Smith Flat Cemetery

The Smith Flat Cemetery was established by at least 1856, although there is reason to believe the actual date is probably earlier. The Smith’s Flat House was an important stage stop on the Placerville/Carson Road.

Mining began in 1850 and eventually, this area became a prosperous mining camp as well. Ranching and logging kept the Smith’s Flat area going after the mines were shut down. The earliest burial with a headstone has a date of 1859. People probably started to use this land for burials before 1859; however, there are no marked graves with an earlier date.

The Smith Flat Cemetery was used by all of the families in the Smith Flat area. Prompted by State law in 1972, El Dorado County took over responsibility of the Smith Flat Cemetery.

The Smith Flat Cemetery is inactive; the County has not sold public plots there since 1994. The cemetery encompasses 0.77 acres and 160 burial plots have been shown by Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). Only 109 of these have headstones.

Presently, the only burials to be done at this cemetery will be for family members of previously interred individuals in family plots that are determined by County staff to have the right to interment. In the past five years, however, only two plots were sold. There will be six sets of cremated remains in each plot for a total of 12 interments. Two interments have taken place in the past three years. There may be other plots that are eligible for pre-needs that the County is not aware.

Address:
1980 Smith Flat Cemetery Road
Smith Flat, CA 95667

Map:
#001-006 & 006A
Contact the Recorder-Clerks Office
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