| Centerville | |
| Settlement Type: | Former settlement |
| Pushpin Map: | California#USA |
| Pushpin Label Position: | bottom |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in California |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | California |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Alpine County |
| Coordinates: | 38.6311°N -119.7233°W |
| Elevation M: | 1814 |
| Elevation Ft: | 5951 |
Centerville is a former settlement in Alpine County, California, United States.
Located along a stage coach route between Silver King Valley and the East Fork of the Carson River, Centerville was a commercial hub during the 1850s and 1860s.[1] [2] [3] [4] Described as a "small village" with stores, a tavern, and a hotel called the Centerville House, Centerville supplied local mines with lumber for flumes, bridges, tunnels, fencing, buildings and heating.[1] [4] [5] Richardson's sawmill was located at Centerville during the 1860s.[1] [2]
In 1864, in an election to determine the Alpine County seat, Markleeville received the most votes, beating out Centerville and two other competing towns.[6] Fire destroyed the home of the town's butcher - located at the corner of Montgomery and Jackson streets - in 1872, and "the rest of the town soon faded away".[1] Little remains of the original settlement.[3] A plaque documenting the history of Centerville was installed in 2013 by E Clampus Vitus, a fraternal organization.[1] The site is now occupied by the Centerville Flat campground.[7]