Potholes, California facts for kids

Potholes was once a small town in Imperial County, California. It was a place where people came to search for gold. This settlement was located near the Colorado River, about 4 miles (6.4 km) northeast of Bard. It was also close to the Laguna Dam.

A Place for Gold

People first found gold at Potholes a long time ago. Some believe that Spanish miners were already digging for gold here in 1781. However, knowledge about these gold spots was lost after a conflict where many miners died.

In early 1859, more gold was discovered. This gold was found in the river, about fifteen miles above Fort Yuma. People continued to search for gold in the area throughout the late 1800s.

Trying to Find More Gold

Around 1900, people tried a new method to find gold. They used a special machine called a dredge to dig in the Colorado River. This attempt to find more gold was not successful. Most of the gold pieces were too tiny for the machine to catch.

The Town of Potholes

The town of Potholes grew when the Laguna Dam and the All American Canal were being built. A post office served the people living in Potholes. It was open from 1905 to 1909, and again from 1920 to 1922. The town's cemetery was located about a mile south, along the west bank of the river.