Rovana, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rovana
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 Rovana
Location in California
Rovana
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Inyo County |
| Elevation | 5,141 ft (1,567 m) |
Rovana is a small place in Inyo County, California. It is called an "unincorporated community" because it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Instead, it is managed by the county.
Rovana is found on the western side of the Owens Valley. It is about 5.5 miles (8.9 km) north-northeast of a mountain called Mount Tom. The area is quite high up, at 5,141 feet (1,567 meters) above sea level.
Contents
History of Rovana: How It Started
Rovana was created in 1947. A company called US Vanadium bought land near Pine Creek Canyon. They wanted to build homes for the people who worked at their Pine Creek Mine. This mine was very important during World War II because it produced a metal called tungsten, which was needed for the war effort.
Building Homes for Mine Workers
By 1951, Rovana had 85 houses, and later, 50 more were added. Many of these houses were moved from higher up in the canyon. The old housing areas were not safe because of heavy snow, avalanches, earthquakes, and mudslides. Moving the homes to Rovana made them much safer for the workers and their families.
What Does the Name "Rovana" Mean?
The name "Rovana" comes from two parts. "Ro" stands for Round Valley, which is a nearby area. "Vana" comes from US Vanadium, the company that built the community. The streets in Rovana were even named after states in the United States. These state names matched the letters in "Vanadium," like Nevada, Utah, and Montana.
Another Mining Town: Scheelite
There was another company town for the Pine Creek Mine called Scheelite. It was located closer to the mine itself.
Climate in Rovana: What's the Weather Like?
Rovana has warm, but not extremely hot, and dry summers. The average monthly temperature never goes above 71.6°F (22°C). According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Rovana has a "warm-summer Mediterranean climate." This type of climate is often called "Csb" on climate maps. It means the area has mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers.
