Lassen County was created on April 1, 1864 from the eastern portions of Plumas and Shasta Counties. On April 11, 1864, California Governor F.F. Low appointed three men—L.N. Breed, Frank Drake and H.C. Stockton—to serve as county commissioners to organize the county.*
The main task for these men was to put on a election for a slate of county officers and equally important to select a county seat. The date set for the election was May 2, 1864. Janesville and Susanville were the two sites selected for the county seat. On May 12, 1864 the final canvass of the election was held. It was a messy affair, and two precincts Fort Crook (Fall River Mills) and Surprise Valley were ultimately rejected. The minutes were vague: “The board proceeded to estimate the vote . . .Susanville having received the highest number of votes for the county seat, was declared the county seat of Lassen County.” The Quincy Union newspaper reported that Susanville won by 72 votes.
*In 1879 California adopted a new Constitution whereas the county commissioner became county supervisor and the District Court Judge became the Superior Court Judge.