THE AMERICAN RIVER
The American River, another of the names which have been translated from the original Spanish, is formed by three forks rising in the Sierra Nevada, and empties into the Sacramento at the site of the city of that name. The three branches forming it run in deep canyons, sometimes two thousand feet in depth, and the scenery along its course is of a rugged and striking character.
The river was originally called El Río de los Americanos (the river of the Americans), probably from the presence on its banks of a company of western trappers, who lived there from 1822 to 1830, and not “because it was the usual route of travel by which Americans entered the state,” as is stated by Bancroft and others.
In Fremont’s time it was still known by its Spanish name, by which he refers to it in the following paragraph: “Just then a well-dressed Indian came up, and made his salutations in very well-spoken Spanish. In answer to our inquiries he informed us that we were upon the Río de los Americanos, and that it joined the Sacramento River about ten miles below. Never did a name sound more sweetly! We felt ourselves among our countrymen, for the name of American, in these distant parts, is applied to the citizens of the United States.”
EL RÍO DE LAS PLUMAS (FEATHER RIVER).
“To this day the valley of the Feather is a favorite haunt for wild ducks and geese.”