California, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
California
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 California
Location in West Virginia
California
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Wirt |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
26180
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California is a fascinating ghost town located in northern Wirt County, West Virginia. A ghost town is a place that was once a busy community but is now mostly empty. California sits along the Hughes River, near West Virginia Route 47. This route was once known as the Parkersburg and Staunton Turnpike. You can find California about half a mile south of the Ritchie County line.
Discovering California, West Virginia
California became important because of something special underground. Here, oil naturally seeped up to the Earth's surface. This was common in the area. This natural oil helped create nearby towns like Petroleum and Burning Springs.
Oil: A Sticky Start
People were collecting oil from the California area very early. They used it as a commercial lubricant, which is like a slippery oil for machines. This was happening as far back as the 1820s.
The first oil well in California was dug in 1859. It was drilled by Charles Shattuck and T. T. Jones. This happened around the same time as a famous well drilled by Edwin Drake in Pennsylvania. Drake's well is often called the first commercial oil well. Because of this, there's been some debate about which well was actually drilled earlier. Drake started drilling a few months before, but he didn't find oil until August 28, 1859.
The Oil Boom Fades
After the Civil War, new oil fields were discovered. These new fields produced much more oil. Because of this, smaller wells like those in California, Petroleum, and Burning Springs were slowly abandoned.
By 1924, California still had a few houses and some oil wells. But over time, even more wells closed down. Today, you can visit a historical display along Route 47. It includes a replica oil derrick, which is a tall structure used for drilling oil. This display helps us remember California's important past in the oil industry.
