Ione, California
Ione is a city of 9,156 people in Amador County, California, founded in 1849.
Why visit Ione
Townapedia lists 5 museums and landmarks, 3 parks and trails, 7 places to eat, 1 place to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Church Bell Hill, Indian Hill, Preston School of Industry and Scully Ranch.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 93°F; December lows average 39°F.
Weather in Ione
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Ione
Ione is a city in Amador County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census the population is 5,141, which is a 35.1% decrease from the 2010 census. Once known as "Bedbug" and "Freeze Out," Ione was an important supply center on the main road to the Mother Lode and Southern Mines during the California gold rush.
From the Wikipedia article Ione, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Museums and landmarks5
Preston School of Industry
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Former reform school in California, US
Scully Ranch
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Ranch in Amador County, California
Five Mile Drive-Sutter Creek Bridge
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Parks, trails and playgrounds3
Restaurants and cafes7
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History
Ione is the historical home of the Sierra Miwok Indians. In 1840, the future town site became part of the Mexican land grant Rancho Arroyo Seco in Alta California.
The town is located in the fertile Ione Valley; it is believed to have been named by Thomas Brown around 1849 after one of the heroines in Edward Bulwer-Lytton's drama The Last Days of Pompeii, but conflicting legends and sources for the name exist. During the days of the California gold rush, the miners knew the town by the names of "Bedbug" and "Freezeout." Unlike other communities in Amador County that were founded on gold mining, Ione was a supply center, stage and rail stop, and agricultural hub.
The first post office opened in 1852. The town of Ione continued to grow and prosper after its gold rush founding. The first school was built in 1853. The historic Methodist Church was organized in 1853 and the structure was completed in 1862. The first flour mill was built in 1855. The first brick building was built by Daniel Stewart, D. Stewart Company Store, in 1855 for his general merchandise store. It is still owned and operated by Stewart family descendants.
In March 1865, Camp Jackson was built nearby. It was garrisoned by Company D, 2nd California Volunteer Cavalry, who stayed for three months before moving to a new post.
From the History section of Ione, California on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay1
Churches and places of worship6
Community Methodist Church of Ione
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 1.2 mi
20 Relihan Drive, Ione
Shopping2
Gas and EV charging2
Schools, colleges and libraries6
Healthcare1
Map of Ione
35 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55°F | 39°F | 6.1 in |
| Feb | 58°F | 42°F | 5.7 in |
| Mar | 62°F | 42°F | 4.9 in |
| Apr | 67°F | 45°F | 2.8 in |
| May | 75°F | 51°F | 1.7 in |
| Jun | 86°F | 57°F | 0.4 in |
| Jul | 93°F | 63°F | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 92°F | 62°F | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 87°F | 60°F | 0.3 in |
| Oct | 76°F | 53°F | 1.7 in |
| Nov | 63°F | 44°F | 3.1 in |
| Dec | 55°F | 39°F | 5.4 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Sutter Hill Cdf (8 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Amador County has had 13 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2023-04-03: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2023-03-10: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2023-01-14: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2021-09-01: Caldor Fire (Fire)
- 2020-03-22: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Mather Airport (MHR) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 23 miles away.
- Sutter Creek 8 mi east, about 13 min by car
- Plymouth 9 mi northeast, about 14 min by car
- Jackson 10 mi east, about 15 min by car
- Dogtown 15 mi southwest, about 25 min by car
- Pine Grove 16 mi east, about 26 min by car
- Herald 16 mi west, about 26 min by car
- Lockeford 18 mi southwest, about 30 min by car
- Galt 20 mi west, about 32 min by car
- Rancho Cordova 22 mi northwest, about 35 min by car
- Vineyard 22 mi west, about 35 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Ione City Centenary Church, LPS.1, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Preston Castle (Ione), There is always more mystery, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Scully Ranch--south side street view of house, KarenTeague, CC BY-SA 4.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.