Tuolumne County is inviting artists, designers, and community members to participate in a community design competition to create both a new official County seal and logo. The selected designs will become the County's permanent visual identity, representing Tuolumne County's history, values, natural beauty, and future.

The County is seeking designs that are meaningful, timeless, and easily recognizable that reflect the unique character of Tuolumne County and its residents. The competition is intended to encourage community participation and provide an opportunity for residents to help shape the County's official identity for generations to come.

Background

The Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors recently celebrated two significant milestones, the County's 175th Anniversary and the Nation's 250th Anniversary, with commemorative logos that highlight the County's history and community pride. The Board now wants to create an opportunity to develop a new permanent County seal and logo that better reflect Tuolumne County today while honoring its rich history and heritage.

The County's existing seal has served the community for many years but contains numerous detailed elements that can be difficult to reproduce across modern print and digital applications. Additionally, the Board believes the current seal no longer fully represents the diversity of Tuolumne County's landscapes, people, cultures, industries, and values. The goal is not simply to modernize the County's visual identity, but to create a meaningful and enduring symbol that more accurately reflects the County as it exists today, while still honoring the history and traditions that have shaped it.

The County's existing logo is a simple graphic that primarily reflects one aspect of the County's history—its Gold Rush heritage. While gold mining remains an important part of Tuolumne County's story, the existing logo does not fully capture the County's broader identity or the many characteristics that define the community today, nor does it complement the County's official seal.

Through this community design competition, the Board of Supervisors is inviting residents and designers to submit original concepts for consideration as Tuolumne County's new official seal and logo. The selected designs will serve as the County's permanent visual identity and represent Tuolumne County for generations to come.

Timeline

Community Design Competition Release Date: August 3, 2026

Submission Deadline: August 30, 2026, 11:00pm

Online or mailed/delivered to County Administrator's Office, 2 S. Green Street, 4th Floor, Sonora CA 95370

Tentative Selection Date by the Board of Supervisors: September 22nd, 2026