Swansea, California

Encyclopedia : S : SW : SWA : Swansea, California

Swansea, in Inyo County, California, USA is a perfect example of a North American ghost town: there is approximately one building. The tourist information office in nearby Lone Pine, California tells travellers to head down the road for exactly nine miles and then stop, for that is Swansea, and the sign is easy to miss.

There is little to see. The population, as of 1998 was four: a rancher and his wife, their dog, and a Mustang.

Swansea grew up as a rich silver mining town and was the point of the ferry across the now dry Owens River. Miners would cart their bullion to the shoreline and use the silver bricks to make a temporary hut, in which they would sleep while waiting for the ferry.

Swansea was named after the mining town Swansea in south Wales from which many experienced miners emigrated to the USA.

Sources

Interview with the 1998 population.

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