California Cotton Mills Company Factory
historic place
In Oakland, California, within Alameda County, stands the California Cotton Mills Company Factory. This historic place was founded in 1883 by Scotsmen William Rutherford and John Yule Millar. It became the largest cotton mill west of the Mississippi River upon its completion. The factory produced textiles such as comforters and towels. At its peak, it employed up to 1,500 workers. The surrounding neighborhood was named "Jingletown" due to the sound of workers' coins on payday. A new facility replaced the original buildings in 1917. During both World Wars, the mill supplied tents and fabric for the military. The majority of the mill closed in 1954, with some structures demolished for the Nimitz Freeway. Today, the main building is the California Cotton Mills Studios. Designated an Oakland Landmark in 1979 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013, a historical marker notes its 1883 founding and status as one of Oakland's earliest and largest industries. This factory represents a significant part of Oakland's industrial past.