Valley Wells, California

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Valley Wells
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Valley Wells
Location in California
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Valley Wells
Valley Wells (the United States)
Coordinates: 35°51′25″N117°20′54″W / 35.85694°N 117.34833°W / 35.85694; -117.34833
Country Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
State Flag of California.svg  California
County Inyo County
Area
[1]
  Total10.737 sq mi (27.809 km2)
  Land10.669 sq mi (27.632 km2)
  Water0.068 sq mi (0.177 km2)  0.64%
Elevation
[2]
2,234 ft (681 m)
Population
 (2010)
  Total0
  Density0.0/sq mi (0.0/km2)
Time zone UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
  Summer (DST) UTC-7 (PDT)
GNIS feature ID2408400 [2]
Reference no.443
Paleo wetland deposits at Valley Wells PaleowetlanddepositsatValleyWells.jpg
Paleo wetland deposits at Valley Wells

Valley Wells is a census-designated place in Inyo County, California. [2] Prior to 2010, for census purposes it was part of Homewood Canyon-Valley Wells CDP. The 2010 census reported that population was zero. [3] The town is now registered as California Historical Landmark #443; in 1849, several groups of midwestern emigrants settled here to secure water from nearby Searles Lake. [4] [5]

Contents

The California Historical Landmark reads:

NO. 443 VALLEY WELLS - In this area, several groups of midwestern emigrants who had escaped from hazards and privations in Death Valley in 1849 sought to secure water from Searles Lake. They turned northward and westward in despair when they discovered its salty nature, and with great difficulty crossed the Argus and other mountains to reach settlements of Central and Southern California. [6]

Recreation

Historically, the Valley Wells area was used as for aquatic recreation for the residents of Trona, California. [7]

Valley Wells is the home of the Trona Golf course on Valley Wells Road. [8]

Valley Wells is also the home of the Valley Wells Recreation Area, which is maintained by Searles Lake Gem and Mineral Society, but owned by Searles Valley Minerals, Inc. [9]

See also

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The Potash wars were a series of events that took place from 1910 to 1915 in the Searles Valley near Searles Lake, a dry lake, near the current town of Trona in the San Bernardino County of California. The Potash wars gained national and international news at the time due to the involvement of famous lawman Wyatt Earp and the importance of the valley's supply of potash at the time. Potash is an important crop fertilizer and the Searles Valley was a major supplier in the 1910s.

References

  1. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files - Places - California". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Valley Wells, California
  3. "2010 Census P.L. 94-171 Summary File Data". United States Census Bureau.
  4. "Valley Wells". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved October 7, 2012.
  5. nps.gov The Lost '49ers
  6. californiahistoricallandmarks.com # 443
  7. Launer, Don (January 21, 2013). "Valley Wells in 1950s | Trona on the Web". www.trona-ca.com. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  8. "Trona Golf Course". GolfLink. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  9. "Searles Lake Gem and Mineral Society GEM-O-RAMA Camping at Valley Wells Recreation Area". www1.iwvisp.com. Retrieved October 5, 2022.