Coloma

Coloma is a toponym used for several settlements, most notably in the United States. The name is associated with communities in different states and has been used since the 19th century as settlers named places after local features or origins.

Coloma, California, is an unincorporated community in El Dorado County along the American River. It is best known for the discovery of gold in 1848 by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill nearby, an event that helped spark the California Gold Rush. Today the area preserves its historic character with sites such as the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, which interprets the gold discovery and early settlement of the region. The town maintains a historic downtown and serves as a gateway to outdoor recreation in the surrounding foothills and river landscapes.

Coloma, Michigan, is a village located in Coloma Township, Berrien County, in southwestern Michigan near the shore of Lake Michigan. It is a small, rural community with agricultural activity and local services typical of Midwest village life, and it lies within a region known for rural landscapes and proximity to the lake.

Beyond these, Coloma is the name of smaller communities in other regions, reflecting its use as a place name in areas influenced by Spanish or regional settler history. The exact origin of the name varies by locality and is not uniformly documented.