Crucero, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Crucero
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 Crucero
Location in California
Crucero
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | San Bernardino |
| Elevation | 1,020 ft (311 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP codes |
92309
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| Area codes | 442/760 |
| FIPS code | 06-38058 |
| GNIS feature ID | 252878 |
Crucero, California is a fascinating ghost town located in San Bernardino County, California. A ghost town is a place where people used to live and work, but now it's mostly empty. Crucero's name comes from the Spanish word for "Crossroads." This name makes a lot of sense because it was once a busy spot where two important railroad lines met.
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What Was Crucero?
Crucero was a small settlement in the Mojave Desert region of California. It was not a large city, but a vital point for the railroads. Its purpose was to serve as a junction for trains.
Why Was Crucero Important?
Crucero was special because it was located exactly where two major railroad lines crossed paths. These lines were the Union Pacific Railroad and the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad. Imagine two busy highways meeting in the desert; that's what Crucero was like for trains.
The Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad was a very important line. It was originally known as the Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad. This line helped connect places like Los Angeles in California to Salt Lake City in Utah. It was crucial for moving goods and people across the western United States.
The Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad
The other railroad that met at Crucero was the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad, often called the T&T. This railroad was built to transport minerals, especially borax, from mines in the desert to larger rail lines. It played a big role in the mining history of the region.
How Did Crucero Get Its Name?
The settlement was not always called Crucero. It was first known as Epsom. In 1910, its name was changed to Crucero. This new name, meaning "Crossroads" in Spanish, perfectly described its location at the junction of the two railroads.
The Post Office at Crucero
Even though it was a small place, Crucero had its own post office. This shows that people lived and worked there, and they needed a way to send and receive mail. The post office operated for two different periods:
- From 1911 to 1917
- From 1922 to 1943
Why Did Crucero Become a Ghost Town?
Crucero's fate was closely tied to the railroads. When the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad was no longer used, the main reason for Crucero's existence disappeared. Without the busy train traffic and the need for a junction, people started to leave. Eventually, the settlement was completely abandoned, turning it into the ghost town we know today.
