Reefer City, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Reefer City
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 Reefer City
Location in California
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Kern County |
| Named for | Refrigerated train cars |
| Elevation | 2,762 ft (842 m) |
Reefer City is a ghost town in Kern County, California. A ghost town is a place where people used to live and work, but now it's mostly empty.
Reefer City was located about 3.25 miles (5.2 km) south of Mojave. It sat high up at 2,762 feet (842 meters) above sea level. This town even appeared on maps until 1947.
The Story of Reefer City
How It Began
Reefer City started in June 1936. A company called Consolidated Gold Fields of South Africa found a lot of gold on Soledad Mountain, near Mojave. They needed a place for the miners to live.
Instead of building new houses, the company bought old refrigerator cars from the Southern Pacific Railroad. These cars were like big, insulated train cars used to keep things cold. People often called them "reefers." The miners lived inside these converted train cars, which is how the town got its unique name, Reefer City!
Life After Gold
The gold mine eventually closed down in 1942. But Reefer City didn't become a ghost town right away. Instead, it found a new purpose.
From 1942 until the 1960s, the community became home to military people. These were individuals who worked at nearby Edwards Air Force Base.
The End of Reefer City
In 1971, a company bought Reefer City. They took apart and removed everything that was left. This means the unique town made of train cars was completely gone.
