Swansea, California, Inyo County, was once a bustling mining town in the late 19th century. Nestled in the heart of the California desert, it thrived on the rich silver deposits nearby. Below is detailed information about the town.
County: Inyo County
Zip Code: Not available
Latitude / Longitude: 36.5064° N, 117.8945° W
Elevation: Approximately 3,600 feet (1,097 meters)
Time Zone: Pacific Time Zone (PT)
Established: 1869
Disestablished: 1893
Comments: Swansea was originally established as a silver mining town and named after Swansea, Wales, known for its mining industry. The town quickly grew as it became a key player in silver extraction and milling, with a smelter built to process the ore.
However, the unpredictable nature of mining profits and natural challenges such as flooding and fires led to its eventual decline.
Remains: Today, visitors to Swansea can find remnants of its past, including the partial ruins of the smelter, old stone foundations, and scattered mining equipment. These remains offer a glimpse into the town’s dynamic past and provide a tangible connection to California’s mining history.
Swansea is an unincorporated community in Inyo County, California Ghost Townlifornia. It is located 8.5 miles (14 km) south of New York Butte, at an elevation of 3,661 ft (1,116 m).
Current Status: Swansea is classified as a ghost town. It is uninhabited and serves mainly as a historical site for visitors interested in the mining era of the American West.
In the summer of 1874, a thunderstorm-induced debris flow inundated Swansea with several feet of water, rock, and sand. By then, the town had been almost deserted, and the debris flow marked the end of Swansea. As of 2007, only one building and a smelter foundation remained alongside Route 136 (about 10 miles southeast of Lone Pine).
Remarks: Swansea’s short-lived boom and subsequent decline reflect many mining towns of its era. Its remains are a tribute to the harsh and unpredictable life of mining communities in the 19th century, offering a poignant reminder of the relentless human quest for prosperity and the impact of natural forces on settlements.
Today, Swansea is a silent witness to California’s bygone era of silver mining. Swansea was named after the mining town Swansea in south Wales, from which many experienced miners emigrated to the United States.
The 1872 Lone Pine earthquake damaged the smelters and uplifted the shoreline, rendering the Swansea pier inaccessible by Owens Lake steamships. As a result, most of the smelting and transportation business moved to Keeler, approximately one mile to the south.
