CALIFORNIA'S DEFUNCT OR RENAMED COUNTIES

There are four defunct counties: Klamath, Pautah, Buena Vista and Coso. They were all defunct by 1874.

Pautah County was to be formed in 1852 out of land that’s now part of Nevada. California never acquired the territory, and the act of Congress creating the county was repealed in 1859.

Oro County was proposed by a committee of the California Constitutional Convention. Before the statute was adopted, the Legislature changed the name to Tuolumne County.

Mount Diablo County was proposed by a committee of the California Constitutional Convention. Before the statute was adopted, the Legislature changed the name to Contra Costa County.

Klamath County was created in 1851 from the northern half of Trinity County. In 1857 Klamath County lost significant territory to the newly formed Del Norte County. In 1875 Klamath County was abolished and its territory was divided between Humboldt and Siskiyou counties. Territory which at one time was in Klamath County is now in Del

Coso County was approved by the Legislature, which designated it from territory in Mono and Tulare counties, with the county seat at Bend City. Coso County, however, was never organized. In 1866 substantially the same territory was created as Inyo County.

Coloma County was proposed by a committee of the California Constitutional Convention. Before the statute was adopted, the Legislature changed the name to El Dorado County.

Branciforte County was one of the original 27 counties, but soon after, the Legislature changed the name to Santa Cruz County.

Buena Vista County was a failed attempt to create a county from the territory of Tulare County between 1855 and 1859.

Fremont County was proposed by a committee of the California Constitutional Convention. Before the statute was adopted, the Legislature changed the name to Yola County and later to Yolo County.