Gavilan Plateau facts for kids
Gavilan Plateau is a flat, high area of land, also known as a plateau, located in Riverside County, California. It sits about 2,083 feet (635 meters) above sea level. This plateau is on the northern side of the Temescal Mountains. From here, you can look down over the Cajalco Valley, which is south of the city of Riverside, California.
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A Look Back: Gold Mining History
The Gavilan Plateau and nearby Gavilan Hills became a busy place for gold mining. This started not long after the famous California Gold Rush began in the mid-1850s. Many people hoped to find their fortune here.
Early Miners and Camps
- Spanish-Speaking Miners: A lot of the first miners were Spanish-speaking individuals. They set up many small mining claims and camps.
- Important Families: Families like the Trujillos and Robidoux, who came from the New Mexican settlement of Agua Mansa, were very involved in the mining here.
- Rancho de los Trujillos: One of the main mining camps was even named Rancho de los Trujillos. It was often mentioned in the official mining records from those years.
Mining Settlements Grow
Over time, a small mining town grew on the Gavilan Plateau. It was mainly home to Spanish-speaking miners and was called Gavilan. Later, in the 1880s, some English-speaking miners started calling the area Cedar Flat.
In 1891, a group led by M. C. Westbrook planned to build a new town at the mines, which they called Westbrook. Soon after, the Gavilan Mining and Milling Company bought the area. For ten years, the old town and its mines were known as the Gavilan Mine. You can even see it marked on old maps from 1898!
Mining Districts Form
Before Riverside County was officially created in 1893, the mining areas were organized into special districts:
- Gavilan Mining District: This district covered the mines on the Gavilan Plateau and the northwestern part of the Gavilan Hills. It was part of the older San Bernardino County.
- Pinacate Mining District: This district was in the central and southern Gavilan Hills. It belonged to the older San Diego County. These districts helped organize the mining activities and claims in the region.
