Black Diamond Coal Mining Company

Black Diamond Coal Mining Company
Company typePrivate
IndustryMining
FoundedJune 15, 1861; 163 years ago (1861-06-15) in Martinez, California, USA
Founders
  • A. G. Ramsdell
  • Josiah Sturgis
  • L. C. Wittenmyer
  • Frank Bernard
  • James C. Hunsaker
  • Charles McCormick
  • E. Mathewson
  • C. T. Cutler
  • A. Tyler
SuccessorSouthport Land and Commercial Company
Headquarters
Martinez, California
,
USA
Area served
California, Washington

The Black Diamond Coal Mining Company was formed in 1861, consolidating the Cumberland and Black Diamond coal mines in the region of Mount Diablo, in Contra Costa County, California.[1] During its years of operation as a mining company, it established three towns: Nortonville, California, Southport, Oregon, and Black Diamond, Washington. The company's mines in California and its settlement of Nortonville later became part of the Black Diamond Mines Regional Park and a California Historical Landmark.[2] Several railroad lines were built in California and Washington to support the company's mines, and the company operated numerous ships to transport its coal. As the mines played out and petroleum became the more common source of energy, the company closed its mines and transitioned into real estate as the Southport Land and Commercial Company.

  1. ^ http://www.southport-land.com/PDFs/1861_06_15_1st_mtg_rev3.pdf Minutes of the first company meeting
  2. ^ "California Historical Landmark #932". Retrieved 23 February 2019.