Roots in the Railroad

Gridley was established in 1870 and named for George W. Gridley, one of the largest landowners in Butte County who was instrumental in getting the California and Oregon (C&O) Railroad to build a switching station to serve his stock and sheep raising operations.

With the railroad’s activity, commerce and residential building started taking off over the next couple of years. New buildings and businesses included a post office, variety of merchants, saloon, blacksmith, wagon shop, warehouses, mills, hotel, and the first school house opened in 1874.

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Large fires in 1884 and again in 1891 destroyed much of the original business district. But determined locals rebuilt and today much of the historic downtown remains. In particular, along "Silk Stocking Row" you can see many well-preserved turn-of-the-century homes. Its catchy name dates back to the Depression, when the only women who could afford silk stockings lived in these large Hazel Street homes.

Today, Gridley residents continue their entrepreneurial spirit as the small town that loves company and welcome you to browse our shops here at the Gridley MarketPlace.