Ballarat, CA

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Reportedly named in 1896 for a gold mining town in Australia. Flourished in the heyday of Panamint Valley gold mining, 1897 to 1905, with a peak population of nearly 500. By 1917 the town had become more or less deserted, and the U.S. Post Office was closed. Since then it has attracted its share of colorful characters, such as "Seldom Seen Slim" and the "Ballarat Bandit".

www.desertusa.com/desert-people/seldom-seen-slim.html
deathvalleyjim.com/2013/08/21/ballarat-bandit
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballarat,_California
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Coordinates:   36°2'53"N   117°13'30"W
This article was last modified 8 years ago