Apartment Life in the Heart of Gold Country

Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Auburn, California is a city closely linked to the outdoors and to its history. It was one of the first cities to spring up at the start of the California Gold Rush and one of the few to survive the 150 year transition into the 21st Century. Many of the original buildings are still standing, including the Old Town Firehouse which has been used by the Auburn Volunteer Fire Department since 1852, making it one of the longest-running fire departments in California. If you're looking for an apartment to rent in a city with that feels like a small town, Auburn is a great place to live. It's got a population of about 13,000 people but it's only a half-hour drive from the state's capital, Sacramento, and all the conveniences of this big city. What are people saying about the apartment rentals in Auburn? Check out the LocalTalk page to find out.

Auburn, California is More Affordable than You Might Think

Compared to much of Northern California, rents in Auburn are quite low, especially given how incredibly beautiful this area is all year round. Auburn may be a little off the beaten track, which is why rental rates there are lower than those in many other Northern California cities, but that's just the way the residents like it. There's plenty to do in town, from movies to museums to live musical events and even more in the forests and mountains that surround Auburn on all sides. For your money, this is definitely one of the best towns in California to settle down in.

Endurance sports

You don't have to be an endurance athlete to live in Auburn, but many of the residents are. Auburn is officially known as the Endurance Capital of the World and hosts a variety of endurance events in running, cycling, horseback riding, rafting and swimming. Each year, residents and athletes from around the world participate in a half-triathlon, where the competitors swim 1.2 miles, bike for 56 miles and finish up the day with a 13.1 mile sprint to the finish line. Spectators are encouraged to cheer the athletes on, so even if a half-triathlon is a bit out of your league at the moment, there's still plenty of ways to participate. The prevalence of endurance sports has also made Auburn one of the fittest cities in Northern California. If you've considered getting into better shape but haven't found the motivation yet, Auburn just might be able to give you that much needed push to succeed.

There's Gold in Them Thar Hills

Driving into Auburn, you're greeted by an enormous bronze statue of a man gold panning. The man is Claude Chana, a French immigrant who first discovered gold in Auburn in 1848. Then and now, Auburn has been known as the gateway to the gold country. Gold panning and dredging are still common pastimes in this part of the state and there's still plenty of gold to be found. The chances of striking it rich may be low nowadays, but there's still a thrill to be had swirling the last fine layer of black sand around the bottom of a pan, seeing the sparkle of gold flakes as you slowly uncover them. Of course, there are also outdoor activities in Auburn that don't have anything to do with digging in the dirt. There are many rivers and streams around with great fishing and rafting. Hiking and horseback riding in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada's offers spectacular vistas and great wildlife viewing. Without a doubt, Auburn is one of the most beautiful and tranquil cities in Northern California. ###########The Real '49ers########### In 1848, the discovery of gold in Coloma, a town about 20 miles southeast of Auburn, brought enough settlers over the Sierra Nevada mountain range to fill in the town of Auburn. It was officially founded in 1849, though trappers and explorers had stayed in the area in the decades prior to the California Gold Rush. Gold was discovered in the town of Auburn itself which quickly attracted new settlers hoping to strike it rich. Though the panning and mining in Auburn wasn't superb, the climate and proximity to the California wilderness was. Miners often came down from higher elevations to winter in this boom town that rarely sees snow or temperatures below freezing. By the 1860s, the town was well-established and unlike many other boom towns in Northern California, Auburn, with its mild winters, pleasant summers and ever present promise of gold, stuck around. Today, many of the historical buildings and sites are still around, giving the modern city of Auburn an historic flavor all its own.