Historical Marker · No. 436

New Hope -1846- First Wheat

Ripon, San Joaquin County · California
Erected by California Centennials Commission; Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Alameda County camps, 1949

Twenty men from the ship Brooklyn farmed here on a promise. Sam Brannan founded New Hope in 1846 expecting Brigham Young to make it the center of the church, and the men put in wheat, watered other crops by pole and bucket, and built three log houses, a sawmill and a ferry. Young settled his people in the Great Basin instead, and the colony was given up in 1847. The tablet's approximately six miles west was measured from a city park it has since left; it now stands on West Main Street.

What the plaque says

New Hope -1846- First Wheat Approximately six miles west twenty Mormon pioneers from ship Brooklyn founded first known agricultural colony in San Joaquin Valley, planted first wheat; also crops they irrigated by pole and bucket method. Erected three log houses, operated sawmill and ferry across Stanislaus. Settlement later known as Stanislaus City. State Registered Landmark No. 436 Tablet placed by California Centennials Commission. Base furnished by Alameda County camps, Daughters Utah Pioneers Dedicated October 22, 1949

Where it stands

37.73928, -121.12808 · Directions

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