Hopeton (formerly Forlorn Hope and, later, Hopetown) is an unincorporated community in Merced County, California.[1] It is located 10.5 miles (17 km) north-northeast of Atwater,[2] at an elevation of 184 feet (56 m).[1]

Hopeton
Hopeton is located in California
Hopeton
Hopeton
Location in California
Hopeton is located in the United States
Hopeton
Hopeton
Hopeton (the United States)
Coordinates: 37°29′30″N 120°31′52″W / 37.49167°N 120.53111°W / 37.49167; -120.53111
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountyMerced County
Elevation184 ft (56 m)

Hopeton is located in the Merced River bottom west of Snelling. A church was present at the townsite as early as 1852, and by 1881 the town had a population of over 1000. The Hopeton School District survived until 1973.[3]

The first name of the place was Forlorn Hope, after a battle term.[2] The Forlorn post office operated from 1854 to 1859, and from 1860 to 1861.[2] The Hopeton post office operated from 1866 to 1894 and from 1911 to 1914.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Hopeton, California
  2. ^ a b c d Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, Calif.: Word Dancer Press. p. 783. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
  3. ^ Lewis, Leona (June 26, 1982). "Students of yesteryear remember Forlorn Hope". Merced Sun-Star. Merced, CA. Retrieved December 3, 2023.