Page Contents for Ione, California

Statistics & Facts

Location

History & History-related items

City Attractions

Government

Chamber of Commerce.

Organizations, Churches, and Sports.

Miscellany

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Statistics & Facts

The California state capital is Sacramento.
The population of Ione is approximately 7,649 (2006), 7918 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 1,155 (2000), 1466 (2010).
The amount of land area in Ione is 12.314 sq. kilometers.
The amount of land area in Ione is 4.74 sq. miles.
The amount of surface water is 0.074 sq kilometers.
The distance from Ione to Washington DC is 2491 miles.
The distance to the California state capital is 30 miles. (as the crow flies)
Ione is positioned 38.35 degrees north of the equator and 120.94 degrees west of the prime meridian.
Ione elevation is 299 feet above sea level.
Ione per capita income is $ 20,340 (2000).
Ione median income is $ 47,500 (2005).
The Ione median home price is $ 280,500 (2005).

Location

in central California in the general Sacramento area. It is about 36 miles from Stockton and about nine miles from Amador City. Other nearby communities include Sutter Creek, Plymouth, Wallace, Jackson, Rancho Murieta, Valley Springs and Mokelumne Hill.
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History & History Related Items

Though born during the 1849 gold rush times, Ione was not a mining town, but a supply center and rail stop. At that time, the community was known as Bedbug and Freezeout. The name of Ione was given by Thomas Brown and said to have come from one of the characters in the drama, The Last Days of Pompeii by Lytton.

As time went on, Ione continued to grow and prosper with many businesses opening including a flour mill in 1855 and the first brick building in 1855. By 1876 there were about 600 residents in Ione. A Chinatown area included about 100 Chinese residents. 1876 marked the beginning of a long tradition in Ione of the Ione Homecoming. It is held during May each year and has been held almost every year since 1876.

Here is a history page for Ione.
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The incorporation of Ione

23 March 1953

Attractions

Noted Notables

Dave Brubeck, the famous jazz pianist, was born in Ione and in 1998 scored a video tour of the castle called "A Castle's Song", sold through KVIE to help fund the restoration efforts.

The Castle
This castle was built between 1890 and 1894. It was officially known as the Preston School of Industry and served as a school for young people referred there by the court system. There are efforts to restore the castle though the grounds are not generally open to the public. There are, however, a number of places in the city where good views of the Castle are possible. Tours may be periodically scheduled to tour the castle. Interior photos may be seen at the Amador Country Film Commission website.

Howard Park
A great local park with sports fields, play areas, snack bars, a community center, trails, picnic grounds and much more including the Ed Hughes Memorial Arena.

Mule Creek State Prison is located in the community. Adjacent to Mule Creek is the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Training Academy, which trains staff from all over California, as well as the Preston Youth Correctional Facility (formerly the Preston School of Industry). According to the Mule Creek State Prison website, there are 3,782 prisoners residing in the facility, well above the design capacity of 1,700, and they account for nearly half of Ione's population.
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Ione City Government

City of Ione
1 East Main Street
P.O. Box 398
Ione, CA 95640
Phone: 209-274-2412

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Mule Creek State Prison
4001 Highway 104
P.O. Box 409099
Ione, CA 95640
Phone: 209-274-4911

Ione Chamber

Amador County Chamber ofCommerce and Visitors Bureau
P.O. Box 596
571 South Highway 49
Jackson, CA 95642

Ione Organizations

Amador County Chamber ofCommerce and Visitors Bureau
P.O. Box 596
571 South Highway 49
Jackson, CA 95642 Ione

Miscellany

The population of Ione was:
1990 - 6,516
2000 - 7,129
2006 - 7,649

The number of housing units was:
1990 -910
2000 - 1,155

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Median age:
2000 - 34.3 years

Median household income:
2000 - $ 40,625
2005 - $ 47,500

Median house value:
2000 - $ 132,400
2005 - $ 280,500

Ione is located in the Pacific Time Zone and does participate in daylight savings time during a portion of the year.