Meridian

Meridian was founded in 1852 by Lewis O’Neill, who built a crude cabin to the south of what is now Main Street. In 1857, John F. Fouts came to Meridian and started a ferry over the Sacramento River in 1860. In 1862, the settlement became known as Fout’s Ferry. The growing town was renamed Meridian, being barely one-fourth mile from the Meridian Line of the U. S. Survey of California, which stretches from the Mt. Diablo baseline through the Sacramento Valley. In 1879, there were 120 residents of the town, which was a regular stop for the stage and mail pick-up station between Marysville and Colusa. Meridian was also the center for riverboats to load and unload cargo for the rich farming area.

Historic Points of Interest

  • The Meridian Cemetery at Kilgore and Meridian Roads is divided by Meridian Road with burials on both sides.
    A full index of the Meridian Cemetery is available here.
  • The Meridian Grammar School’s brick schoolhouse was built in 1875 and has been demolished from its original location near Highway 20/Meridian Road. However, the cement horse dismount platform with stairs and two cement hitching posts remain in front of the present Elementary School building at 15898 Central Street.
    Learn more about the history of Meridian School here on page 4. 
  • The Sacramento Northern Railroad Station, originally the Northern Electric, is made of river stone and located to the west of the railroad tracks at the east approach to the old auto-railroad bridge over the Sacramento River. It was located on the corner of Third and Bridge Streets. The station is now a private residence. Both Live Oak and Pleasant Grove had nearly identical stations to Meridian’s.

Resources

To learn more about the history of the town of Meridian, check out these articles: