Moses Andrews of Auburn started Placer County’s citrus industry when he planted a seedling citrus tree in 1871. The region was well suited to citrus. It was below the extreme cold of the mountains but high enough in the foothills to ripen earlier than other citrus regions in California, giving these fruits a head start for shipping back east by rail. This was the beginning of the Penryn/Loomis/Rocklin citrus industry.

Joel Parker Whitney was a local citrus and grape grower who had traveled to Europe and had an affinity for English country life. He decided to build a colony for people who shared his love of that life. The Citrus Colony was born. Twelve wealthy families arrived from England and built homes, a clubhouse, tennis courts, and even a cricket field.

'Pictured above is the Citrus colony’s 1895 cricket team, which was unbeaten in the State of California. They were also the 1898 champions of the state.

Eventually, the fruit prices started to drop as the depression of the 1890s worsened, and the colonists’ lack of farming experience began to take its toll. Eventually, some colonists headed back to England while others ended their farming careers for other ventures. The Colony went bankrupt in 1905.

More information about Placer County’s Citrus Colony can be found here.