Lano, California facts for kids

Lano was once a small community in Imperial County, California. It was located close to another place called Wister. Today, Lano is considered a "former settlement," which means it's no longer an active town or village where people live.

What is a Former Settlement?

A former settlement is a place that used to be a town, village, or community but is now empty or has very few people left. These places are sometimes called "ghost towns." They might have old buildings, roads, or other signs that people once lived there.

Why Do Settlements Disappear?

Settlements can become former settlements for many different reasons. Often, it's because the things that made people want to live there in the first place are no longer available.

Changes in Resources

Many early settlements grew up around natural resources like mines, forests, or water sources. If a mine ran out of gold or silver, or if the water supply dried up, people would often move away. This was common in desert areas like Imperial County.

New Transportation Routes

Sometimes, new roads or railroads were built that bypassed a town. If a town depended on travelers or trade, it might shrink and disappear when people started using different routes.

Economic Shifts

Changes in how people made a living could also cause a settlement to fade. For example, if farming became too difficult or if a major industry closed down, people would leave to find work elsewhere.

Imperial County, California

Lano was located in Imperial County, California. This area is in the southeastern part of California, near the border with Arizona and Mexico.

A Desert Environment

Imperial County is mostly a desert region. It gets very hot in the summer, and there is not much natural rainfall. Despite the dry conditions, some parts of the county are used for farming, thanks to irrigation systems that bring water from the Colorado River.

Early History of Settlements

Many settlements in Imperial County, like Lano, were established during times when people were exploring and developing the American West. Some were built for mining, others for agriculture, or as stops along early travel routes. Over time, as conditions changed, some of these smaller communities became former settlements.

Lano's Location

Lano was situated in Imperial County, not far from Wister. While Lano no longer exists as an active community, its history is part of the story of how California grew and changed over the years.