Randsburg
Randsburg was built on the Yellow Aster Mine—one of Southern California's most productive gold mines
State: California
County: Kern County
Founded: 1895
Peak Population: 3,500
Randsburg was built on the Yellow Aster Mine—one of Southern California's most productive gold mines, yielding 500,000 ounces ($25M+). Named after South Africa's famous Rand district. Today it's a living ghost town of 45-156 residents with preserved historic buildings and old-time atmosphere.
Timeline
- April 1895 - Gold Discovery Frederic Mooers, John Singleton, and Charles Burcham discovered gold on Rand Mountain.
- 1896 - Town Named Rand Camp officially renamed Randsburg after South Africa's famous gold district.
- 1897 - Railroad Railroad connected Johannesburg (nearby service town) to Kramer Junction, facilitating ore transport.
- 1899 - Peak Population Population swelled to 3,500 with 100-stamp mill, post office, newspaper, and numerous saloons.
- 1895-1939 - Yellow Aster Production The Yellow Aster Mine milled 3.4 million tons of ore, recovering approximately 500,000 ounces of gold ($25M+).
- 1918 - Mine Closes Yellow Aster Mine closed. Reopened intermittently.
- 1933 - Final Closure Mine and railroad permanently closed during Great Depression.
Plan Your Visit
Best Time: Spring or fall
Difficulty: Easy - paved road access
Time Needed: 1-2 hours
Tips
- Many original buildings preserved
- General store still operates
- Popular with off-roaders
- Nearby Red Mountain (silver) and Atolia (tungsten) add to mining district
Quick Facts
- Named after the famous Rand gold district in South Africa
- The Yellow Aster Mine produced 500,000 ounces of gold
- Never fully abandoned—small population has maintained it continuously
- The nearby town of Johannesburg was planned as a service community
- District also produced tungsten (Atolia) and silver (Red Mountain)
Location
Address: Randsburg, Kern County, California
Coordinates: 35.3689, -117.6553