Nelson (formerly, Nelson Station) is an unincorporated community in Butte County, California. It lies 6.5 miles (10.5 km) south-southeast of Durham, at an elevation of 121 feet (37 m). Nelson's first post office was established in 1873; its zip code is 95958. The place was founded in 1873 by the California and Oregon Railroad Company and named for an early settler, A.D. Nelson.