Murphys is known for a number of different reasons, one of which is the town where the Mexican bandit, Joaquin Murieta, got his start. Murphys is plural because the town was founded by brothers, Daniel and John. It is said Joaquin Murieta and his brother were arrested for a robbery they did not commit. At the time, they were no more than other Mexican residents in Murphys. They were tied to a tree, a group of miners dragged Joaquin's wife into the street and gang raped her in front of the brothers. The brother was hanged. Joaquin was flogged within an inch of his life and told to get out of town. Supposedly, this was the start of his career as a notorious bandit. The tale may be just that, but Joaquin would not be the first Mexican to be persecuted by American miners. Much of the original camp was consumed by fire in 1859, but much of that which was rebuilt can be seen today. Murphys is east of highway 49 out of Altaville. Submitted by Henry Chenowith.

Northeast of Angel's Camp is Murphy's, easily one of the best-preserved towns on the Lode. Named for the founding brothers, Daniel and John Murphy, this out–of-the-way camp thrived first as a placer mining center and later as the gateway to the Calaveras Grove of Sequoia Giant trees. In the Murphy's Hotel built in 1856, one may still see in copies of old register books the signatures of Mark Twain, Henry Ward Beecher, Ulysses S. Grant, and Black Bart.