The Gianella Bridge was a swing bridge that brought CA 32 across the Sacramento River at Hamilton City, California, between Glenn County and Butte County. It was built in 1908–1911 by Cotton Brothers & Co., Contractors.[2] Also known as Sacramento River Bridge at Hamilton City, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.[1] The bridge was documented by the Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) in 1984. It was demolished in 1987 but remains NRHP-listed.
While a bridge was desired by both counties, there was disagreement about the location. Glenn County favored the Hamilton City location to support Hamilton, in Glenn County, and the sugar beet industry; Butte County favored a location closer to Chico, in Butte County. The deadlock was broken by influence of Swiss-born Vincenzo Gianella, a Butte County large landowner and sugar beet farmer.[2][3]
It was replaced by a concrete highway bridge and was removed in 1987.[3]
Nonetheless, the swing bridge remains listed on the NRHP as of 2013.[1]
