Trona is an unincorporated ccommunity in San Bernardino, CA. In 2015 it had a population of approximately 1,900. Trona is at the western edge of Searles Lake, a dry lake bed in Searles Valley, southwest of Death Valley. The town takes its name from the mineral trona, abundant in the lakebed.
Trona is known for its isolation and desolation, as well as the nearby Trona Pinnacles, featured in several commercials, movie videos, and movies. The local school plays on a dirt football field because the searing heat and highly saline soil kills grass. At one point it boasted an 18-hole golf course that was all sand except for the "greens", which were a softer grade of brown colored dirt.
History
In 1863, John Searles began mining for borax on the dry bed of the lake that what would later be named after him.
Trona was officially established in 1913, as a self-contained company town, wholly operated by its resident mining company to house employees. Employees were paid in company scrip instead of cash. The mining company also built a library, a scrip-accepting for-profit grocery store, a school, basic housing, and minimal recreation facilities. The Trona Railway was built in 1913–14 to provide the town with a rail connection to the Southern Pacific (now the Union Pacific) line at Searles. The railway still operates today.
Economic booms and busts followed. Its most notable boom occurred during World War I, when Trona was the only reliable American source of potash, an important element used in the production of gunpowder. In 1974, the company, then known as American Potash, was bought by Kerr-McGee, who did not want a company town. Their attempts to make everybody leave were resisted by the inhabitants.
Today, Searles Valley Minerals Inc.'s soda ash processing plant remains the largest firm in town. Other operations nearby include evaporative salt extraction from the dry lake bed's surface, and a lime quarry. Searles Valley Minerals is the largest employer in Trona, and many employees live in Ridgecrest, CA, commuting daily to Trona.
Since its heyday, Trona's population has decreased, with more and more services relocating to the nearest town, Ridgecrest. In 2019, the population rapidly decreased in the wake of the M6.4 on July 4 and M7.1 on July 5. Trona residents have a very strong sense of community. Homecoming at the high school results in attendance from all over the nation.
Currently, there are two operating restaurants, two gas stations, three mini-marts, the post office, a senior center, a community thrift store, an Elk's Lodge, a school district (approx 300 students K-12), a community pool (open summers), and numerous churches.
To claim credit for this virtual cache, please answer the following that can be found at the kiosk:
1. How many miles of track were laid in 1914?
2. What year was a brine carbonation operation developed?
3. What ended an 81 year history?
4. What happened on March 18?
5. Post a photo with the Searles Valley Mining Compant in the background.
Virtual Rewards 4.0 - 2024-2025
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between January 17, 2024 and January 17, 2025. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 4.0 on the Geocaching Blog.