The hamlet of Jamestown dates to the early Gold Rush. Discovered in August 1848, the Woods Creek placers at Jamestown eventually yielded millions of dollars in gold. When the easily mined placer gold gave out, the town remained a trade and supply depot for mining higher in the foothills, with a prime location on the roads from the Central Valley. From the 1890s to 1910s, the hard-rock mining era, known as the second Gold Rush, granted new life to the town, surrounded as it is by the Mother Lode itself. But it was the coming of the Sierra Railway in 1897 that cemented Jamestown's status, transporting the bounty of Tuolumne County's natural resources, including minerals, cattle, produce, and lumber, to the waiting markets in California and across the country. The railroad also facilitated three major dam construction projects from the 1910s to the 1940s and brought many film crews to the area.

Big Oak Flat and Groveland provide a window into hundreds of years of California history. For millennia, the Me-Wuk people lived in harmony with the environment, tapping nature for their food and shelter. Then, in 1848, James Savage found gold, and the 49er Gold Rush brought a placer mining boom. The two towns developed almost overnight. However, the easy ore was soon depleted, and a devastating fire in 1863 contributed to a severe decline in population and prosperity. In the 1880s, improved technology led to a new "hard rock" mining boom, but in 30 years, it also turned to bust. From 1915 to 1935, Groveland was the headquarters for the giant Hetch Hetchy project, which dammed the Tuolumne River and sent its water to San Francisco. In the 1960s and 1970s, Pine Mountain Lake was developed into a successful vacation and retirement community. Over the years, local residents have contributed to the development and support of Yosemite National Park tourism, making it the "Gateway to Yosemite."