A Desert Town in Need of New Residents
Nestled just outside Death Valley National Park, the once-thriving mining town of Darwin is now a quiet place with a population of only 30 people. This small desert community is making a plea for young individuals to move in and take advantage of its affordable housing options.
Darwin, which was once a bustling gold mining city in the 19th century, has seen its population dwindle over the years. Today, it’s on the verge of becoming a ghost town, but this status has attracted content creators who are drawn to its dilapidated cabins and unique charm. Many of the current residents are creatives who have left big cities like Las Vegas and San Francisco in search of a simpler, more solitary life.
At the time of writing, there were two houses available for sale in Darwin. One of them is a stunning three-bedroom, three-bathroom home that sits among beautiful mountains. This luxury ranch is priced at $245,000, which is 3.5 times cheaper than the state average of $861,725 for a similar property. Just two blocks away, another run-down ranch surrounded by giant cacti is also up for sale at an even more attractive price. This two-bedroom property is listed for $85,000, which is seven times cheaper than the statewide average of $619,491 for a similar size home.
Despite the affordability of homes, living in Darwin comes with its challenges. The town is more than five miles from the nearest highway, and water is a precious resource for residents. Water scarcity limits the population to around a couple hundred people, and the community relies on each other to maintain the supply. An army of volunteers works tirelessly to pump water from gravity-fed pipelines from a spring in China Lake.
With an average age of 66, many residents are urging younger people to move in and help keep the town alive. Kathy Goss, a long-time resident and artist, told SFGate, “We need help. We need younger people to come here and make the commitment to live here. And make a commitment to doing some muscle work.”
One of the town’s youngest residents, Nico Georis, 43, recently joined the water board and emphasized the importance of bringing in a new generation. “They’re getting older, and they need help, and they need a new generation to pass the torch to,” he said.
The difficulty in accessing Darwin also contributes to the lower house prices. Rick Gibson, a 73-year-old local, shared his concerns about the lack of nearby medical facilities. “The only danger of living here, real danger, is you’re too far from a hospital if you really need something,” he said. Despite this, Gibson plans to move to Las Vegas by the time he turns 80 to access better healthcare. However, he said he would not give up his Darwin property, which he bought for just $6,500 in cash in 1988. “I love it, but I do realize I have to leave,” he added.
A History of Boom and Bust
Darwin was founded in 1874 and quickly became a busy mining town due to its rich silver and lead deposits. It was named after Darwin French, a miner and rancher who led explorations of the area. Adventurers flocked to the region, but the boom didn’t last.
Most residents had left by the end of the 19th century as the harsh desert environment made it difficult to sustain life. In the 1930s, the remaining residents became even more isolated when California officials decided to reroute the main road out of the town. By the 1970s, most of the mines had closed down, and the population steadily declined from 3,500 to 54 residents in 200, and now to just 30 people today.
