Boron, California
Location in Kern County and the state of California
Coordinates: 35°0′55″N 117°39′39″W / 35.01528, -117.66083
Country	United States
State	California
County	Kern
Government
- N/A
- Senate	Roy Ashburn (R)
- Assembly	Bill Maze (R)
- U. S. Congress	Kevin McCarthy (R)
Area
- Total	13.8 sq mi (35.9 km²)
- Land	13.8 sq mi (35.9 km²)
- Water	0 sq mi (0 km²)
Elevation	2,467 ft (752 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	2,025
- Density	146.7/sq mi (56.4/km²)
Time zone	PST (UTC-8)
- Summer (DST)	PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP codes	93516, 93596
Area code(s)	760
FIPS code	06-07568
GNIS feature ID	1652674

Boron is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kern County, California, United States. The population was 2,025 at the 2000 census. In 1990 the population was 2,904.^[1] Boron is a hinterland community on the western edge of the Mojave Desert. A unique asset of the location is that within a half day drive you can view the highest and lowest points in the contiguous 48 states of the United States (Mount Whitney and Death Valley), the world's oldest living organism (the Bristlecone Pine), and the cities of both Los Angeles and the Las Vegas metropolitan area. Boron is home to Califonia's largest open-pit mine, which is also the largest Borax mine in the world.

Old Town Boron sign

Geography

Boron is located at the border of Kern and San Bernardino Counties along State Route 58 known locally as the Tehachapi Freeway. The coordinates are: 35°0′55″N, 117°39′39″W (35.015177, -117.660799)^[2]. Boron is 65 miles (105 km) north of Palmdale, 85 miles (137 km) east of Bakersfield, and 40 miles (64 km) west of Barstow in the Antelope Valley region of California's Mojave Desert. Its elevation is 2,467 feet (752 m).^[3] According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 13.9 square miles (35.9 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census^[4] of 2000, there were 2,025 people, 801 households, and 535 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 146.2 people per square mile (56.5/km²). There were 1,103 housing units at an average density of 79.6/sq mi (30.7/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 85.04% White, 2.22% Black or African American, 2.86% Native American, 1.58% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 4.74% from other races, and 3.46% from two or more races. 9.04% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 801 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 28.0% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.0 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $40,625, and the median income for a family was $44,674. Males had a median income of $47,045 versus $23,854 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $18,294. About 15.2% of families and 19.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.8% of those under age 18 and 19.4% of those age 65 or over.

History

"Dr. J. K. Suckow was drilling a well for water 4 1/2 miles northwest of Boron when he discovered colemanite, a borax ore, in October, 1913. After his discovery, mining claims, mostly placer, were located in the area. The Pacific Coast Borax Company, upon recommendation of its field engineer, Clarence Rasor, acquired many of these claims, including the discovery well. The company then started explorations to determine the extent of the orebody. Suckow continued to have an interest in the area, working prospects east of his discovery well.

"In 1924, anxious to repeat his good fortune, Suckow sunk a shaft one-half mile away from his first, and he struck basalt at 180 feet (55 m) . The Pacific Coast Borax Company did their own prospecting in the same area, with almost the same results: basalt at 190 feet (58 m). However, persistence paid off. That same year Suckow sunk another shaft just a little south of his last one and found a 70-foot (21 m) thick bed of colemanite at 210 feet (64 m). In 1925 the Suckow Chemical Company produced a few hundred tons of colemanite from this shaft.

"In the Spring of 1925, William M. Dowsing and J. L. Hannan discovered a huge deposit 120 feet (37 m) thick just 1 1/2 miles west of Suckow's shaft, which they kept a secret until its extent was proven. Sold to the Pacific Coast Borax Company in early 1926, it became known as the Baker Mine. Beginning production in 1927, it yielded a substantial percentage of the borates produced in the Kramer District until 1935.

"Production began in December, 1929, at the Suckow Mine, located near the Baker Mine. Suckow Borax Mines Consolidated, Ltd. shared half-interest as tenant in common of the Suckow Mine with Borax Consolidated, Ltd. The two companies became involved in litigation which resulted in the closure of the mine in 1932. It was reopened in 1935 as the West Baker Mine with the Borax Consolidated, Ltd. as owners.^[5]"

Industry

A large Borax deposit was discovered in 1925^[6], and the mining town of Boron was established soon thereafter. This Borax deposit is now the world's largest Borax mine^[7], which is owned by Rio Tinto Minerals (formerly U.S. Borax). This is operated as an open-pit mine, which is the largest open-pit mine in California^{[citation needed]}. This mine supplies nearly half of the world's supply of refined borates^[8]. Rio Tinto Minerals is Boron's primary employer, employing over 800 people^[9].

6 miles (9.7 km) east of Boron, across the county line in San Bernardino County, is the world's largest solar power production facility. ^[10] The Kramer Junction Company (KJC) is the Managing General Partner of the five 30-Megawatts Solar Energy Generating Systems (SEGS) facilities located in the Mojave Desert at Kramer Junction, California. Together with its wholly owned subsidiary, KJC Operating Company, KJC operates and manages these facilities (SEGS III-VII).^[11] These units generate enough electricity to provide the electrical needs of 30,000 to 40,000 homes without the use of fossil fuels.^[12]

Public services

Law enforcement

Law enforcement services are provided by the Kern County Sheriff's Department^[13]. From 1933 to 1954 personnel from the Mojave Substation met the law enforcement need of the Boron area. The first actual office space occupied by the Sheriff's Office in Boron was a Quonset hut shared with the Fire Department in the 12200 block of Boron Avenue. This continued until 1963 when the Sheriff’s Office established the substation building at 26949 Cote Street. This building housed a small jail and the Justice Court in Boron, which operated one day a week^[14].

Fire services

In 1969 the new Boron station 17 opened at 26965 Cote Street. This replaced a Quonset hut which housed the Fire Department in the 12200 block of Boron Avenue until that time. This fire station is operated by the Kern County Fire Department^[15].

Schools

Boron schools are part of the Muroc Joint Unified School District. The local Boron schools include the K – 6 grade West Boron Elementary School, and the 7 – 12th grade Boron High School. Boron High School's Mascot is the Bobcat. Boron's first school, Gephart School^{[citation needed]}, was built in 1929. It burned to the ground in 1994.^[16]

Churches

Boron's original church building, built for the Boron Community Church, is now occupied by the First Baptist Church. Boron currently has 7 churches. They are the Assembly of God Church, the Boron Bible Church, the Church of Christ, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the First Baptist Church of Boron, the Jesus Name Tabernacle United Pentecostal Church, and the St. Joseph's Catholic Church.

Trivia

• Boron is populated primarily by descendants of Oklahomans who came to California during the Great Depression. Despite its location only hours from Los Angeles, many people in Boron speak with an Oklahoman drawl.

• The Space Shuttle Columbia turned over Boron on its way to Edwards Air Force Base in California in 1981

• Boron was the home of "Walking George" Swain, whose penchant for walking made him a legend. George earned his name as "Walking George" because he never owned a car, or home, and walked to and from work — from his home, which was always rumored to be just a hole in the desert. He supposedly kept himself warm at night with a covering of newspapers. His wardrobe was always the same, wrinkled shirt and pants, well-worn boots. He attended local events and often would play the piano for entertainment. He taught piano to children in Boron and played at the Baptist Church. On his 59th birthday in 1978 an article about George came out in the Los Angeles Times. By May 1979 he was featured on the TV show "Real People". He died on April 25, 2000.^[17][18]

• In early 1964 the town's greatest tragedy struck when two Boron High School cheerleaders, along with the school's assistant principal and his wife, were killed in a tragic automobile accident returning from a basketball game at Trona, California. The automobile struck the rear end of an ore train parked on a railroad siding along Searles Station Road. There was only one survivor, a third cheerleader sitting in the middle of the back seat, Jennifer Vogel. The memorial service was held at the areas largest venue of its time, the Gephart School Gymnasium, which along with the school itself, is no longer standing.

Media

The movie Erin Brockovich (2000), starring Julia Roberts, and various other movies have been filmed in the town and often use citizens as extras.^[19]

• Movies/shows using locations in and around Boron^[20]

• Erin Brockovich (2000)
• Gentleman Don La Mancha (2004)^[21]
• Gridiron Gang (1993) (TV)
• Neon Signs (1996)^[22]
• Spotlight on Location: Erin Brockovich (2000)^[23] (TV)
• ...aka Making of 'Erin Brockovich', The (2000) (TV)
• Zombie Hunter (2005)
• The Carpetbaggers (1964)^[24]

External links

• Boron Chamber of Commerce
• Muroc Joint Unified School District
• West Boron Elementary School
• Boron High School
• Twenty Mule Team Museum
• Colonel Vernon P. Saxon Jr. Aerospace Museum
• Borax Visitors Center

References

• Boron, California is at coordinates 35°00′55″N 117°39′39″W / 35.015177, -117.660799 (Boron, California)Coordinates: 35°00′55″N 117°39′39″W / 35.015177, -117.660799 (Boron, California)

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