Furnace Creek, California

Furnace Creek, formerly Greenland Ranch, is a census-designated place (CDP) in Inyo County, California, United States. The population was 136 at the 2020 census, up from 24 at the 2010 census. The elevation of the village is 190 feet (58 m) below sea level. The visitor center, museum, and headquarters of the Death Valley National Park are located at Furnace Creek.

History

The William Tell Coleman Borax Company established Greenland Ranch in 1883, named after the green alfalfa fields which they planted there. They established a weather station at the ranch in 1891. Greenland Ranch was renamed Furnace Creek Ranch in 1933.

The Timbisha tribe currently live at the Death Valley Indian Community reservation here. They provided many of the artisans and builders to construct the original Fred Harvey Company resort buildings, the Indian Village, and Park Service structures. They compose the majority of residents of Furnace Creek's permanent population at the tribe's reservation. Furnace Creek was formerly the center of Death Valley mining and operations for the Pacific Coast Borax Company and the historic 20 Mule Teams hauling wagon trains of borax across the Mojave Desert.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Furnace Creek has a total area of 31.5 square miles (82 km²), over 99% of it being land.

Springs in the Amargosa Range created a natural oasis at Furnace Creek, which has subsequently dwindled due to diversion of this water to support the village.

Climate

Furnace Creek, like the rest of Death Valley, has a subtropical, hot desert climate (Köppen: BWh), with long, extremely hot summers; short, warm winters; and little rainfall. Daytime temperatures range from roughly 65 °F (18 °C) in December to 116 °F (47 °C) in July, while overnight lows typically oscillate from 40 °F (4 °C) to 90 °F (32 °C). From 1911 through 2006, a period of 95 years, Furnace Creek had an average high temperature of 91.4 °F (33.0 °C) and an average low temperature of 62.9 °F (17.2 °C). During that period, the hottest month was July, with an average daily high temperature of 116.5 °F (46.9 °C), and the driest month was June, with an average monthly precipitation of 0.05 in (1.3 mm). Furnace Creek holds the record for the most consecutive days above 120 °F (49 °C): 43 days, from July 6 through August 17, 1917. The average temperature of July 2018 was 108.1 °F (42.3 °C), which is the highest temperature of any month for any place in the world.

Furnace Creek holds the record for the highest recorded temperature in the world, reaching 134 °F (56.7 °C) on July 10, 1913. Some meteorologists dispute the accuracy of this measurement.

In addition, a ground temperature of 201 °F (94 °C) was recorded in Furnace Creek on July 15, 1972; this may be the highest natural ground surface temperature ever recorded. (Temperatures measured directly on the ground may exceed air temperatures by 50 to 90 °F (30 to 50 °C).) The former world record for the highest overnight low temperature was 110.0 °F (43.3 °C), set on July 5, 1918, in Furnace Creek.

Demographics

The 2010 United States Census reported that Furnace Creek had a population of 24. The population density was 0.8 people per square mile (0.3/km²). The racial makeup was six (25.0%) White, 16 (66.7%) American Indian, and two (8.3%) from two or more races.

The Census reported that 24 people (100% of the population) lived in households. There were 15 households, out of which two (13.3%) had children under age 18, four (26.7%) were married couples living together, four (20.0%) had a female householder with no husband present. Eight households (53.3%) were made up of individuals, and three (20.0%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 1.60. There were seven families (46.7%), and the average family size was 2.29. The population consisted of two people (8.3%) under 18, two (8.3%) aged 18 to 24, five (20.8%) aged 25 to 44, nine (37.5%) aged 45 to 64, and six (25.0%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 52.0 years.

There were 15 occupied housing units at an average density of 0.6 per square mile (0.2/km²), of which 11 (73.3%) were owner-occupied, and four (26.7%) were occupied by renters.

Government

In the state legislature, Furnace Creek is in the 4th Senate District, represented by Democrat Marie Alvarado-Gil, and the 26th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Evan Low.

Federally, Furnace Creek is in California's 3rd congressional district, represented by Republican Kevin Kiley.

Tourist facilities

The village is surrounded by a number of National Park Service public campgrounds. The Ranch at Death Valley is located there, part of the Oasis at Death Valley, one of the park's major tourist facilities. The Furnace Creek Golf Course attached to the ranch claims to be the lowest in the world at 214 feet (65 m) below sea level. Some lodging is closed in the summer when temperatures can exceed 125 °F (52 °C), but the golf course remains open; the resort established a summer tournament in 2011 called the Heatstroke Open which drew a field of 48. There is also a restaurant, café, store, and gas station in Furnace Creek village. The Furnace Creek Airport is located about 0.75 miles (1.21 km) west of the park headquarters.

California Historical Landmark

Near Furnace Creek is California Historical Landmark number 442, Death Valley '49ers Gateway, assigned on October 24, 1949. The marker is at the corner of State Route 190 and Badwater Road.

The California Historical Landmark reads:

NO. 442 DEATH VALLEY GATEWAY - Through this natural gateway the Death Valley '49ers, more than 100 emigrants from the Middle West seeking a shortcut to gold fields of central California, entered Death Valley in December 1849. All suffered from thirst and starvation. Seeking an escape from the region, two contingents went southwest from here, while the others proceeded northwest.

See also

• Geology of the Death Valley area
• Places of interest in the Death Valley area
• History of California through 1899
• Henry Wade Exit Route, a 49er
• California Historical Landmarks in Inyo County

Notes

References

External links

• Official Death Valley National Park website
• Official Timbisha Shoshone Tribe website
• Furnace Creek interactive map of local points of interest