desert agriculture

A Barstow Narrative

Barstow, California, from the 1870s through the present, with all key details preserved and arranged chronologically:

Barstow stands today at the center of the Mojave Desert’s long story of ranching, mining, railroads, and highways. Its history reflects the layered development of the Mojave River corridor, where water, transportation, and enterprise have drawn people across the desert for more than a century and a half.

Mojave River

In the years following the Civil War, the upper Mojave River region supported a few scattered cattle ranches and wagon stations. Before Barstow existed, the country between Oro Grande and Daggett was known for its open range and desert pastures. Herds were grazed along the Mojave River, using its shallow pools, seeps, and hand-dug wells. During the 1870s and 1880s, ranchers moved stock between the high country of the San Bernardino Mountains and the desert valleys, following trails that paralleled the river. Stations at places such as Lane’s Crossing and Fish Ponds served as watering points for stock and travelers. As the Santa Fe Railroad advanced across the desert, freight access to distant markets encouraged limited agriculture along the riverbanks. By the early 1900s, alfalfa, grain, and small orchards appeared in Victor Valley, and a few experimental plots extended downstream toward Barstow. The Arrowhead Reservoir and Power Company began purchasing riparian tracts between Victorville and Barstow to secure water rights, recognizing that the Mojave River would control the future of settlement. Though the arid climate limited cultivation, these early ranches and farms laid the foundation for the region’s first lasting economy before industry and highway travel arrived.

Fish Ponds

Barstow’s founding dates to the early 1880s, when the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad, later part of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe system, pushed its line westward from Needles toward Mojave. In 1883, the mainline was completed across the desert, and a division point was established to centralize maintenance, crew changes, and fueling. This camp, called initially Waterman Junction, became the nucleus of Barstow. The town was renamed in 1884 for William Barstow Strong, president of the Santa Fe, and quickly became the railroad’s desert headquarters. Roundhouses, repair shops, and supply depots were built to serve the trains moving freight and passengers across the Mojave.

Santa Fe

While Barstow developed as a railroad town, the nearby community of Daggett became the milling and shipping center for the Calico silver mines. The Calico district boomed in the early 1880s, with more than a hundred mines producing ore that was hauled to Daggett for reduction and shipment east. In 1898, a short branch line was built from Daggett to Calico to carry ore directly to the Santa Fe main line. This small spur improved mining transport but did not found Barstow; the town was already well established as a division headquarters long before. Barstow’s location on the main transcontinental line—roughly midway between San Bernardino and Needles—gave it strategic importance that would outlast the mining booms around it.

Daggett, CA

As the 1890s ended and silver prices dropped, mining declined, but the railroad presence ensured Barstow’s survival. The town expanded with railroad housing, stores, and services for workers and travelers. The Mojave River valley became a modest agricultural district, producing hay, fruit, and dairy products for local use. By 1910, Barstow had schools, churches, and small businesses serving both rail employees and the surrounding ranch country.

Casa del Desierto, Harvey House

In 1911, the Fred Harvey Company constructed the Casa del Desierto, a grand Mission Revival depot and Harvey House that brought elegance and permanence to the desert town. The building served as a hotel, restaurant, and railroad office, offering travelers comfort along the route between Los Angeles and the Colorado River. It quickly became Barstow’s social center and symbol of progress. The Santa Fe expanded its shops, roundhouse, and yards, reinforcing the town’s position as a key maintenance and operating base.

El Garces, Harvey House

At the same time, the automobile age arrived. The National Old Trails Highway followed the corridor of the railroad, and by the 1920s, U.S. Route 66 brought a steady stream of motorists through town. Gas stations, garages, and cafes appeared along the main street, which paralleled the railroad tracks. Barstow became a vital service stop for travelers crossing the Mojave Desert, bridging two eras of transportation—steam and motor—and transforming from a company town into a crossroads community.

Route 66

The Great Depression slowed new growth, but Barstow endured. The flow of automobiles along Route 66 kept the economy alive, while the railroad continued to carry freight and passengers across the desert. By the late 1930s, the town’s main street was lined with motor courts, diners, and filling stations.

Yermo, CA

World War II brought another surge of activity. Barstow’s location on both the Santa Fe main line and Route 66 made it ideal for military supply and logistics. The Marine Corps established the Nebo Depot just west of town, handling ordnance and supplies for the Pacific war effort. Additional facilities at Daggett and Yermo supported troop movements and desert training exercises. Troop trains, fuel convoys, and war freight filled the region, and the population grew rapidly as railroad workers, servicemen, and civilian contractors arrived.

Calico Ghost Town

By the late 1940s, Barstow had become the true hub of the Mojave. Mining had faded, but rail, highway, and military operations kept the town busy. Route 66 was in its prime, bringing travelers east and west through a landscape alive with neon lights and the constant hum of engines. Barstow’s economy rested on three pillars: the Santa Fe Railroad, the Marine base, and the steady flow of cross-country traffic.

After the war, the new interstate system reshaped the desert. The Marine Corps Logistics Base at Nebo expanded during the 1950s, and the Yermo Annex was developed for vehicle storage and repair. Together, they became major employers for the region. Barstow’s population grew as families settled near the base, supported by trucking companies, service stations, and small industries. Route 66 reached its height during this period, and Barstow’s main street glittered with motels, diners, and bright neon signs welcoming motorists.

Interstate 15 Freeway

By the late 1960s, however, the new Interstate 15 and Interstate 40 began to bypass the older downtown route. Travel patterns shifted, and many classic roadside businesses declined. Still, the same geography that had favored Barstow from the start—its place at the meeting of routes—kept it alive. The Santa Fe Railroad remained one of the town’s largest employers, operating extensive classification yards. The Marine bases continued their vital supply missions, and long-haul trucking replaced some of the lost highway trade.

Harvey Girls

Through the 1970s, Barstow adapted to the new interstate era. Truck stops and logistics centers replaced many of the old motor courts. Route 66, though decommissioned later, remained a nostalgic symbol of the town’s mid-century heyday. The Casa del Desierto depot closed in 1973 when passenger rail service declined, but the building survived. Preservation efforts during the 1980s and 1990s restored it as a civic landmark housing the Western America Railroad Museum and the Route 66 Museum offices. The restored depot reopened to the public, honoring the legacy of the Harvey Girls and the long railroad heritage that gave the town its start.

Forks in the Road

Today, Barstow continues to serve as the crossroads of the Mojave Desert. It stands at the junction of Interstates 15 and 40, serving travelers, truckers, and freight moving between Southern California and the interior West. The BNSF Railway, successor to the Santa Fe, operates one of its largest freight classification yards in town, handling thousands of cars daily. The Marine Corps Logistics Base remains a major employer, linking Barstow to the modern defense and transportation economy.

Though much has changed, the pattern remains the same. The Mojave River still winds below the town, the rails still hum with freight, and the highways still carry travelers across the vast desert plain. Barstow’s story—from cattle ranching and mining to railroads and freeways—reflects the larger history of the Mojave itself: a land shaped by endurance, movement, and the constant meeting of past and present at the desert’s enduring crossroads.

Barstow, CA.

References and Supporting Sources

Brown, John. History of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. Los Angeles: Western Historical Association, 1922.
- Primary descriptions of Mojave River water rights, Daggett and Calico mining activity, and railroad development through Barstow.
Myrick, David F. Railroads of Arizona, Volume I: The Southern Roads. Howell-North Books, 1975.
- Detailed coverage of the Atlantic & Pacific (Santa Fe) construction, Waterman Junction establishment, and early Barstow operations.
Worman, C. Frank. Santa Fe’s Desert Division. Santa Fe Railway Historical Society Bulletin, 1949.
- Background on Barstow’s role as a division point, maintenance hub, and Harvey House center.
Thompson, David. Route 66: Across the Mojave Desert. Mojave River Valley Museum Press, 1987.
- Documentation of the highway’s alignment through Barstow, roadside commerce, and mid-century travel culture.
Mojave River Valley Museum Archives. Barstow Historical Collection.
- Local materials on ranching, early settlement, and photographs of the Casa del Desierto and Route 66 period.
Marine Corps Logistics Base, Barstow. Historical Overview and Command Chronology. U.S. Marine Corps Archives.
- Details on Nebo Depot and Yermo Annex development during and after World War II.
U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. Interstate System in California: Desert Corridors Report, 1974.
- Analysis of Interstate 15 and 40 construction and their impact on Barstow’s highway economy.
Mojave Desert Archives, Digital Desert Project. Barstow: Rail, River, and Road Chronology.
- Synthesized regional materials integrating historical, geographical, and transportation data for Barstow and the surrounding Mojave River corridor.

Palmenthal

Johann George Ecker led a group of German and Swiss immigrants who settled in the Antelope Valley in 1886, founding a small colony they called Palmenthal—named for the nearby Joshua trees, which they mistook for palms. These settlers sought to establish a self-sufficient farming community on the high desert plain. Drawing from their European roots, they introduced cooperative labor, community organization, and dry-farming methods suited to the arid conditions. Early crops included barley, wheat, and fruit orchards, with irrigation ditches dug by hand to capture scarce water. Despite their determination, drought and isolation made survival difficult, and by the early 1890s, many settlers left. Still, their legacy endured in the renamed settlement of Palmdale, marking the valley’s first organized agricultural community.

Palmenthal was the original German-Swiss settlement that became Palmdale, California. Founded in 1886 by Johann George Ecker and a group of immigrant families from Germany and Switzerland, the colony was located near present-day 20th Street East and Avenue Q. The settlers named it Palmenthal, or “Palm Valley,” after mistaking the native Joshua trees for palms.

They arrived with hopes of building a cooperative farming community, bringing European agricultural practices and traditions with them. Using dry-farming methods, they planted barley, wheat, and fruit orchards, and attempted small-scale irrigation projects to make the desert productive. The settlers built simple homes, a school, and community facilities, establishing the first structured settlement in the Antelope Valley.

Life in Palmenthal was harsh. Repeated droughts, crop failures, and the isolation of the high desert took their toll. Within a few years, many families abandoned the colony, some moving closer to the Southern Pacific Railroad line near Harold, where water and transport were more reliable. By the early 1890s, Palmenthal was largely deserted, but its spirit persisted in the nearby settlement that would evolve into modern Palmdale.

The story of Palmenthal represents the first organized effort to colonize and cultivate the Antelope Valley—an experiment in community and endurance that laid the groundwork for future growth in the region.

Timeline

1886 – Johann George Ecker and a group of German and Swiss immigrants establish the settlement of Palmenthal in the Antelope Valley, naming it for the Joshua trees they mistake for palms.

1887 – The settlers begin dry farming and plant wheat, barley, and fruit orchards. A small schoolhouse and community hall are built.

1888 – Severe drought conditions make farming difficult. Wells yield limited water, forcing the settlers to haul water from distant springs.

1889 – Some families leave the settlement due to crop failures and the isolation of the high desert.

1890 – Remaining settlers attempt to improve irrigation by digging ditches and small reservoirs, but lack of rainfall continues to hinder success.

1891 – The Southern Pacific Railroad establishes a station several miles west, prompting some settlers to relocate closer to the line for better access to supplies and transport.

1892 – Palmenthal is largely abandoned. The remaining residents consolidate around the new rail siding area that becomes known as Palmdale.

1893 – The name Palmdale replaces Palmenthal, marking the transition from the failed colony to the town that would endure.

Rancho Lucerne

In the early 1990s, Rancho Lucerne was introduced as an ambitious master-planned development for Lucerne Valley. The proposal covered nearly 1,400 acres and envisioned 4,257 homes, a 27-hole golf course, and commercial amenities. A Draft Environmental Impact Report was released in 1993, and early grading even took place near the high school. To its backers, Rancho Lucerne promised to transform the valley from a quiet agricultural community into a suburban center.

But the project unraveled almost as quickly as it appeared. The financier behind Rancho Lucerne was charged with embezzlement, money dried up, and by 2001 the plan was abandoned. What remained was a scar of disrupted desert soil, a reminder of what might have been.

At first glance, this collapse may have seemed like a failed opportunity for growth. In reality, it became a turning point that preserved Lucerne Valley’s traditional identity. Without Rancho Lucerne, the valley avoided the massive shift toward suburban sprawl. Instead, it stayed closer to its roots—scattered ranch homes, small farms, alfalfa fields, and open desert stretching to the horizon. Growth continued on a modest, individual scale, with new homes built one lot at a time rather than through sweeping developments.

The deeper reason for resistance lay in water. Lucerne Valley relies on its underground aquifer, a fragile supply that has always been stretched between farms, families, and the desert ecosystem. A project of Rancho Lucerne’s scale—thousands of houses and a golf course—would have drawn heavily from this source. For many locals, that alone made the project unsustainable. By failing, Rancho Lucerne spared the valley from a major new demand on its water, leaving space for the slower pace of development that better fits the desert.

Even today, when the project resurfaces in planning discussions, conservation groups such as the Morongo Basin Conservation Association push back, citing water, wastewater, air quality, traffic, cultural resources, and environmental justice. The mood of the community leans strongly against large-scale development. Rancho Lucerne has become a kind of cautionary tale: a reminder that the valley’s future is best secured by honoring its agricultural heritage and protecting its limited resources.

Looking back, the unbuilt project didn’t just fade into history—it helped define the community’s values. By collapsing, Rancho Lucerne reinforced the belief that Lucerne Valley’s strength lies not in suburban expansion but in its rural heart, where water, land, and tradition are treated as treasures too rare to gamble away.