More historic than 3% of U.S. towns · #817 of 847 in California State. What drives it
Most of California City was built recently: 0.7% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1994. Below: maps from 1943 on and the census since 1970.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, California City is more historic than 3% of U.S. towns, #817 of 847 in California State. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its age pulls it down.
D−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of California City’s overall grade.
Few California State towns list much on the Register (a typical California State town has 0.0 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so California City’s 0.0 sits below most of its state (31% of California State towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from D− to D. The pre-1940 share (±1.0 points) is firm at this size. Two sources give 1965.
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about California City’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Padre Francisco Garcés, a Franciscan missionary, camped at Castle Butte (what is now California City) during the Juan Bautista de Anza expedition of Alta California (1776).
In the late 19th century, the Twenty-Mule Team Trail, which carried loads of borax to the railhead in Mojave from Harmony Borax Works' mines to the east, ran through the California City area.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of California City. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1943Castle Butte sheet · 1:62,500
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of California City.
People over time
California City, census by census
Grew from 1,309 people in 1970 to 14,973 in 2020, more than tenfold.
6 censuses, 1970–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on California City’s Wikipedia page.
Places that used to be
Old corners and places now gone
Old hamlets and crossroads still carry their names on the map.
Hamlets and corners on the map
Lakeview Mobile Home ParkTrescape
Gone or out of use
Goforth SubstationlocaleMendiburu Ranchlocale
Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
Questions about California City’s history
What year was California City founded?
In 1965, according to Wikidata. the census of 1970 counted 1,309 people here.
How does California City rank for history?
California City is more historic than 3% of U.S. towns, #817 of 847 in California State. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
How old are the homes in California City?
0.7% of California City’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±1.0 points), against a typical 3.4% for a California State town; the median home was built in 1994.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (19), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
2023
2023
2023
2023
2019
2016
2016
2016
2016
2016
2014
2014
2014
2012
2012
2011
2010
2010
2010
