Neuralia, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Neuralia
Former settlement
Neuralia Location in California
Country	United States
State	California
County	Kern County
Elevation	2,395 ft (730 m)

Neuralia was once a small place where people lived in Kern County, California. It's not there anymore! This "former settlement" was located about 12 miles (19 km) northeast of a town called Mojave. It sat high up, at 2,395 feet (730 meters) above sea level. Even though it's gone now, Neuralia could still be found on maps as late as 1947.

Discovering Neuralia's Location

Neuralia was a small community that grew up along the Southern Pacific Railroad. Railroads were super important back then for travel and moving goods across the country. Neuralia was specifically located 12 miles (about 19 kilometers) northeast of Mojave. This area is in Kern County, which is a large county in the southern part of California.

What Does "Former Settlement" Mean?

A "former settlement" is a place where people used to live and build homes or businesses, but for some reason, everyone moved away. Sometimes, this happens because a resource like a mine runs out, or a new road or railroad bypasses the area. In Neuralia's case, it was closely tied to the railroad.

The Story Behind the Name

Neuralia got its name from a simple idea: "new railroad." This makes a lot of sense since the settlement was located right along the Southern Pacific Railroad line. Many towns and small communities in the past grew up around railroads because they were the main way to transport things and travel long distances.

When Did Neuralia Have a Post Office?

For a short time, Neuralia even had its own post office! It was open from 1914 to 1916. A post office is a big deal for a small community because it means people can send and receive mail, which connects them to the rest of the world. The fact that the post office closed after only two years might give us a clue that the settlement didn't last very long.