New Idria, California

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1 History
2 Nearby areas
3 See also
4 Notes
5 External links

New Idria is an unincorporated town in San Benito County, California. It is named after a now-inoperative quicksilver (cinnabar) mine of the same name. The mine itself was named in honor of the world's second largest quicksilver mine in Idrija, Slovenia (Slovenian pronunciation [ĭdria]; California pronunciation [īdria] [1]). The town grew to support the mining operations.

According to the US Geological Survey, Idria (primary) and New Idria (variant) are both official names recognized for federal use in describing this community. Located in San Benito County, a feature ID Number of 1660786 has been assigned. The community is defined by the US Geological Survey as a populated place at 2,440 feet AMSL elevation. NAD27 latitude and longitude are listed at 36°25′1″ N 120°40′24″ W (36.416944444444, -120.67333333333) on the "Idria, California" 7.5-minute quadrangle (map).^[1] The US Census Bureau flags the area with a "rural" indicator. Commercial road maps often identify the community as New Idria.

The US Postal Service agrees with the use of New Idria as name and includes the community in ZIP Code 95043. The code is shared with several other nearby communities.^[2]

[edit] History

The New Idria Mining Company was formed soon after the discovery of cinnabar (quicksilver ore) in southern Diablo Range of central California in 1854. The town of New Idria began around 1857 and about 300 men were employed at the mine by 1861. The first school opened in 1867 and the New Idria Post Office opened in 1867. In 1894, the New Idria Post Office dropped the word "New" and the town become known as Idria. The New Idria Quicksilver Mining Company closed 1974 and the town has since become a ghost town.

New Idria is a California Historical Landmark (#324) and home of the world’s first Gould Rotary Furnace. The Gould Rotary Furnace revolutionized ore processing technology worldwide.

[edit] Nearby areas

The area is inside Area code 831. It is included in the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District and the Panoche Elementary School District.^[3] San Benito Mountain, elevation 5,241 feet, is located 3.6 miles southeast. The nearest city is King City along US101.

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

^ "National Geographic Names Database," US Geological Survey, 1995.
^ ZIP Code information was derived from year 2000 US Census data.
^ Area Code and school information was derived from US Department of Education files.