Carbon, California facts for kids

Carbon was once a small community located in Mendocino County, California. It was situated along the Middle Fork of the Eel River, about 6 miles (10 km) from a town called Covelo.

What Was Carbon?

Carbon was not a large city or even a big town. It was a "settlement," which means it was a small place where people lived and worked. It was founded in the 1890s, a time when many new communities were popping up across California.

A Town Built on Coal

The name "Carbon" gives a big clue about why this settlement existed! Carbon is a main element found in coal. Carbon was created as a coal mining camp. This means people moved there specifically to dig for coal, a type of rock that can be burned for energy.

Life in a coal mining camp was often tough. Miners worked hard, and the camps were usually simple, with basic homes and facilities. People came to places like Carbon hoping to find work and make a living from the valuable resources in the ground.

Where Was Carbon Located?

Carbon was in Mendocino County, which is in the northern part of California. The Eel River, where Carbon was located, is an important river in this area. It flows through forests and mountains, eventually reaching the Pacific Ocean. Being near a river was important for early settlements, providing water and sometimes a way to transport goods.

Why Did Carbon Disappear?

Many mining camps and small settlements like Carbon eventually became "former settlements." This often happened when the valuable resource, like coal, ran out or became too difficult to mine. When the mining stopped, people moved away to find work elsewhere, and the settlement slowly faded away. Today, Carbon is no longer an active community, but its history reminds us of California's past and the importance of mining in its development.