Swansea, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Swansea
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Community
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Site of the smelter in Swansea
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 Swansea
Location in California
Swansea
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Inyo County |
| Elevation | 3,661 ft (1,116 m) |
Swansea is a ghost town in Inyo County, California. It's a place that used to be a busy community. You can find it about 8.5 miles (13.7 km) south of New York Butte. It sits at an elevation of 3,661 feet (1,116 m) above sea level.
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What Was Swansea?
Swansea was a town that grew very quickly, often called a "boomtown." It was located on the eastern shore of Owens Lake. The town started because of successful silver mining nearby.
A Busy Mining Town
In the late 1860s, silver was found in the Cerro Gordo Mines. Swansea became a very important place for melting the silver ore. After melting, the silver was shaped into bars. These bars were then sent over 200 miles (320 km) to Los Angeles. The silver melting factory, called a smelter, worked from 1869 to 1874.
How Swansea Got Its Name
Swansea was named after a town in south Wales, also called Swansea. The Welsh town was famous for its large metal-melting industry. Many experts in melting metals moved from Wales to the United States. They brought their skills to places like Swansea, California.
The End of Swansea
Swansea faced two big challenges that led to its end.
The Big Earthquake
In 1872, a strong earthquake hit the area. It was called the 1872 Lone Pine earthquake. This earthquake damaged the smelters in Swansea. It also lifted the land near Owens Lake. This meant that the steamships on the lake could no longer reach Swansea's pier. Because of this, most of the silver melting and shipping business moved. It went to Keeler, a town about one mile (1.6 km) south.
The Mudslide
In the summer of 1874, a huge thunderstorm caused a big mudslide. Water, rocks, and sand buried Swansea under several feet. By this time, most people had already left the town. The mudslide was the final event that marked the end of Swansea.
Swansea Today
Today, Swansea is a true ghost town. As of 2007, only one building and the foundation of the old smelter remained. You can see them along California Route 136. This is about 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Lone Pine.
