Havilah, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Havilah, California
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 Havilah, California
Location in California
Havilah, California
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Kern County |
| Elevation | 3,136 ft (956 m) |
| Reference #: | 100 |
Havilah is a historic unincorporated community tucked in the mountains of Kern County, California. It sits high up between Walker Basin and the rugged Kern River Valley. The community is located about 5 miles south-southwest of Bodfish at an elevation of 3,136 feet. It started out long ago as a bustling mountain town built by treasure seekers.
Contents
- Finding Shiny Gold on Clear Creek
- Growing Fast into a Wild Mining Town
- Havilah Becomes the Very First County Seat
- Building the County's First Public School
- Big Government Moves to Bakersfield
- Exploring the Historic Mines Hidden in the Hills
- Surviving Wildfires in the High Mountains
- Forest Canyons, High Ridges, and Modern Services
- See also
Finding Shiny Gold on Clear Creek
In 1864, a man named Asbury Harpending traveled into this rugged mountain valley with other adventurers. They discovered rich gold deposits on Clear Creek, which flows directly toward the mighty Kern River.
The gold seekers decided to build a town along the dusty wagon trail connecting Keyesville to Tehachapi. They picked the name Havilah from an ancient story in Genesis that describes a faraway land of gold.
Growing Fast into a Wild Mining Town
By the end of 1865, the settlement became an exciting boom town packed with miners working the Clear Creek Mining District. Nearly one thousand people lived there, hoping to strike it rich with valuable metals.
Builders put up 147 busy business buildings to provide supplies, tools, food, and clothes for all the hard-working miners. The new mountain town bustled with horses, freight wagons, and noisy crowds every single day.
Havilah Becomes the Very First County Seat
On April 2, 1866, leaders officially created a brand new region called Kern County. The leaders chose Havilah to be the very first capital city of the whole county.
That same year, a local print shop founded the county's first newspaper, which was called the Havilah Courier. A busy local post office also opened its doors to deliver mail across the state.
Building the County's First Public School
Education was important to the families living in the mountain mining camp. In 1866, citizens established the Havilah School District to teach neighborhood boys and girls their daily lessons.
This historic one-room schoolhouse was the very first public school ever built in the county. Children gathered together in one small classroom to learn reading, writing, and basic arithmetic.
Big Government Moves to Bakersfield
Havilah stayed an active mining center for more than twenty years, but valley farming soon grew popular. In 1874, leaders moved the official government headquarters from the mountains down into the flat valley city of Bakersfield.
Even though it lost county government offices, Havilah kept its local post office running until 1918. Miners also explored nearby settlements, including Loraine (originally called Paris) and Twin Oaks.
Exploring the Historic Mines Hidden in the Hills
Scientists from the US Geological Survey later mapped out several old tunnels and dig sites all around the hills. Miners dug deep shafts into the stone to search for valuable minerals hidden beneath the surface.
- Southern Cross Mine
- Friday Mine
- Uncle Sam Mine
- McKeadney Mine
Surviving Wildfires in the High Mountains
Most original wooden cabins from the gold rush burned during major forest blazes in the 1920s. Aside from the historic Old Havilah Cemetery, builders had to construct replicas of the old courthouse and schoolhouse.
In July 2024, the dangerous Borel Fire swept through the canyon and burned down the courthouse replica. Brave firefighters worked hard to protect the historic 1868 one-room schoolhouse and save it from the flames. The building is now used as a temporary Havilah Museum.
Forest Canyons, High Ridges, and Modern Services
Today, lands of the massive Sequoia National Forest surround the small community on both the east and west sides. Havilah sits where Havilah Canyon meets Haight Canyon, flanked by tall peaks like King Solomons Ridge and Hobo Ridge.
The community gets its electricity from Southern California Edison and shares its 93518 mail code with Caliente. Havilah is protected by the Kern County Fire Department and honored as California Historical Landmark #100.
See also
