Havilah, California
Encyclopedia
Havilah is an unincorporated community
in Kern County
, California
. It is located 4 miles (6.4 km) south-southeast of Miracle Hot Springs
, at an elevation of 3136 feet (956 m).
Havilah is located in the mountains along Caliente-Bodfish Road between the Walker Basin
and Bodfish
. The place name comes from the Biblical story describing Havilah
as a place where there is gold.
The area is bordered to the east and west by Sequoia National Forest
lands and is located at the junction of Havilah Canyon and Haight Canyon. Elevations at the floor of the canyon range from approximately 3050 feet (929.6 m) AMSL to 3400 feet (1,036.3 m). Havilah Canyon runs roughly north-south and mountain peaks to the east and west are over 1000 feet (304.8 m) higher than the roadway, which runs along the floor of Havilah Canyon. King Solomons Ridge lies to the east; Hobo Ridge lies to the west. Snow may be present during winter months.
The ZIP Code is 93518, and the community is inside area code 661
.
European settlement of this forested area began about 1864 when Asbury Harpending
settled here. Gold deposits had been discovered in the area. Havilah was the county seat at the founding of Kern County in 1866. It remained so until 1872 when county government was moved to Bakersfield.
Several circa 1860s buildings still stand today. A courthouse (c1868), cemetery, and school are present. Foundations, and signs marking locations of other historic buildings, line both sides of Caliente-Bodfish Road.
The first Kern County newspaper was the Havilah Courier which began publication in 1866.
Nearby historic mining communities include Loraine, (originally named Paris) and Twin Pines.
A post office operated at Havilah from 1866 to 1918.
and Caliente-Bodfish Road. It is just over 5 driving miles from Bodfish on Caliente-Bodfish Road. There is a local tradition among drivers on Caliente-Bodfish Road: every driver waves at the driver of every other passing vehicle.
A US Forest Service service center is situated along Caliente-Bodfish Road at 35°30′38"N 118°31′06"W.
US Geological Survey plots several mines nearby. Names of local mines include:
and Loraine
. The community is within the Kern County Air Pollution Control District.
The community falls within the Battalion 7 area of the Kern County Fire Department. It is listed by the California Fire Alliance as being at high risk to wildfire.
Commercial electric power is supplied by Southern California Edison
.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Kern County
Kern County, California
Spreading across the southern end of the California Central Valley, Kern County is the fifth-largest county by population in California. Its economy is heavily linked to agriculture and to petroleum extraction, and there is a strong aviation and space presence. Politically, it has generally...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It is located 4 miles (6.4 km) south-southeast of Miracle Hot Springs
Miracle Hot Springs, California
Miracle Hot Springs is an unincorporated community in Kern County, California...
, at an elevation of 3136 feet (956 m).
Havilah is located in the mountains along Caliente-Bodfish Road between the Walker Basin
Walker Basin, California
Walker Basin, California, is an isolated community between Havilah and Fig Orchard near Sequoia National Forest, Breckenridge Mountain, Centennial Ridge , and Paiute Mountain .-References:...
and Bodfish
Bodfish, California
Bodfish is a census-designated place in Kern County, California, United States. Bodfish is located east-northeast of Bakersfield, at an elevation of 2687 feet...
. The place name comes from the Biblical story describing Havilah
Havilah
Havilah is in several books of the Bible referring to both land and people.The story of the Garden of Eden in Genesis 2:11: "And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads...
as a place where there is gold.
The area is bordered to the east and west by Sequoia National Forest
Sequoia National Forest
Sequoia National Forest is located in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains of California. The U.S. National Forest is named for the majestic Giant Sequoia trees which populate 38 distinct groves within the boundaries of the forest....
lands and is located at the junction of Havilah Canyon and Haight Canyon. Elevations at the floor of the canyon range from approximately 3050 feet (929.6 m) AMSL to 3400 feet (1,036.3 m). Havilah Canyon runs roughly north-south and mountain peaks to the east and west are over 1000 feet (304.8 m) higher than the roadway, which runs along the floor of Havilah Canyon. King Solomons Ridge lies to the east; Hobo Ridge lies to the west. Snow may be present during winter months.
The ZIP Code is 93518, and the community is inside area code 661
Area code 661
North American area code 661 covers the majority of California's Kern County, as well as part of Los Angeles County, Santa Barbara County, and Tulare County...
.
Early
Asbury Harpending
Asbury Harpending , an adventurer and financier in California, Mexico and New York City.Born in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, at the age of fifteen he was sent to college but within the year he ran away to join the filibuster of General William Walker, to Nicaragua but his party was intercepted by...
settled here. Gold deposits had been discovered in the area. Havilah was the county seat at the founding of Kern County in 1866. It remained so until 1872 when county government was moved to Bakersfield.
Several circa 1860s buildings still stand today. A courthouse (c1868), cemetery, and school are present. Foundations, and signs marking locations of other historic buildings, line both sides of Caliente-Bodfish Road.
The first Kern County newspaper was the Havilah Courier which began publication in 1866.
Nearby historic mining communities include Loraine, (originally named Paris) and Twin Pines.
A post office operated at Havilah from 1866 to 1918.
Today
Accessible by car, Havilah is just over 20 miles (32.2 km) driving distance from the intersection of State Route 58California State Route 58
State Route 58 is an east-west highway across the California Coast Ranges, the southern San Joaquin Valley, the Tehachapi Mountains, which border the southern Sierra Nevada, and the Mojave Desert. It runs between its western terminus near Santa Margarita and its eastern terminus at Barstow...
and Caliente-Bodfish Road. It is just over 5 driving miles from Bodfish on Caliente-Bodfish Road. There is a local tradition among drivers on Caliente-Bodfish Road: every driver waves at the driver of every other passing vehicle.
A US Forest Service service center is situated along Caliente-Bodfish Road at 35°30′38"N 118°31′06"W.
US Geological Survey plots several mines nearby. Names of local mines include:
- Southern Cross Mine
- Friday Mine
- Uncle Sam Mine
- McKeadney Mine
Districts, zones, boundaries, and services
Havilah shares its postal ZIP Code, 93518, with the nearby communities of CalienteCaliente, California
Caliente is an unincorporated community in Kern County, California. It is located east-southeast of Bakersfield, at an elevation of 1312 feet ....
and Loraine
Loraine, California
Loraine is an unincorporated community in Kern County, California. It is located on the east bank of the mouth of Indian Creek where it enters Caliente Creek, 12 miles north of Tehachapi, at an elevation of 2671 feet .The Paris post office opened in 1903, changed its name to Loraine in 1912,...
. The community is within the Kern County Air Pollution Control District.
The community falls within the Battalion 7 area of the Kern County Fire Department. It is listed by the California Fire Alliance as being at high risk to wildfire.
Commercial electric power is supplied by Southern California Edison
Southern California Edison
Southern California Edison , the largest subsidiary of Edison International , is the primary electricity supply company for much of Southern California, USA. It provides 14 million people with electricity...
.