New Idria, California
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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 (Slovene pronunciation [ĭdrija]; 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 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 community is inside area code 831.
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]
The town is currently an abandoned ghost town with more than 100 standing buildings, though vandalism has contributed to to their deterioration over the past several years. The county road passes through the center of town and provides public access to BLM land to the south.
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[edit] History
The community was established to support the mine, which mainly extracted mercury, since cinnabar was abundant in the local rock formations. The history of mercury mining at the location begins in 1854. At one time, the New Idria mines were America's second most productive mines, with the New Almaden mines in the vicinity of San Jose, about 50 miles northwest, being the first.
The discovery of mercury ore at New Idria came soon after the discovery of gold in the Sierra foothills, which began the California gold rush. At that time, mercury used to be a key component in extracting gold from gold ore. Before New Idria and New Almaden, the mercury came almost exclusively from Europe.
The New Idria Mining Company was formed soon after the discovery of cinnabar (quicksilver ore) in the 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 in 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.
The New Idria Mining District is known for its abundance of rare minerals such as Benitoite, named after San Benito River. Gem quality Benitoite is only found in this area of the world.
[edit] Politics
In the state legislature New Idria is located in the 12th Senate District, represented by Republican Jeff Denham, and in the 28th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Anna M. Caballero. Federally, New Idria is located in California's 17th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of D +17[3] and is represented by Democrat Sam Farr.
[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.[4] San Benito Mountain, elevation 5,241 feet, is located 3.6 miles southeast. The nearest city is King City along US101.
[edit] Environmental concerns in the area
The New Idria Mercury Mine was listed in the 1990s by the EPA, but has since been delisted after a preliminary assessment completed in 1998, and a site reassessment which was carried out in 2003.[5] Some elevated levels of mercury were found downstream of the town, but the site is no longer on the EPA's National Priorities List. The region has a long history of mining, with asbestos and chromium being mined in addition to mercury; the EPA's 2004 Risk Assessment for the nearby Clear Creek Management Area identified 86 separate abandoned mines in the vicinity.[6]
[edit] Location
New Idria is isolated, but not difficult to reach. Its location is on New Idria road, 35 km from Panoche road. The last half kilometre of the road is paved, although in very bad condition.
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ "National Geographic Names Database," US Geological Survey, 1995.
- ^ ZIP Code information was derived from year 2000 US Census data.
- ^ Will Gerrymandered Districts Stem the Wave of Voter Unrest?. Campaign Legal Center Blog. Retrieved on 2007-10-20.
- ^ Area Code and school information was derived from US Department of Education files.
- ^ New Idria superfund status at U.S. EPA
- ^ US EPA Atlas Asbestos Mine Fact Sheet, 2004
[edit] External links
- New Idria Historical Preservation Project website.
- New Idria, California is at coordinates Coordinates:
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