Ludlow, California

File:Ludlow, California.jpg

The community settlement dates back to 1870s. The community of Ludlow was named after William Ludlow of the Southern Pacific Railroad.

In 1882, the town was founded. The town started as a water stop for the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad. Ore was found in the nearby hills, leading to the town's boom.{{cite web |url=https://www.thedesertway.com/ludlow-cemetery-ca/ |title=Ludlow Cemetery: Eternity Near the Tracks |website=thedesertway.com |access-date=February 24, 2020}}

From 1906 to 1940 it was the southern railhead for the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad, operated by the Pacific Coast Borax Company and bringing borax and other mining products from Death Valley and Beatty, Nevada, to long distance Santa Fe Railway lines. It also served as the northern railhead for the Ludlow and Southern Railway, a mining line that ran south to the Bagdad-Chase gold mine and the mining camp of Rochester. It operated from 1903 to 1931.Myrick, David F. Railroads of Nevada and Eastern California, Volume II, The Southern Roads, pp. 544-592, 762-92, 827-35, University of Nevada Press, Reno, Nevada, 1992. {{ISBN|0-87417-194-6}}.

By the 1940s, local mining and railway activity had ceased and the town survived supplying the needs of travellers on the National Old Trails Road, renamed to become the legendary Route 66 in California. With Ludlow providing a Motor Court with bungalow cabins, the streamline moderne Ludlow Cafe, a gasoline-service garage, and shade. They operated through the late 1960s. After Interstate 40 was built bypassing the town, there was little business and most residents departed, leaving ruins of empty buildings and Tamarisk trees that still stand flanking the old highway.{{cite web | url = http://www.theroadwanderer.net/RT66ludlow.htm | title = Ludlow Area & Mojave Desert | work = Shadows of Old Route 66 | publisher = The Road Wanderer | access-date = August 24, 2006 }} Tourists following and exploring historic Route 66 pass through the ghost town now.

A Chinese family resided in Ludlow. Lee Yim, his wife Guishee Yim, and their five children lived in Ludlow. The family operated The Desert Inn Cafe and Hotel. The family lived in the community from 1914 to 1960s.{{cite web |url=https://www.ancestry.com/1940-census/usa/California/Lee-Yim_2dxhj6/amp |title=Lee Yim |website=ancestry.com |access-date=February 24, 2020}}

In 1917, there was the Lee Yim Deposit near Ludlow that began mining production in 1918. It was associated to Lavic Mining District. The mine is closed and it is part of Kelso Dunes Wilderness.{{cite web |url=https://thediggings.com/mines/usgs10164268 |title=Lee Yim Deposit - Ludlow, California |website=thediggings.com |access-date=February 25, 2020}}

To the northwest on Interstate 40 are Newberry Springs and Barstow, California. To the east on Route 66 is Amboy, Amboy Crater, and Essex, and on Interstate 40 is Needles, California, and the Colorado River.

The Mojave National Preserve and Kelso Dunes, of the National Park Service, is to the northeast of town. To the west is Pisgah Crater in the Lavic Lake volcanic field. The Bullion Mountains are south behind the town, with the Bristol Mountains to the east and Cady Mountains to the northwest.

This area has a large amount of sunshine year round due to its stable descending air and high pressure. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Ludlow has a desert climate, abbreviated "Bwh" on climate maps.[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=75240&cityname=Ludlow%2C+California%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Ludlow, California]

This is a list of landmarks including its former structures.

• The Desert Inn Cafe and Hotel - This was located on Main St. facing the railroad tracks. The restaurant and hotel was owned by Lee Yim and his family.{{cite web |url=https://www.trailsendpublishing.com/blog/oasis-hotel-and-cafe |title=The Desert Inn Cafe & Hotel - Ludlow, California |website=trailsendpublishing.com |date=August 11, 2016 |access-date=February 25, 2020}}(Article has images of building.)
• Ludlow Cafe - It is plain box-like building that was a cafe in the 1940s. It was built of lumber salvaged from the Tonopah & Tidewater Railroad. In the 1960s, Earl and Lillian Warnix sold it to Laurel and Cameron Friend. The building withstood two fires. By 2015, the building had been reduced to rubble.{{cite web |url=https://neverquitelost.com/2017/09/29/the-slow-death-of-the-ludlow-cafe/ |title=The Slow Death of Ludlow Cafe |website=neverquitelost.com |date=September 29, 2017 |access-date=February 25, 2020}}(Article has images of building.){{cite web |url=http://route66times.com/l/ca/ludlow-old-ludlow-cafe.htm |title=Old Ludlow Cafe |website=route66times.com |access-date=February 25, 2020}}(Article has images of building.)
• Ludlow Cemetery - a pioneer cemetery.{{cite web |url=http://www.uscemeteryproj.com/california/sanbernardino2/ludlow/ludlow.htm |title=Ludlow Cemetery |website=uscemeteryproj.com |date=April 2016 |access-date=February 28, 2020}}
• Ludlow Airfield - Small airfield in Ludlow 5CA4

In 2015, Ludlow was one of the filming locations for the film Sky as well as Barstow, Bombay Beach, Hinkley, Joshua Tree, Landers, Lenwood, Newberry Springs, and Victorville, California.{{cite web| title=Sky (2015) - Filming Locations| url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4106306/locations| website=IMDb| publisher=amazon.com| access-date=22 August 2016}}

• California Route 66 Museum
• Category: Mojave National Preserve
• Kelso Depot – (Mojave National Preserve Visitors Center)
• Western America Railroad Museum

{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Ludlow, California}}

• [http://www.route66museum.org/ Barstow Route 66 "Mother Road" Museum]
• [https://www.route66ca.org/ludlow/ Ludlow in toute66ca.org]
• [https://thediggings.com/mines/usgs10164268 Lee Yim Deposit - Ludlow, California]

{{San Bernardino County, California|state=collapsed}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Ghost towns in California

Category:Ghost towns on U.S. Route 66

Category:Populated places in the Mojave Desert

Category:Unincorporated communities in San Bernardino County, California

Category:Mojave National Preserve

Category:Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad

Category:Populated places established in 1883

Category:1883 establishments in California

Category:Unincorporated communities in California