Ragtown

Ragtown, located in the Mojave Desert, San Bernardino County, California, is a former mining town now recognized as a ghost town. This site was part of the once-thriving Buckeye Mining District, where gold was discovered in the Bagdad-Chase area around 1898 by John Sutter. It eventually became the largest single source of copper and gold in San Bernardino County. To support the mining operations, Benjamin Chase, for whom the mine was partly named, constructed the Ludlow and Southern Railroad west of Ragtown to transport ore to the Santa Fe Railroad in Ludlow.

The town's historical significance is commemorated by a plaque installed by E Clampus Vitus in 1981, located about six miles south of Ludlow, California. The plaque marks the site of Ragtown and the Buckeye Mining District, serving as a remembrance of the area's mining heritage.

The Mojave Desert is scattered with ghost towns like Ragtown, each telling a story of a past era when mining was a significant economic activity in the region. These towns, including nearby landmarks such as Amboy and Ludlow, provide a glimpse into the life and times of early settlers and miners who lived and worked in this challenging environment.