Lumpkin, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lumpkin
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 Lumpkin
Location in California
Lumpkin
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Butte County |
| Elevation | 3,586 ft (1,093 m) |
Lumpkin was once a small community nestled in the mountains of Butte County, California. Today, it is known as a ghost town, meaning it was a place where people once lived and worked, but now it is mostly deserted. Lumpkin was an important spot because of its large lumber mill, which helped build many things in the late 1800s.
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What Was Lumpkin?
Lumpkin was mainly a lumber mill town. This means its main purpose was to cut down trees and turn them into wood for building. In the late 1880s, the mill in Lumpkin was very busy. It could produce about 3.5 million board feet of lumber every year. A "board foot" is a way to measure wood, like how we measure milk in gallons or liters. This was a huge amount of wood for its time!
Life in a Lumber Town
Life in a lumber town like Lumpkin would have been tough but exciting. People moved there to find work at the mill. They lived in houses built near the mill, and the sound of saws and falling trees would have been common. The town likely had a few basic stores and services to support the workers and their families.
Where Was Lumpkin Located?
Lumpkin was found in the beautiful, hilly area of Butte County, California. It was about 6 miles (or 10 kilometers) north-northwest of another small community called Clipper Mills. The town was quite high up, sitting at an elevation of 3,586 feet (which is about 1,093 meters) above sea level. This high location was perfect for accessing the forests nearby.
The Feather River Railway
The town was also located along the Feather River Railway. Railways were super important back then for moving goods. The Feather River Railway would have been used to transport the huge amounts of lumber produced at Lumpkin's mill to other towns and cities where it was needed. This made Lumpkin a key part of the lumber industry in California.
The Post Office at Lumpkin
A sign that Lumpkin was a real, active community was its very own post office. The post office opened in 1886 and stayed open until 1919. A post office is where people send and receive letters and packages. Having one meant that Lumpkin was connected to the outside world and had enough residents to need such a service.
Why Did Lumpkin Become a Ghost Town?
Many lumber towns eventually become ghost towns. This often happens when the main reason for the town's existence disappears. For Lumpkin, it's likely that the surrounding forests were eventually cut down, or the demand for lumber changed. Once the mill no longer had enough trees to cut or enough business, people would move away to find work elsewhere. This left Lumpkin quiet and empty, turning it into the ghost town we know today.
