Back

Copperopolis sits in the western Sierra Nevada foothills of Calaveras County, along State Route 4 between the Central Valley and the Gold Country towns to the east. It is an unincorporated community and census-designated place with a 2020 population of 3,400. The name tells the town's origin story: unlike neighboring gold-rush settlements, Copperopolis was built on copper. The metal was discovered in 1860 by William K. Reed, Thomas McCarty, and Dr. Allen Blatchly, and the town that sprang up around the Union Copper Mine soon became the largest copper producer in the western United States, with a boom-era population that reportedly topped 10,000 by 1863. The site is recognized as California Historical Landmark No. 296. The mining era shaped Copperopolis, but the town's modern identity is recreational. Lake Tulloch, a reservoir on the Stanislaus River drainage, is the community's centerpiece, offering boating, fishing, and watersports along its many miles of shoreline. Saddle Creek Resort adds an 18-hole golf course and a residential golf-community atmosphere, while the surrounding oak-studded foothills and the nearby Copper Cove community frame the lakeside setting. Today Copperopolis functions as both a quiet foothill town and a second-home and retirement destination, with a median age well above the state norm and a strongly owner-occupied housing base. State Route 4 provides the main connection west to the Central Valley and east to Angels Camp and the rest of Calaveras County. For residents and buyers, Copperopolis offers a foothill lifestyle built around the lake, the golf course, and the open landscape, with a history that reaches back to one of California's most distinctive mining booms. Its mix of lakeside recreation, golf, and Gold Country character makes it a distinctive base in the Sierra foothills.

Population 3,400

County Calaveras

Active Listings 110

Browse by Listing Type

attach_moneyFor Sale editFor Rent

Browse by Property Type

homeHouses apartmentCondos & Apartments holiday_villageTownhouses & Duplexes crop_landscapeLots & Land parkFarms & Ranches

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Copperopolis in?

Copperopolis is in Calaveras County, California, in the Sierra Nevada foothills along State Route 4. It is an unincorporated town and census-designated place between the Central Valley and the Gold Country towns of Angels Camp and Murphys.

What is Copperopolis known for?

Copperopolis is known for its copper-mining history — it was founded in 1860 and became the largest copper producer in the western United States — and, today, for Lake Tulloch and the Saddle Creek golf resort. The old town is a California Historical Landmark.

What is there to do in Copperopolis?

Lake Tulloch offers boating, fishing, and watersports, while Saddle Creek Resort provides an 18-hole golf course. The surrounding foothills offer hiking and mountain biking, and nearby Angels Camp, Murphys, and Calaveras Big Trees State Park extend the recreation options.

What school districts serve Copperopolis?

Elementary students attend the Mark Twain Union or Vallecito Union school districts, and high school students are part of the Bret Harte Union High School District. Bret Harte Union High School serves Copperopolis and neighboring Calaveras County communities.

Is Copperopolis a city?

No. Copperopolis is an unincorporated town and census-designated place governed by Calaveras County rather than an incorporated city government. Its population was 3,400 at the 2020 census, down from 3,671 recorded a decade earlier in 2010.

City Guide

About Copperopolis

Real Estate & Housing

Copperopolis' housing stock spans several eras, from modest older homes near the historic town center to newer construction around Lake Tulloch and within the Saddle Creek and Copper Cove developments. Much of the residential growth has been tied to lake access and golf-course living, producing a mix of single-family homes, cabins, and second-home properties on foothill lots. The area skews owner-occupied and appeals to retirees and vacation buyers drawn to the water and the Sierra setting.

Neighborhoods

Copper Cove is the largest residential area, a lakeside community with its own homeowners association and access to Lake Tulloch. Saddle Creek forms another distinct enclave, built around the golf resort and its fairways. The historic core near the old town site retains the footprint of the mining era, while scattered foothill parcels and lakefront properties fill out the surrounding landscape. These pockets give Copperopolis a spread-out, community-by-community structure rather than a single downtown.

Lifestyle in Copperopolis

Life in Copperopolis is built around the lake and the outdoors. Boating, fishing, and waterskiing on Lake Tulloch define summer, while the Saddle Creek golf course and foothill trails carry recreation through the year. The town has a relaxed, retirement-friendly pace, with a strong second-home presence and an owner-occupied character. Dining and nightlife are limited, so residents often head to Angels Camp, Murphys, or the Central Valley for a broader range of services and entertainment.

Schools & Education

Copperopolis students are served by several small districts. Elementary students attend the Mark Twain Union Elementary School District or the Vallecito Union School District, depending on location, while high school students are part of the Bret Harte Union High School District, whose campus serves Copperopolis, Angels Camp, Murphys, and other east-county communities. The districts are small and close-knit, reflecting Calaveras County's rural scale, with a campus presence in the Copperopolis area.

Getting Around

State Route 4 is Copperopolis' main artery, running west toward Farmington and the Central Valley and east toward Angels Camp and the higher Sierra. The town is within about an hour's drive of Stockton and the Central Valley employment centers, making it a feasible though lengthy commute for some residents. There is no local transit, so travel is by car, and the nearest commercial airports are in the Central Valley and the greater Sacramento region.

Parks & Recreation

Lake Tulloch is Copperopolis' recreation centerpiece, with miles of shoreline for boating, fishing, waterskiing, and swimming. Saddle Creek Resort offers an 18-hole public-access golf course set among the foothills, with lakes and trails woven through the property. The surrounding oak woodlands and the nearby Sierra foothills support hiking, mountain biking, and seasonal outdoor pursuits, while Angels Camp and the Gold Country towns add wineries, caves, and historic sites within a short drive.