| Havilah | |
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| — Unincorporated community — | |
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Havilah
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Kern County |
| Elevation[1] | 3,136 ft (956 m) |
Havilah is an unincorporated community in Kern County, California.[1] It is located 4 miles (6.4 km) south-southeast of Miracle Hot Springs,[2] at an elevation of 3136 feet (956 m).[1]
Havilah is located in the mountains along Caliente-Bodfish Road between the Walker Basin and Bodfish. [3] The place name comes from the Biblical story describing Havilah as a place where there is gold. [4]
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 3,050 feet (930 m) AMSL to 3,400 feet (1,000 m). Havilah Canyon runs roughly north-south and mountain peaks to the east and west are over 1,000 feet (300 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. [3] Snow may be present during winter months.
The ZIP Code is 93518, and the community is inside area code 661.
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European settlement of this forested area began about 1864 when Asbury Harpending settled here. [5] 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. [6]
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.[7]
Nearby historic mining communities include Loraine, (originally named Paris) and Twin Pines. [8]
A post office operated at Havilah from 1866 to 1918.[2]
Accessible by car, Havilah is just over 20 miles (32 km) driving distance from the intersection of State Route 58 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 . [3]
US Geological Survey plots several mines nearby. Names of local mines include: [3]
Havilah shares its postal ZIP Code, 93518, with the nearby communities of Caliente and Loraine. [9] The community is within the Kern County Air Pollution Control District. [10]
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. [11]
Commercial electric power is supplied by Southern California Edison. [12]