Midlandis aghost towninRiverside Countyin the southeastern part of theU.S. stateofCalifornia.It is adjacent to theLittle Maria Mountainsand located about 20 mi (32 km) northwest ofBlythe.It is accessible from Blythe in the south via Lovekin Boulevard and Midland Road, and fromRicein the north via Midland Road.
Midland | |
|---|---|
  Midland Location within the state of California | |
| Coordinates:33°51′40″N114°48′08″W/ 33.86111°N 114.80222°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Riverside |
| Time zone | UTC-8(Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7(PDT) |
From 1925 to the 1960s, Midland was acompany townowned by theU.S. Gypsum Co.The company had mined vast amounts ofgypsumfound in the area. Midland was also the site of a large plant that producedwallboardand plasterboard. For some time, there was a three part railroad between the quarry and the crusher, the last part being a3 ft(914 mm) narrow gauge line running few miles.[1]The town's water was shipped from Blythe by rail.[2]At its peak, the town had a population of approximately 1,000.
As the character of the gypsum found in the area was considered too heavy as the years went on, company activity in Midland subsided and then ended in 1966.
Many winter scenes in Hollywood films during the 20th century utilized faux snow that originated from Midland.
In the 1960s (before the town's demise), a gypsum mine 3 mi (4.8 km) west of the plant and abandoned in 1948 was converted into the largestfallout shelterin the county.[3]
Most of the buildings of Midland were torn down, and today only foundations remain. In 1970, a 150,000 gallon water tank from Midland was moved on skids by tractor to the new Mesa Ranch Mobile Home Park and a housing site in northwest Blythe.[4]
References
edit- Hillinger, Charles (November 2, 1970)."Don't Go To Midland – It's Gone".The Los Angeles Times.
- "Midland".The Center for Land Use Interpretation.Archived fromthe originalon June 6, 2011.RetrievedMarch 16,2007.
- Midland – inDesert Fever,1981
- U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Midland
- ^David F. Myrick (2001).Santa Fe to Phoenix: Railroads of Arizona.Signature Press.ISBN978-1-930013-05-6.
- ^Valdez, Juanita (June 29, 1988). "Ghost town remains north of Blythe".Palo Verde Valley Times.
- ^"Midland Fallout Shelter: The People, The Mine, And The Bomb".Palo Verde Valley Times.September 9, 1965.
- ^Front page picture in thePalo Verde Valley Times,December 10, 1970.
Further reading
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