Shake City, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shake City
|
|
|---|---|
Shake City on a 1912 map of American mining districts
|
|
 Shake City
Location in California
Shake City
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Mendocino County |
| Elevation | 528 ft (161 m) |
Shake City is an old name for a place in Mendocino County, California. It's located about 6.25 miles (10.06 km) west-northwest of Willits. The area is 528 feet (161 m) above sea level. Even though it's on maps, it's not a city with a government. It's known as an "unincorporated community."
Contents
What Was Shake City?
Shake City was once a busy place, mainly focused on logging. Logging means cutting down trees for wood. The area was important for its redwood trees. It was connected by the California Western Railroad.
Early Logging Days
Around 1916, a special type of logging camp was near Shake City. This was called a "bark camp." In these camps, workers would remove the bark from trees. This bark was used for different products.
The Great Depression Era
During the 1930s, a tough time called the Great Depression hit. Many people were looking for work. Shake City's logging camp offered some jobs. This brought many people to the area.
Life in Shake City
Life in Shake City revolved around the timber industry. It was a place where people worked hard. They harvested wood and processed it.
The Shake City Loggers
For a few years in the mid-1930s, Shake City had its own baseball team. They were called the Shake City Loggers. They played against other teams in Mendocino County. This shows that the community had a strong spirit.
Big Trees and Railroads
The area around Shake City was home to giant redwood trees. A famous professor named Emanuel Fritz took a picture of a huge redwood stump. This tree was 17 feet (5.2 m) across! In 1937, Shake City also had a place that made railroad ties. These are the wooden beams that support train tracks. In 1941, a railroad bridge (called a trestle) at Shake City burned. But it was quickly fixed so trains could keep running.
Later Years and Legacy
By 1960, Shake City was still on maps. However, its history was becoming a mystery to people. A newspaper writer from Petaluma wondered about its past. In 1967, a company called Union Lumber Company still owned timberland near Shake City. Today, Shake City remains a historical name. It reminds us of California's logging past.
