Calico, California
Encyclopedia
Calico is a ghost town
and former mining town
in San Bernardino County
, California
, United States
. Located in the Calico Mountains of the Mojave Desert
region of Southern California
, it was founded in 1881 as a silver
mining
town, and today has been converted into a county park
. Located off Interstate 15
, it lies 3 miles (4.8 km) from Barstow
. Giant letters spelling CALICO can be seen on the Calico Peaks
behind the ghost town from the freeway. Walter Knott purchased Calico in 1950s architecturally restoring all but the five original buildings to look as they did in 1880s. Calico received State Historical Landmark 782 and in 2005 was proclaimed by then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to be California's Silver Rush Ghost Town.
In 1881 four prospectors were leaving Grapevine Station (present day Barstow, California
) for a mountain peak to the northeast. Describing the peak as "calico-colored", the peak
, the mountain range to which it belonged, and the town that followed were all called Calico. The four prospectors discovered silver
in the mountain, and opened the Silver King Mine, which was California's largest silver producer in the mid-1880s. A Post Office was established in early 1882, and the Calico Print
, a weekly newspaper, started publishing. The town soon supported three hotels, five general stores, a meat market, bars, brothels, and three restaurants and boarding houses. The county established a school district and a voting precinct. The town also had a deputy sheriff and two constables, two lawyers and a justice of the peace
, five commissioners, and two doctors. There was also a Wells Fargo
office and a telephone and telegraph service. At its height of silver production during 1883 and 1885, Calico had over 500 mines and a population of 1,200 people.
The discovery of Colemanite
borate
in the Calico mountains a few years after the settlement of the town also helped Calico's fortunes, and in 1890 the estimated population of the town was 3,500, with citizens from China, England, Cornwall, Ireland, Greece, France and the Netherlands, as well as American living there. In the same year, the Silver Purchase Act
was enacted, and it drove down the price of silver. By 1896, its value had decreased to $0.57 per troy ounce
, and Calico's silver mines were no longer economically viable. The post office was discontinued in 1898, and the school closed not long after. By the turn of the century, Calico was all but a ghost town
, and with the end of borax
mining in the region in 1907 the town was completely abandoned. Many of the original buildings were moved to Barstow, Daggett
and Yermo
.
An attempt to revive the town was made in about 1915, when a cyanide plant was built to recover silver from the unprocessed Silver King Mine's deposits. Walter Knott
and his wife Cynthia, founders of Knott's Berry Farm
, were homestead
ed at Newberry Springs
around this time, and Knott helped built the redwood cyanide tanks for the plant. In 1951, Knott purchased the town and began restoring it to its original condition referencing old photographs. In 1966, Knott donated the town to San Bernardino County, and Calico became a County Regional Park.
Calico has beem restored to the silver rush
era, although many original buildings have been removed and replaced instead with flamboyant Victorian architecture
and false facades that tourists expect to see in a Western
-themed town; however, there are still some structures dating back to the town's operational years: Lil's Saloon; the town office; the former home of Lucy Lane, which is now the main museum but was originally the town's post office and courthouse; Smitty's Gallery; the general store; and Joe's Saloon. There is also a replica of the schoolhouse on the site of the original building.
In November 1962, Calico Ghost Town was registered as a California Historical Landmark
(Landmark #782), In 2002, Calico vied with Bodie
in Mono County
to be recognized as the Official State Ghost Town. In 2005, a compromised was finally reached when the State Senate and State Assembly agreed to list Bodie as the Official State Gold Rush Ghost Town and Calico the Official State Silver Rush Ghost Town.
Today, the park operates mine tours, gunfight stunt shows, gold panning
, a restaurant
, the Calico and Odessa Railroad
and a number of general merchandise stores. It is open daily, and requires an entrance fee.
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
and former mining town
Mining town
A mining community, also known as a mining town or a mining camp, is a community that houses miners. Mining communities are usually created around a mine or a quarry for the extraction or smeltering of ore.-United States:...
in San Bernardino County
San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,035,210, up from 1,709,434 as of the 2000 census...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Located in the Calico Mountains of the Mojave Desert
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
region of Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
, it was founded in 1881 as a silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
town, and today has been converted into a county park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
. Located off Interstate 15
Interstate 15 in California
In the U.S. state of California, Interstate 15 is a major north–south route through the San Bernardino, Riverside, and San Diego Counties, and it has a length of in the state. It is a major thoroughfare for traffic between Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada, as well as points beyond...
, it lies 3 miles (4.8 km) from Barstow
Barstow, California
Barstow is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The population was 22,639 at the 2010 census, up from 21,119 at the 2000 census. Barstow is located north of San Bernardino....
. Giant letters spelling CALICO can be seen on the Calico Peaks
Calico Peaks
The Calico Peaks are geologically and historically colorful mountains in the Calico Mountains Range in the Mojave Desert of San Bernardino County and Inyo County, California...
behind the ghost town from the freeway. Walter Knott purchased Calico in 1950s architecturally restoring all but the five original buildings to look as they did in 1880s. Calico received State Historical Landmark 782 and in 2005 was proclaimed by then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to be California's Silver Rush Ghost Town.
History
Barstow, California
Barstow is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The population was 22,639 at the 2010 census, up from 21,119 at the 2000 census. Barstow is located north of San Bernardino....
) for a mountain peak to the northeast. Describing the peak as "calico-colored", the peak
Calico Peaks
The Calico Peaks are geologically and historically colorful mountains in the Calico Mountains Range in the Mojave Desert of San Bernardino County and Inyo County, California...
, the mountain range to which it belonged, and the town that followed were all called Calico. The four prospectors discovered silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
in the mountain, and opened the Silver King Mine, which was California's largest silver producer in the mid-1880s. A Post Office was established in early 1882, and the Calico Print
Calico Print
The Calico Print was a newspaper, established in 1882 and published during the heyday of the silver mining camp of Calico, California prior to 1902...
, a weekly newspaper, started publishing. The town soon supported three hotels, five general stores, a meat market, bars, brothels, and three restaurants and boarding houses. The county established a school district and a voting precinct. The town also had a deputy sheriff and two constables, two lawyers and a justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
, five commissioners, and two doctors. There was also a Wells Fargo
History of Wells Fargo
This article outlines the history of Wells Fargo & Company from its origins to its merger with Norwest and beyond. The new company chose to retain the name of "Wells Fargo" and so this article also includes the history after the merger.-Origins:...
office and a telephone and telegraph service. At its height of silver production during 1883 and 1885, Calico had over 500 mines and a population of 1,200 people.
The discovery of Colemanite
Colemanite
Colemanite is a borate mineral found in evaporite deposits of alkaline lacustrine environments. Colemanite is a secondary mineral that forms by alteration of borax and ulexite....
borate
Borate
Borates are chemical compounds which contain oxoanions of boron in oxidation state +3. The simplest borate ion, BO33−, has a trigonal planar structure. Other borates are made up of trigonal BO3 or tetrahedral BO4 structural units, sharing oxygen atoms...
in the Calico mountains a few years after the settlement of the town also helped Calico's fortunes, and in 1890 the estimated population of the town was 3,500, with citizens from China, England, Cornwall, Ireland, Greece, France and the Netherlands, as well as American living there. In the same year, the Silver Purchase Act
Silver purchase act
The Silver Purchase Act may refer to one of two federal laws of the United States:* The Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890* The American Silver Purchase Act of 1934...
was enacted, and it drove down the price of silver. By 1896, its value had decreased to $0.57 per troy ounce
Troy ounce
The troy ounce is a unit of imperial measure. In the present day it is most commonly used to gauge the weight of precious metals. One troy ounce is nowadays defined as exactly 0.0311034768 kg = 31.1034768 g. There are approximately 32.1507466 troy oz in 1 kg...
, and Calico's silver mines were no longer economically viable. The post office was discontinued in 1898, and the school closed not long after. By the turn of the century, Calico was all but a ghost town
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
, and with the end of borax
Borax
Borax, also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate, is an important boron compound, a mineral, and a salt of boric acid. It is usually a white powder consisting of soft colorless crystals that dissolve easily in water.Borax has a wide variety of uses...
mining in the region in 1907 the town was completely abandoned. Many of the original buildings were moved to Barstow, Daggett
Daggett, California
Daggett is an unincorporated town located in San Bernardino County, California in the United States. The town is located on Interstate 40 ten miles East of Barstow. The town has a population of about 200. The ZIP code is 92327 and the community is inside area code 760.-History:The town was...
and Yermo
Yermo, California
Yermo is a town in San Bernardino County, California. Its name is derived from the Spanish word for wilderness. It is located 13 miles east of Barstow in the Mojave Desert on Interstate 15, just south of the Calico Mountains...
.
An attempt to revive the town was made in about 1915, when a cyanide plant was built to recover silver from the unprocessed Silver King Mine's deposits. Walter Knott
Walter Knott
Walter Marvin Knott was an American farmer who created the Knott's Berry Farm amusement park in California....
and his wife Cynthia, founders of Knott's Berry Farm
Knott's Berry Farm
Knott's Berry Farm is a theme park in Buena Park, California, now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, and a line of jams, jellies, preserves, and other specialty food, now part of The J. M. Smucker Company based in Placentia, California....
, were homestead
Homestead
-Property-related:*Homestead , a single building, or collection of buildings grouped together on a large agricultural holding*Homestead , a cluster of several single-family houses in southern Africa...
ed at Newberry Springs
Newberry Springs, California
Newberry Springs is an unincorporated area in the western Mojave Desert of Southern California, located at the foot of the Newberry Mountains in San Bernardino County, California, USA...
around this time, and Knott helped built the redwood cyanide tanks for the plant. In 1951, Knott purchased the town and began restoring it to its original condition referencing old photographs. In 1966, Knott donated the town to San Bernardino County, and Calico became a County Regional Park.
Calico has beem restored to the silver rush
Silver rush
A Silver rush is the silver-mining equivalent of a gold rush.Notable silver rushes have taken place in Mexico, Argentina, the United States , and Canada...
era, although many original buildings have been removed and replaced instead with flamboyant Victorian architecture
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
and false facades that tourists expect to see in a Western
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
-themed town; however, there are still some structures dating back to the town's operational years: Lil's Saloon; the town office; the former home of Lucy Lane, which is now the main museum but was originally the town's post office and courthouse; Smitty's Gallery; the general store; and Joe's Saloon. There is also a replica of the schoolhouse on the site of the original building.
In November 1962, Calico Ghost Town was registered as a California Historical Landmark
California Historical Landmark
California Historical Landmarks are buildings, structures, sites, or places in the state of California that have been determined to have statewide historical significance by meeting at least one of the criteria listed below:...
(Landmark #782), In 2002, Calico vied with Bodie
Bodie, California
Bodie is a ghost town in the Bodie Hills east of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Mono County, California, United States, about 75 miles southeast of Lake Tahoe. It is located east-southeast of Bridgeport, at an elevation of 8379 feet . As Bodie Historic District, the U.S. Department of the...
in Mono County
Mono County, California
Mono County is a county located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of California, to the east of the Sierra Nevada between Yosemite National Park and Nevada. As of the 2010 census, the population was 14,202, up from 12,853 at the 2000 census...
to be recognized as the Official State Ghost Town. In 2005, a compromised was finally reached when the State Senate and State Assembly agreed to list Bodie as the Official State Gold Rush Ghost Town and Calico the Official State Silver Rush Ghost Town.
Today, the park operates mine tours, gunfight stunt shows, gold panning
Gold panning
Gold panning, or simply panning, is a form of placer mining that extracts gold from a placer deposit using a pan. The process is one of the simplest ways to extract gold, and is popular with geology enthusiasts because of its cheap cost and the relatively simple and easy process involved. It is the...
, a restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
, the Calico and Odessa Railroad
Calico and Odessa Railroad
The Calico & Odessa Railroad is a heritage railroad in the ghost town of Calico, California, headquartered in Yermo, California.Calico itself is an old mining town turned living-history museum. Actual building and railroad equipment were taken from Calico to the Knott's Berry Farm.-External links:**...
and a number of general merchandise stores. It is open daily, and requires an entrance fee.
In popular culture
- The town was the basis for the Kenny Rogers and the First EditionThe First EditionThe First Edition was a country music/rock band. Its stalwart members being Kenny Rogers , Mickey Jones and Terry Williams...
album The Ballad of CalicoThe Ballad of CalicoThe Ballad of Calico was the eighth studio album by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition and released as Reprise Records 6476. It reached #118 on the albums chart and produced one single, "School Teacher" which reach #91. The album was released in 1972. The album is a country-rock concept album about...
. - On their 2009 album Gutter AnthemsGutter AnthemsGutter Anthems is the 7th studio album for Enter the Haggis. It is the fourth album on their current label, , and was produced by the band and Tim Abraham.The album was recorded in Toronto at Metalworks & The Hive studios....
Celtic Fusion band Enter the HaggisEnter the HaggisEnter the Haggis is a Canadian Indie/Celtic/Folk Rock world-fusion band based in Toronto, Canada. Commonly called ETH, the band has been playing and recording since 1996. Their latest studio album, "Whitelake" is the band's ninth album....
has a song about the ghost town called "Ghosts of Calico." - Children's author Susan LendrothSusan LendrothSusan Lendroth is a children's author who writes picture books, often set in the past. She is represented by agent Abigail Samoun at Red Fox Literary.-Bibliography:...
wrote a picture book, "Calico Dorsey, Mail Dog of the Mining Camps," based on the true story of a dog that carried mail between Calico and East Calico in 1885. - Filming location for the final scenes of "The Prowler" (1951), starring Van Heflin and Evelyn Keyes.
- GorillazGorillazGorillaz is an English musical project created in 1998 by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. This project consists of Gorillaz music itself and an extensive fictional universe depicting a "virtual band" of cartoon characters...
shot the music video for StyloStyloStylo plc is a UK based PLC engaged in footwear retailing based in Bradford. It operates under more than 1 brand including Barratts, Priceless and Shutopia and supplies shoes to Dorothy Perkins...
in Calico. - Mentioned in "Swansea", a song by Joanna NewsomJoanna NewsomJoanna Newsom is an American harpist, pianist and singer-songwriter from Nevada City, California.- Early life :Newsom grew up in the small town of Nevada City, California...
.
See also
- Ghost Town at Knott's Berry Farm
- Calico Early Man SiteCalico Early Man SiteThe Calico Early Man Site is a series of stone tool workshop and quarry sites located near Barstow in San Bernardino County in the central Mojave Desert of southern California...