Editing Keeler, California

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Keeler, California 
|settlement_type          = [[unincorporated community]]<br/>[[census-designated place]]
|image_skyline            = KeelerCaliforniaTrainDepot.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Abandoned [[Carson and Colorado Railroad]] train depot in Keeler, CA
|image_seal               = 
|image_map                = Inyo_County_California_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Keeler_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Inyo County, California|Inyo County]] and the state of [[California]]
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
|pushpin_map              = USA
|pushpin_map_caption      = Location in the United States
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States 
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[California]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in California|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Inyo County, California|Inyo]]
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|established_date         = 
<!-- Area------------------>
|area_magnitude           = 
| unit_pref               = Imperial
| area_footnotes          = <ref>{{Cite US Gazetteer|2010|places|CA}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi        = 1.302
| area_land_sq_mi         = 1.302
| area_water_sq_mi        = 0
| area_total_km2          = 3.373
| area_land_km2           = 3.373
| area_water_km2          = 0
| area_water_percent      = 0
| area_note               =

|elevation_ft             = 3603
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|population_as_of         = 2020
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 71<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US0637918 |access-date=2022-08-11 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_km2   = auto
|population_density_sq_mi = auto
|timezone                 = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific (PST)]]
|utc_offset               = -8
|coordinates              = {{coord|36|29|40|N|117|53|02|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
|timezone_DST             = PDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -7
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 93530
|area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area codes]]
|area_code                = [[Area codes 442 and 760|442/760]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 06-37918
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2408466<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2408466}}</ref>
|footnotes                = 
|website                  = 
}}

'''Keeler''', formerly known as Hawley, is an [[unincorporated community]] in [[Inyo County, California]], United States.<ref name=gnis /> Keeler is located on the east shore of [[Owens Lake]] {{convert|11.5|mi|km|0}} south-southeast of New York Butte.<ref name=CGN>{{California's Geographic Names|1175}}</ref> The population was 71 people at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US0637918 |access-date=2022-08-11 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> up from 66 at the 2010 census. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Keeler as a  [[census-designated place]] (CDP).

==History==
[[File:SodaWorksAtKeeler.jpg|thumb|Soda works at Keeler, where a pile of carbonate of soda is ready for market]]

When the [[1872 Lone Pine earthquake]] rendered the pier in nearby [[Swansea, California|Swansea]] inaccessible by uplifting the shoreline, a new pier was constructed to the south at a community named Hawley. In 1880 a new mill was constructed at Hawley by the [[Owens Lake Mining and Milling Company]] for processing silver ore from the [[Cerro Gordo Mines]] in the mountains to the east. A town was laid out by the company agent Julius M. Keeler, for whom the town of Hawley was later renamed.

The steamship ''Bessie Brady'' brought ore from Keeler across the lake to the town of Cartago.  There was a {{convert|300|foot||adj=mid| wharf}} at Keeler, and the steamship route cut days off the time a freight wagon would have taken to circle the lake. She carried 700 ingots at a time in a three-hour crossing, but in 1882 the ''Bessie Brady'' was destroyed by fire.<ref>Roberta Starry, "Dirty Sock and Beyond", Desert magazine, November 1970.</ref> The [[Carson and Colorado Railroad]] constructed a [[narrow-gauge railway]] to Keeler in 1883. The success of the Cerro Gordo mines caused Keeler to boom until silver prices plummeted in the late 19th century.

A second boom of zinc mining in the early 20th century brought new life to the town and an aerial cable tramway was built to bring the ore from Cerro Gordo to Keeler. There were small surges in the mining of silver, lead, zinc and limestone, but by the 1950s all mining had ceased. Train service was stopped in 1960 and the tracks were removed in 1961. Water exports from the Owens Valley to the City of [[Los Angeles]] in the 1920s led the Owens Lake to eventually dry up, causing alkali dust storms to blow through Keeler, driving many residents away.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reheis |first=Marith C |date=December 9, 2016 |title=Owens (Dry) Lake, California: A Human-Induced Dust Problem |url=https://geochange.er.usgs.gov/sw/impacts/geology/owens/ |access-date=2023-07-05 |publisher=U.S. Geological Survey}}</ref> Dust remediation efforts in the early 21st century reduced this problem, but few residents remain.

A post office operated at Keeler from 1883 to 1898<ref name=CGN /> and is still operating today.

There is a [[California Historical Landmarks|California Historical Landmark]] in Keeler for the furnace of the Owens Lake Silver Company.<ref>[https://ohp.parks.ca.gov/ListedResources/Detail/752 California Parks, California Historical Landmark]</ref><ref>[https://www.californiahistoricallandmarks.com/landmarks/chl-752 californiahistoricallandmarks.com Landmarks chl-752]</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|1.3|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

Keeler is located along the eastern shores of [[Owens Lake]] (a dry lakebed) along [[State Route 136 (California)|State Route 136]].

==Demographics==
===2010===
At the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]] Keeler had a population of 66. The population density was {{convert|50.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Keeler was 63 (96%) White, 0 African American, 0 Native American, 2 (3%) Asian, 0 Pacific Islander, 0 from other races, and 1 (2%) from two or more races.  Hispanic or Latino of any race were six people (9%).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0637918|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715025933/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0637918|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Keeler CDP|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref>

The census reported that 100% of the population lived in households.

There were 40 households; four (10%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 13 (33%) were [[marriage|opposite-sex married couples]] living together, two (5%) had a female householder with no husband present and two (5%) had a male householder with no wife present.  There were no [[POSSLQ|unmarried opposite-sex partnerships]], and no [[same-sex partnerships|same-sex married couples or partnerships]]. Twenty three households (58%) were one person, and 12 (30%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 1.7.  There were 17 families (43% of households); the average family size was 2.5.

The age distribution was nine people (14%) under the age of 18, one person (2%) aged 18 to 24, one person (2%) aged 25 to 44, 33 people (50%) aged 45 to 64, and 22 people (33%) who were 65 or older.  The median age was 59.3 years. Pro rata, for every 100 females, there were 120.0 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 147.8 males.

There were 67 housing units at an average density of {{convert|51.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}, of which 40 were occupied, of which 33 (83%) were owner-occupied, and 7 (18%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3%; the rental vacancy rate was 22%.  55 people (83% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 11 people (17%) lived in rental housing units.

===2000===
At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] there were 66 people, 36 households, and 19 families in the CDP. The population density was {{convert|54.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 67 housing units at an average density of {{convert|55.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the CDP was 97% White, 1% from other races, and 1% from two or more races. 12% of the population were Hispanic or Latino.<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
Of the 36 households 11% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39% were married couples living together, 6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47% were non-families. 39% of households were one person and 22% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 1.8 and the average family size was 2.4.

The age distribution was 14% under the age of 18, 2% from 18 to 24, 11% from 25 to 44, 36% from 45 to 64, and 38% 65 or older. The median age was 57 years. For every 100 females, there were 112.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.1 males.

The median household income was $19,625 and the median family income  was $26,250. The per capita income for the CDP was $18,621. There were no families and 9% of the population living below the [[poverty line]], including no under 18s and none of those over 64.

==Government==
In the [[California State Legislature|state legislature]], Keeler is in {{Representative|casd|4|fmt=sdistrict}},<ref>{{Cite web |title=Senators |url=http://senate.ca.gov/senators |access-date=April 15, 2025 |publisher=State of California}}</ref> and {{Representative|caad|8|fmt=adistrict}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Members Assembly |url=http://assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers |access-date=April 15, 2025 |publisher=State of California}}</ref>

Federally, Keeler is in {{Representative|cacd|3|fmt=district}}.<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|8|accessdate=April 15, 2025}}</ref>

==In popular culture ==
Keeler appears in films such as ''[[Outlaws of the Desert]]'' (1941), ''[[Sinister Journey]]'' (1948) and ''[[The Blazing Sun (1950 film)|The Blazing Sun]]'' (1950).<ref>Schneider, Jerry L. (2016). ''Western Filming Locations California Book 6''. CP Entertainment Books. Page 121. {{ISBN|9780692722947}}.</ref>

==See also==
* [[California Water Wars]]

==References==
{{reflist|22em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Keeler, California}}
* Keeler Post Office: http://stampcollectingroundup.blogspot.com/2007/06/save-keeler-post-office.html

{{Inyo County, California}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in California]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Inyo County, California]]
[[Category:Mining communities in California]]
[[Category:Populated places in the Mojave Desert]]