LAKE COUNTY – On Wednesday, Lake County will mark the 148th year since its formation.

Local historian Donna J Howard reported that Lake County was formerly known as the Hot Springs sector of Napa County.

According to the “History of Napa and Lake County 1881,” Lake County was formed on May 20, 1861, by adding some land in the northwest from Mendocino County and some from the northeast of Colusa County.

The act organizing the county of Lake was approved by the Governor of California.

After the county government was organized, Lakeport was chosen as the county seat and a courthouse was erected, according to the 1881 history.

Lake County will celebrate its sesquicentennial – the 150th anniversary of its formation – in 2011.