Lakeport California Historical Information

Incorporated in 1888, as mentioned previously, Lakeport is the oldest community in Lake county.

The history of Lakeport however goes back still further...more than forty years further, to the Gold Rush of California.

Coming and going from the gold fields of California, miners wound their way through Lake County from about Miners coming and going through Northern California gold fields began passing through Lake County as early as 1847. At the conclusion of the Gold Rush, many miners returned to the County to settle permanently.

The farmland was attractive and the climate was so temperate that many of the pioneers who had originally come for gold began to stake a claim on the lands around clear lake during the 1850's, and among them was William Forbes, who is reputedly the Father of the city of Lakeport.

Forbes would become the first undertaker, the settlement’s postmaster for a number of years, and with his partner James Parish founded the first business in the new town, a blacksmithing and wagon making shop.

Originally named “Forbestown” after Forbes, Lakeport was first a part of Napa County. In 1861, after the settlement broke away from Napa, Forbes deeded 40 acres of his land to the local government in exchange for Forbestown becoming the County seat.