California has a rich history, and many of its old mining and farming towns have been abandoned over the years. Here are ten of the most well-known ghost towns in California:
- Bodie: Located in the Mono County, Bodie is a well-preserved ghost town that was once a thriving gold-mining community.
- Calico: Located in the Mojave Desert, Calico was a silver-mining town that has been preserved as a State Historic Park.
- Ballarat: Located in Death Valley National Park, Ballarat was a boomtown during the gold rush, but is now a ghost town.
- Cerro Gordo: Located in Inyo County, Cerro Gordo was a thriving silver-mining town, but is now a ghost town.
- Drawbridge: Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, Drawbridge was a bustling town in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but is now a ghost town.
- Jimtown: Located in Sonoma County, Jimtown was a gold-mining town that has been preserved as a historical site.
- Lang: Located in the San Joaquin Valley, Lang was a farming town that was abandoned in the 1920s.
- Randsburg: Located in Kern County, Randsburg was a gold-mining town that is now a popular tourist destination.
- Rhyolite: Located in Nye County, Nevada, Rhyolite was a boomtown during the gold rush, but is now a ghost town.
- Sulphur Bank Mine: Located in Lake County, Sulphur Bank Mine was a mercury-mining town that was abandoned in the early 20th century.
These ghost towns offer a glimpse into California’s rich history, and are a popular destination for history buffs and tourists alike.