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Ben Hur, California facts for kids

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Ben Hur
Ben Hur is located in California
Ben Hur
Ben Hur
Location in California
Ben Hur is located in the United States
Ben Hur
Ben Hur
Location in the United States
Country United States
State California
County Mariposa County
Elevation
1,752 ft (534 m)

Ben Hur is a small, quiet place in Mariposa County, California. It's known as an unincorporated community, which means it's a settlement that isn't part of an official city or town. Instead, it's governed by the county. Ben Hur is located about 9 miles (14 kilometers) south of Mariposa. It sits at an elevation of 1,752 feet (534 meters) above sea level.

History of Ben Hur

Ben Hur started out as a large cattle ranch in 1859. A man named Morgan Quick established it. He called his new ranch the "Rancheria Place."

The Quick Family Ranch

The Quick family owned and operated this ranch for a very long time. Six generations of the Quick family lived and worked on the land. This shows how important the ranch was to their family history.

The Ben Hur Post Office

A post office is a place where people can send and receive mail. Ben Hur had its own post office for many years.

Post Office Operations

The first post office in Ben Hur opened in 1890 and stayed open until 1902. After a short break, it reopened in 1904. This second post office served the community for a long time, finally closing its doors in 1951.

How Ben Hur Got Its Name

The name "Ben Hur" might sound familiar to you. It comes from a very famous novel.

From Book to Community

The community was named after the main character in the popular novel Ben-Hur. This book was written by Lew Wallace and first published in 1880. It tells an exciting story set in ancient times.

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