Marysville is the county seat of Yuba County, CA. Marysville is located at the confluence of two rivers that drain the watersheds containing the most productive gold mining region in Northern California. As the depot for the Northern mines, it became an essential early center of commerce. Marysville grew into one of the largest cities in California’s first decade of existence before all the gold was mined.

Marysville is named after a woman who was a survivor of the famous Donner Party, which lost half of the people to starvation in the Sierra Nevada during the winter of 1846–47.

Ellis Lake, which is enclosed by sidewalks and greenery offers a pleasant walk, picnic areas, and fishing, and is the centerpiece of Marysville. Until 1924, Ellis Lake was a swamp. In 1924 the Women’s Improvement Club of Marysville appointed John McLaren, famed designer of the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, to turn the swamp into a “beautiful lake”. The project was completed in 1939 and it was recently renovated. In October 2007, the water fountain and lighting display were renovated and upgraded. The lights feature 37 colors and are viewable year-round from 8 pm to midnight.

The Bok Kai Temple was erected in 1854, and rebuilt in 1880, by Chinese residents for the worship of their gods. The most significant god worshiped there is Bok Eye, the god of water. Bok Eye has the power to control the rains. The temple remains a famous focus of the present Marysville Chinese community, who have devoted themselves to safeguarding it. It is open on request for tours and visitors.

Marysville annually celebrates the Chinese New Year and the god Bok Eye with a festival. The Bok Kai parade has been produced each year since 1880 and is claimed to be the oldest continuing parade in California. The date of the parade is different each year because the festival is celebrated according to the Chinese lunar calendar. Marching bands, antique cars, floats, fire trucks, and dance groups walk the streets of historic downtown. Over 15,000 spectators each year come to watch the parade’s greatest asset, a dragon 175-foot (53 m) long.