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Corning 2010 21 Corning 2010 The first inhabitants in the area were the Wintun Native Americans, including the Nomlaki Tribe, that populated the valley of the North State on the western side of the Sacramento River extending into the Coastal Range. When California gained statehood on Sept. 9, 1850, after Mexico ceded the land to the United States, this area became part of Colusa County. Tehama County was formed in 1856. The area started out with sheep ranches. Francis Houghton was the first large rancher, purchasing a 2,200-acre sheep ranch 12 miles west of Corning. George Hoag, a Scottish immigrant, built the first house in 1860. By 1871 the land was all taken by "squatters." Houses and cabins were going up haphazardly so the area was first called Scatterville. The first store was built by a man named Charles Rice where Highway 99W now intersects with Solano Street. He disliked the name Scatterville and renamed the area Farmington. When Rice later applied for a post office permit, the U.S. Postal Service suggested the name be changed to Riceville. The area started to become more organized in 1878 when county surveyors were hired to lay out a town. The town was bisected by Highway 99W (then called Main Street) and the northern boundary was Solano Street. That changed in 1881 when the railroad was developed in the valley and the rail companies refused to bend the tracks to Riceville. Since the railroad would not move to the town, the town moved to the railroad — one mile east. Today, Interstate 5 and Highway 99W run over what was once the town of Riceville. The name of the town was changed in 1883 to Corning after John Corning, the assistant superintendent of the Central Pacific Railroad. The town officially celebrated its birth on Jan. 1, 1883. In 1891, a man who would become known as the "Father of Corning," Warren N. Woodson, took an interest in the area. Woodson, a real estate promoter, purchased 3,100 acres from George Hoag at $25 an acre and subdivided it into 10-acre plots in an organized town in what would become the Maywood Colony. By 1893, many of the colonists grew tired of living on farms and wanted to move to town, so Woodson and business partner Sen. Charles Foster developed the Maywood Addition to Corning consisting of 160 acres of town lots for sale. Like many cities, Corning had to be rebuilt after a large fire on July 7, 1898. Every business within a two-block radius of Third and Solano streets burned to the ground. In 1899, the three-story, 43-room Hotel Maywood was constructed and a gala celebration held on April 14, with more than 1,000 in attendance. Another July 7 fire, this time in 1965, would later destroy the top two floors of Hotel Maywood. The bottom floor was rebuilt into a one-story facility that is now home to the Corning City Hall and police department. Another fire on New Year's Eve 1899 struck the Corning Lumber yard, which was destroyed against the efforts of a townspeople bucket brigade. Corning Lumber Company was rebuilt in 1904, as was the Maywood Colony Office, which included the Maywood Tower — the model for the scaled down Corning Transportation Center of today. While the city will celebrate its hundredth birthday this year, it was actually first incorporated in 1906. However, a battle with a saloonkeeper over prohibition gave Corning a unique history and caused the city to have to incorporate twice. The city first incorporated Sept. 17, 1906 after townspeople were spurred on by editorials and influenced by the ladies of the Maywood Woman's Club who wanted to avoid becoming a "saloon town." Prohibition came to Corning in 1907 with Ordinance No. 3. All saloonkeepers closed except one who fought the ordinance, citing defects in the city's incorporation. The case went to the County Superior Court and the State Appellate Court, which agreed with the saloonkeeper. So the city incorporated a second time on July 23, 1907. The saloonkeeper was allowed to stay open until 1908. The lack of liquor led to the city slogan "The Clean Town," which was traded in 1923 for the "The Olive Town." The Carnegie Grant Library was built on the corner of Fourth and Yolo streets at a cost of $1,500 in 1914. In 1930, the Corning Veterans Memorial Building was finished and on Aug. 30, 1935, Rodgers Theatre was dedicated. The present post office was dedicated on July 29, 1965, and the new Corning Library was dedicated on Dec. 7, 1974. Corning can boast that it has what is believed to be the oldest uncontrolled airport operating in California and the third oldest airport in the state. Corning's History: From Scatterville to Today Did you know? Corning used to use 'The Clean Town' as a city slogan?

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