Cima, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cima
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Cima, California
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 Cima
Location in California
Cima
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | San Bernardino Mojave National Preserve southeast-Mojave Desert |
| Founded | 1906 |
| Elevation | 4,175 ft (1,273 m) |
| Population
(2000)
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| • Total | 21 |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP codes |
92323
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| Area code(s) | 760 |
Cima is a tiny community in the Mojave Desert in California. Its name means "Summit" in Spanish. It's located high up in a mountain pass, about 4,175 feet (1,273 meters) above sea level. This area is surrounded by mountains like the Ivanpah Mountains and New York Mountains.
Near Cima, you can find the Cima volcanic field. This area has a cool landmark called Cima Dome, which is 5,745 feet (1,751 meters) tall. Cima is also famous for having one of the thickest forests of Joshua Trees in California.
Contents
History of Cima
Early Days and the First Store
The first store in Cima was opened in 1900 by Herbert Graham Gibson. In 1905, the first post office for the area was set up inside this very store. Interestingly, Gibson made customers pump their own gas. This might have been the first self-service gas station in the whole country!
Railroad and Modern Times
Cima became an important spot for the railroad. It was a place where trains could stop. It also served as a business center for local ranchers and miners. Today, not many people live in Cima. It's often thought of as a ghost town, much like its neighbor, Kelso.
Even though it's quiet, the Union Pacific train line is still very active here. The Cima Grade, a steep part of the railway, is between Kelso and Cima. The tracks climb about 2,000 feet (610 meters) over 20 miles (32 kilometers). Both Cima and Kelso are inside the Mojave National Preserve, which means tourists often visit the area.
Climate and Weather in Cima
Temperatures and Rainfall
Cima has a desert climate. In July, the average high temperature is about 93°F (34°C). The average low in July is 67°F (19°C). In January, it's much cooler. The average high is 51°F (11°C), and the average low is 29°F (-2°C).
The hottest temperature ever recorded in Cima was 110°F (43°C) in 1967. The coldest was -2°F (-19°C) in 1972. Cima doesn't get much rain. On average, it receives less than 10 inches (254 millimeters) of rain each year.
Postal Services
Cima used to have its own post office with the ZIP code 92323. The area also had the area code 760. The post office closed in 2011, but the 92323 ZIP code is still used. In the year 2000, only 21 people lived in the area covered by this ZIP code.
