Indian Wells, Imperial County, California

Indian Wells is a former settlement in Imperial County, California.^[1] It was located 8 miles (13 km) south-southwest of Seeley.^[1]

Indian Wells was a watering place between two Lagunas on the New River found by the Kearny and Cooke Expediditons in 1846. They were subsequently used from the time of the California Gold Rush as a watering place on the Southern Emigrant Trail crossing the Colorado Desert. Its location is described by the 1854-55 Railroad Expedition report:

"From Sackett's to the Colorado river the desert appears to the unaided eye a perfect level, but it is shown to be undulating, and composed of several gentle slopes or swells of surface rising to a level terrace in the vicinity of Alamo Mocho. The two "lagoons" on the desert being now dry, water is obtained from a well dug in the channel which connects them, at a point about half way between, and 14.5 miles from Sackett's. This watering place is known by the name of "Indian Wells." The water is at a depth of about 30 feet, and is of tolerable quality. From here to Alamo Mocho is a stretch of 20 miles without water, over a surface generally even and free of obstructions."^[2]

Indian Wells was a stop on the Butterfield Overland Stage line.^[1] The Indian Wells post office, located 10 miles (16 km) west of El Centro operated from 1876 to 1877.^[1] The site of Indian Wells was obliterated by the 1906 flood of the New River, when the Colorado River changed course and filled the Salton Sea, scouring a deeper and wider channel for the New River.^[1] ^[3]

References

1 2 3 4 5 Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, Calif.: Word Dancer Press. p. 1466. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
↑ Reports of explorations and surveys: to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean, Volume 7, By United States. War Dept, Joseph Henry, Spencer Fullerton Baird, United States. Army. Corps of Engineers, A.O.P. Nicholson, Printer, Washington D.C., 1857, p.23
↑ Tom Jonas, Wells in the Desert, Retracing the Mexican War Trails of Kearny and Cooke through Baja California, The Journal of Arizona History, Vol. 50, No. 3, Autumn 2009, p. 292 and note 40

Coordinates: 32°44′03″N 115°37′11″W / 32.73417°N 115.61972°W / 32.73417; -115.61972

Municipalities and communities of Imperial County, California, United States

County seat: El Centro

Cities	Brawley Calexico Calipatria El Centro Holtville Imperial Westmorland

CDPs	Bombay Beach Desert Shores Heber Niland Ocotillo Palo Verde Salton City Salton Sea Beach Seeley Winterhaven

Unincorporated communities	Acolita Alamorio Amos Andrade Anza Araz Junction Bard Bertram Bonds Corner Boulder Park Cactus Citrus View Clyde Coolidge Springs Coyote Wells Curlew Date City Dixieland Dunes Edgar Elmore Desert Ranch Estelle Felicity Fondo Frink Fuller Glamis Gordons Well Hovley Imperial Gables Iris Kane Spring Meloland Mesquite Moss Mount Signal Mundo Munyon Obregon Orita Paymaster Landing Perrys Corner Picacho Plaster City Pope Rico Rockwood Ross Corner Ruthven Sandia Slab City Tortuga Truckhaven Verdant Watermans Corner Wiest Wilsie Wister

Indian reservations	Fort Yuma Indian Reservation Torres-Martinez Indian Reservation

Ghost towns	Araz Barnes Bernice Bradtmoore Butlers California Camp Camp Gaston Carrizo Creek Station Colorado Concepcíon Eastside Gleason Hazelwood Hedges Highline Indian Wells Jaeger City Keystone Laguna Laparra Lano Mayflower Mobile No Mirage Ogilby Paringa Picacho Basin Pilot Knob Station Potholes Sackett's Wells Sellew Shamrock Silsbee Squeaky Springs Tumco

Butterfield Overland Mail 2nd Division Stations

Los Angeles – Located 12 miles southeast of Cahuenga Station in the pueblo of Los Angeles. The 2nd Division headquarters was in a brick building, consisting of an office, blacksmith shop, stables and sheds.
Monte – Located 13 miles east of Los Angeles.
Rancho San Jose – Located 12 miles east of Monte in present-day Pomona.
Rancho Santa Ana del Chino – Located 12 miles southeast of Rancho San Jose.
Temescal Station – Located 20 miles southeast of Rancho Santa Ana del Chino.
Laguna Grande Station – Located 10 miles southeast of Temescal Station, near present-day Lake Elsinore.
Alamos or Willow Springs Station – a later station, 11 miles south of Laguna Grande Station.
Temecula Station – Located 21 miles southeast of Laguna Grande Station.
Tejungo Station – Located 14 miles east of Temecula Station, near Aguanga
Oak Grove Stage Station – Located 12 miles southeast of Tejungo Station.
Warner's Ranch – Located 10 miles southeast of Oak Grove Station.
San Felipe Station – Located 10 miles southeast of Warner's Ranch, northwest of nearby Scissors Crossing.
Vallecito Station – Located 18 miles southeast of San Felipe Station.
Palm Spring Station – Located 9 miles southeast of Vallecito Station at Palm Spring.
Carrizo Creek Station – Located 9 miles east southeast of Palm Spring Station.
Sackett's Wells – a later station, located 17¹⁄₂ miles east southeast of Carrizo Creek Station, 15 miles west northwest of Indian Wells.
Indian Wells Station – Located 32 miles southeast of Carisso Creek, near present day Heber, no water except at station.
New River Station – a later station, located 15 miles southeast of Indian Wells Station, in Baja California, 14 miles west of Alamo Mocho Station, in present day Mexicali.
Alamo Mocho Station – Located south of the Mexican border in Baja California, 38 miles east of Indian Wells Station, no water except at station.
Gardner’s Wells Station – a later station, located south of the Mexican border in Baja California, 9 miles east of Alamo Mocho and 9 miles west of Seven Wells.
Salt or Seven Wells – a later well, located south of the Mexican border in Baja California, 18 miles east of Alamo Mucho.
Cooke's Wells Station – Located south of the Mexican border in Baja California, 22 miles east of Alamo Mocho Station, no water except at station.
Pilot Knob Station – Located 18 miles east of Cooke's Wells.
Fort Yuma Station – Located 10 miles east of Pilot Knob Station.

Source: "List of Butterfield Overland Mail Stations "Itinerary of the Route"". New York Times. October 14, 1858.

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