Ogilby, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ogilby, California
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 Ogilby, California
Location in California
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Imperial County |
| Founded | 1877 |
| Elevation | 364 ft (111 m) |
| Area codes | 442/760 |
| FIPS code | 06-53420 |
| GNIS feature ID | 252950 |
Ogilby (once called Oglesby) is a ghost town in Imperial County, California, United States. A ghost town is a place that used to be a busy community but is now mostly empty.
Ogilby is located about 42 miles (68 km) east of El Centro. It sits along the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks. You can find it about 3.8 miles (6.1 km) north of Interstate 8 on County Road S34. The town is about 364 feet (111 m) above sea level.
History of Ogilby
Ogilby was started in 1877 as a stop for the Southern Pacific railroad. It was an important place for trains to refuel and get supplies. The town helped support nearby mining communities like Glamis, Hedges, and Tumco.
The town had a post office that opened and closed a few times. It was called Oglesby for a short time in 1880. Then, the Ogilby post office operated from 1890 to 1895, and again from 1898 to 1942. The town was named after E.R. Ogilby, who helped promote mines in the area.
Some parts of the second Old Plank Road were put together in Ogilby. This road was very important for travel across the desert. By 1961, the town was completely abandoned, becoming the ghost town it is today.
What's Near Ogilby?
Ogilby is located along the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. These tracks are just east of the famous Algodones Dunes. The Algodones Dunes are large sand dunes that are popular for off-road vehicles.
To the southeast of Ogilby, you can find the Ogilby Hills. These hills have peaks that reach between 600–800-foot (180–240 m) above sea level. There is also a Catholic cemetery located south and west of the railroad line.
The closest big city to Ogilby is Yuma, Arizona. Yuma is about 25 miles (40 km) away by car. The international border with Mexico is also quite close, about 9 miles (14 km) to the south. The state line for Arizona is about 7 miles (11 km) to the southeast.
Communication Information
Ogilby does not have its own ZIP code. The area uses the area code 760 for phone numbers.
