Mariposa

Introduction

Mariposa County is located in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The California State government’s population bureau lists a January 1, 2006 estimate of 18,401.  The county’s eastern half is the central portion of Yosemite National Park. Mariposa County was one of the original counties of California, created at the time of statehood in 1850. While it began as the state’s largest county, over time territory that was once part of Mariposa was ceded to twelve other counties. Thus, Mariposa County is known as the “Mother of Counties”.