Ballarat, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ballarat
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Ballarat, California
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 Ballarat
Location in California
Ballarat
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Inyo County |
| Elevation | 1,079 ft (329 m) |
| ZIP code |
93592
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| Area codes | 442/760 |
| FIPS code | 06-03680 |
| GNIS feature ID | 252847 |
Ballarat is a small, mostly empty place in Inyo County, California. It is often called a ghost town today. It was started in 1897 to help supply nearby mines. The town got its name from Ballarat, Victoria, in Australia. This name was suggested by an immigrant named George Riggins. A reliable water source, Post Office Springs, is located nearby and has been used since the 1850s.
Contents
Exploring Ballarat's Past
How Ballarat Began
The town of Ballarat was founded in 1897. At its busiest, from 1897 to 1905, about 400 to 500 people lived there. Ballarat had many businesses to serve the miners. These included seven places to eat and drink, three hotels, and a Wells Fargo station. It also had a post office, which opened in 1897, a school, a jail, and a morgue. However, there were no churches in the town. Ballarat was a key spot for miners and prospectors to get supplies and relax.
Why Ballarat Became a Ghost Town
Ballarat began to decline when the Ratcliff Mine, located east of town, stopped working. Other nearby mines also started to run out of valuable minerals. In 1917, the post office closed down. After that, only a few determined prospectors and desert residents remained in Ballarat.
Ballarat in Pop Culture
In the 1960s, a group known as the "Manson Family" stayed at a ranch south of Ballarat. They left some graffiti in the town. Ballarat also appeared in the 1969 movie Easy Rider. In one scene, the character Wyatt, played by Peter Fonda, throws away his watch after arriving in Ballarat. Then, he and Billy, played by Dennis Hopper, ride their motorcycles east.
In 1971, a large gathering took place in Ballarat during Easter weekend. About two thousand people attended this event. Unfortunately, some people became sick due to unclean drinking water.
Ballarat in Books
Ballarat has been featured in Western fiction books. These include Hellbound for Ballarat (1970) by Nelson C. Nye. Another book is Bounty Hunt at Ballarat (1973) by Clayton Matthews.
