Travelers have been drawn to the clear, blue waters of Lake Tahoe for millennia.  It is fed by 63 different streams and covers 191 square miles of surface area. The shoreline of this Alpine lake is shared by Placer and El Dorado counties in California, and by Carson City, Douglas, and Washoe counties in Nevada. The largest percentage of the lake, at 41%, sits within the boundaries of Placer County.

Mark Twain famously started a forest fire in 1861 near Tahoe Vista when he left his campfire unattended and watched his timber claim burn from a small boat he was forced to retreat in.  Aside from Twain’s short-lived claim, starting in the 1860s, it was the lumber business in the area that was thriving alongside the mining boom brought on by the Comstock Lode discovered near Virginia City.

In what would become Tahoe City, William Pomin built the first permanent residence in 1864 where he and his family lived year-round. In 1867, he transformed his house into the Tahoe House and soon other industrious proprietors built a series of hotels along the shore.  By 1900, luxury resorts with cabins, cottages, and improved campgrounds brought summer tourists while a permanent population of residents continued to grow. Until automobile roads were built in the early 20th century, steamships ferried passengers across the lake.

Photo: Steamship crossing Lake Tahoe. 1902.  Placer County Museums collection.

Explore our new interactive timeline — updated every Thursday with photographs, milestones and the stories of people who built this county. Explore timeline

Advisory committees and commissions

Whether it’s representing your community or sharing your expertise on topics like agriculture or parks, there are always opportunities for you to help advise county leaders on the issues that matter to you most. Recruitment is open now to fill seats on the following committees or commissions, among others. Learn more and apply

Current recruitments include:

• Area 4 Agency on Aging Advisory Council

• Building Board of Appeals

• Cemetery Auburn District

• Cemetery Colfax District

• Cemetery Tahoe District

• Economic Development Board

• Fish & Game Commission

• First 5 Placer Children & Families Commission

• Flood Control & Water Conservation District Board

• Gold Run Cemetery Committee

• Greater Auburn Area Fire Safe Council

• Greater Lincoln Area Fire Safe Council

• In Home Support Services Advisory Committee

• Juvenile Justice / Delinquency Prevention

• Library Advisory Board

• Donner Summit Municipal Advisory Council

• Municipal Advisory Council - Granite Bay

• Municipal Advisory Council - Horseshoe Bar Penryn

• Municipal Advisory Council - Olympic Valley

• Municipal Advisory Council - Rural Lincoln

• Municipal Advisory Council - Sheridan

• Municipal Advisory Council - West Placer Citizens

• Newcastle Ophir Municipal Advisory Council

• North Auburn/Ophir Fire Safe Council

• Placer County Child Care Advisory Council

• Placer County Older Adult Advisory Commission

• Placer Sierra Fire Safe Council

• Solid Waste Local Task Force

• Veterans Advisory Council

• Wastewater Advisory Committee

Fun things to do this week

Don’t miss the fun coming this next week in...

Roseville: Mahany Park Certified Farmers' Market, Maidu Park Farmers' Market, Roseville Fountains Farmers' Market,Kaiser Riverside Farmers' Market, Sutter, Roseville Farmers Market, Food Truck Mania
Lincoln:  Farmers’ Market at Fowler Ranch, Kaiser Lincoln Farmers' Market
Auburn: Music on the Square, Auburn State Theater Summer Film Series: Rudy
North Lake Tahoe: Tahoe City Day Historical Walking Tour, Concerts at Commons Beach

...and many Placer County Library and Placer County Museum events.

Visit our regional partners to discover more of the fun happening right here in Placer County!

Placer County Visitors' Bureau
North Tahoe Community Alliance
Tahoe City Downtown Association
The Arts Council of Placer County
Placer Valley Tourism
PlacerGROWN
Placer Wine Trail

Upcoming public meetings and events

Olympic Valley Supervisor Forum, Aug. 6, 6 p.m. Information
Olympic Valley Municipal Advisory Council, Aug. 6, 6:15 p.m. Information
Meadow Vista Supervisor Forum, Aug. 10, 6 p.m. Information
Meadow Vista Municipal Advisory Council, Aug. 10, 6:30 p.m. Information
Placer County Board of Supervisors, Aug. 11, 9 a.m. Information
Placer County Planning Commission, Aug. 13, 9 a.m. Information
North Tahoe Supervisor Forum, Aug. 13, 6 p.m. Information
North Tahoe Regional Advisory Council, Aug. 13. 6:15 p.m.Information

To learn about other Placer County committees and commissions and current opportunities to serve your community click here.

List of active projects throughout Placer County

Projects are listed alphabetically and by Board of Supervisors districts. A hard copy of the list is available at the Placer County Community Development Resource Agency, 3091 County Center Drive in Auburn. 

Active Projects

Click here to sign up for emergency notifications