Schwaub, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Schwaub
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Former settlement
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 Schwaub
Location in California
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Inyo County |
| Elevation | 3,389 ft (1,033 m) |
Schwaub (also spelled Schwab) was once a small settlement in Inyo County, California. It was located in the Funeral Mountains, which are part of the famous Death Valley. Today, Schwaub is mostly a "ghost town," meaning most people have left, and only ruins remain. It is about 12 miles (19 km) north of a place called Ryan.
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Schwaub: A California Ghost Town
The Gold Rush Story
In 1905, people discovered gold nearby, which led to the creation of Schwaub. Like many towns in the American West, it grew quickly because of the excitement of finding valuable minerals. The town was named after Charles M. Schwab, a very important businessman at the time.
Life in the Mining Town
Schwaub was a busy place for a short time. It had several places where people could gather, a blacksmith shop for fixing tools, a boarding house for people to stay, and a general store where you could buy supplies. The town even had its own post office, which opened and closed in the same year, 1907. This shows how quickly things could change in these mining towns.
However, the town's story took an interesting turn. Three women became very influential in Schwaub. They encouraged changes that led to many of the town's men leaving. This shift caused the town to slowly decline.
What Remains Today
Even though most people left, some parts of Schwaub still stand. The Stray Horse mine, where many of the town's workers used to dig for gold, can still be seen. You can also find several old buildings and items like cans and broken glass, which are like clues to the past. These remains help us imagine what life was like in this short-lived gold mining town.
