Catheys Valley is a census-designated place in Mariposa County, California, set in the Sierra Nevada foothills along State Route 140. It lies about 22 miles northeast of Merced and eight miles southwest of Mariposa, the county seat, at an elevation of roughly 1,325 feet. The community is home to around 900 residents spread across more than 23 square miles, giving it a distinctly rural, low-density character. The valley's history reaches back to the Gold Rush. It was named for Andrew D. Cathey, a North Carolina native who traveled to the California gold fields in 1849, and the area developed as a ranching settlement in the early 1850s. Over time the community was known variously as Cathay and Cathey's Valley before settling on its present name. That agricultural and Gold Country heritage still shapes the area today. The landscape is defined by rolling golden hills studded with blue oaks and California live oaks, with ponderosa pines appearing as the highway climbs toward Mariposa. This is classic Sierra foothill country, transitional between the San Joaquin Valley and the higher Sierra. The Merced River, designated a National Wild and Scenic River, flows through the broader region and anchors outdoor recreation. Catheys Valley's position on State Route 140 makes it one of the last communities before Mariposa on the main western route into Yosemite National Park. That gateway role brings travelers through while the community itself remains quiet. Students attend Mariposa County Unified schools, with Sierra Foothill Charter School located in the community. The community suits those seeking rural foothill living, ranching space, and convenient access both to Central Valley services in Merced and to the recreation of Mariposa County and Yosemite.