Havilah, California
| Havilah | |
|---|---|
| Unincorporated community | |
|
The c. 1868 courthouse was restored in 1976 and serves as a museum today. The museum is open weekends April through September. | |
  Havilah Location in California | |
| Coordinates: 35°31′04″N 118°31′07″W / 35.51778°N 118.51861°WCoordinates: 35°31′04″N 118°31′07″W / 35.51778°N 118.51861°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Kern County |
| Elevation[1] | 3,136 ft (956 m) |
| Reference no. | 100 |
Havilah is an unincorporated community in Kern County, California.[1] It is located 4 miles (6.4 km) south-southeast of Miracle Hot Springs,[2] at an elevation of 3136 feet (956 m).[1]
Havilah is located in the mountains along Caliente-Bodfish Road between the Walker Basin and Bodfish.[3] The place name comes from the Biblical story describing Havilah as a place where there is gold.[4]
The area is bordered to the east and west by Sequoia National Forest lands and is located at the junction of Havilah Canyon and Haight Canyon. Elevations at the floor of the canyon range from approximately 3,050 feet (930 m) AMSL to 3,400 feet (1,000 m). Havilah Canyon runs roughly north-south and mountain peaks to the east and west are over 1,000 feet (300 m) higher than the roadway, which runs along the floor of Havilah Canyon. King Solomons Ridge lies to the east; Hobo Ridge lies to the west.[3] Snow may be present during winter months.
The ZIP Code is 93518, and the community is inside area code 661.
History
Early
European settlement of this forested area began about 1864 when Asbury Harpending settled here.[5] Gold deposits had been discovered in the area. Havilah was the county seat at the founding of Kern County in 1866. It remained so until 1872 when county government was moved to Bakersfield.[6]
Several c. 1860s buildings still stand today. A courthouse (c. 1868), cemetery, and school are present. Foundations, and signs marking locations of other historic buildings, line both sides of Caliente-Bodfish Road.
The first Kern County newspaper was the Havilah Courier which began publication in 1866.[7]
Nearby historic mining communities include Loraine, (originally named Paris) and Twin Oaks.[8]
A post office operated at Havilah from 1866 to 1918.[2]
The town is now registered as California Historical Landmark #100.[9]
Today
Accessible by car, Havilah is just over 20 miles (32 km) driving distance from the intersection of State Route 58 and Caliente-Bodfish Road. It is just over 5 driving miles from Bodfish on Caliente-Bodfish Road. There is a local tradition among drivers on Caliente-Bodfish Road: every driver waves at the driver of every other passing vehicle.
A US Forest Service service center is situated along Caliente-Bodfish Road at 35°30′38″N 118°31′06″W / 35.51056°N 118.51833°W.[3]
US Geological Survey plots several mines nearby. Names of local mines include:[3]
- Southern Cross Mine
- Friday Mine
- Uncle Sam Mine
- McKeadney Mine
Districts, zones, boundaries, and services
Havilah shares its postal ZIP Code, 93518, with the nearby communities of Caliente and Loraine.[10] The community is within the Kern County Air Pollution Control District.[11]
The community falls within the Battalion 7 area of the Kern County Fire Department. It is listed by the California Fire Alliance as being at high risk to wildfire.[12]
Commercial electric power is supplied by Southern California Edison.[13]
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Havilah, California. |
- 1 2 3 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Havilah, California
- 1 2 Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, Calif.: Word Dancer Press. p. 1045. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
- 1 2 3 4 Map: Miracle Hot Springs, California, 7.5-minute quadrangle, US Geological Survey, 1989.
- ↑ Hoover, Mildred Brooke et al., "Kern County," Historic Spots in California, Fourth Edition, (Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1990) pp. 127 ISBN 0-8047-1734-6 or Gudde, Erwin G, California Place Names: The Origin and Etymology of Current Geographic Names, 4th ed.(Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1998) pp. 161. ISBN 0-520-21316-5
- ↑ Founder's name from Gudde, Erwin G, California Place Names: The Origin and Etymology of Current Geographic Names, 4th ed.(Los Angeles, University of California Press, 1998) pp. 161.
- ↑ "Havilah: Historic Landmark #279," State of California, Department of Parks and Recreation, Office of Historic Preservation, 2007. This information is duplicated on at least one other state web site and in the National Register for Historic Places.
- ↑ Cook, Fred S., "Little Town of Havilah,"Historic Legends of the Kern River Valley, (Volcano, California: California Traveler, Inc., 1975) pp.18.
- ↑ Hoover, Mildred Brooke et al., "Kern County," Historic Spots in California, Fourth Edition, (Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1990) pp. 127.
- ↑ "Havilah". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
- ↑ Based on 2000 US Census Bureau data and verified by checking the US Postal Service web site.
- ↑ Based on ZIP Code data made available by the California Air Resources Board. One other reference says it's in the "San Joaquin Valley APCD."
- ↑ Kern County Fire Department, Wildland Fire Management Plan, 2004.
- ↑ Information based on California Public Utilities Commission regulatory filings.
