Mariposa, California, is a small and charming town mostly known today as an attractive tourist destination. The city played a role in the California Gold Rush as a mining town in the late 1880s when gold ore was discovered nearby.It serves as Mariposa County’s seat and was named after the beautiful monarch butterflies seen by early explorers in the area. Mariposa is also closed to Yosemite National Park and has many hiking trails and rock climbing options that make it an attractive and enjoyable place to visit.