Adelaida, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Adelaida, California
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![]() The restored Adelaida School in 2013
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Country | United States |
State | California |
County | San Luis Obispo |
Elevation | 1,404 ft (428 m) |
Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
Area code(s) | 805 |
GNIS feature ID | 1660231 |

Adelaida (pronounced "Add-uh-LAY-duh") is a small, quiet place in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. It's not a city with its own government, but rather an unincorporated community. This means it's a group of homes and businesses that are part of the larger county. Adelaida is about 10 miles (16 km) west of the town of Paso Robles. It used to have its own post office from 1877 to 1936.
Contents
History of Adelaida
Early Days and Mining Boom
In the 1880s, Adelaida was a busy place. About 500 people lived there. The town grew because of two successful mercury mines, called Klau and Buena Vista. Mercury, also known as quicksilver, is a heavy, silvery liquid metal. It was used for many things back then.
Because of the mines, Adelaida had many important buildings. It had a community center where people could gather. There was also a saloon, a dance hall for fun, and a general store to buy supplies. The community even had four schools for its children.
New Settlers and Changes
In 1898, more people moved to Adelaida. These were Mennonite settlers, a group of people known for their peaceful way of life. This helped the town grow even more.
The Adelaida School, which you can still see today, was built in 1917. It is located near the Osgood Ranch on Chimney Rock Road. A group called the Adelaida Historical Foundation is working to restore this old school building.
What Remains Today
Today, not much is left of the old town of Adelaida. The restored Adelaida School and the Adelaida Road cemetery are the main reminders of its past. Even though the mercury mines continued to operate until the 1970s, most of the businesses had already moved to the nearby town of Paso Robles.
See also
In Spanish: Adelaida (California) para niños