Furnace Creek, California
Census-designated place
Entrance to Furnace Creek Ranch
Entrance to Furnace Creek Ranch
Furnace Creek, California is located in California
Furnace Creek, California
Furnace Creek, California
Location in California
Coordinates: 36°27′29″N 116°52′15″W / 36.45806°N 116.87083°W / 36.45806; -116.87083
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountyInyo
Area
[1]
 • Total31.463 sq mi (81.487 km2)
 • Land31.203 sq mi (80.815 km2)
 • Water0.260 sq mi (0.672 km2)  0.82%
Elevation
[2]
−190 ft (−60 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total136[3]
Time zoneUTC−08:00 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−07:00 (PDT)
ZIP Code
92328
Area codes442/760
FIPS code06-28021

Furnace Creek, formerly Greenland Ranch,[4] 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.[5]

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.[6]

The Timbisha tribe currently live at the Death Valley Indian Community reservation here.[7] 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.[8] 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.[9]

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.[10]

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).[11] Furnace Creek holds the record for the most consecutive days above 120 °F (49 °C): 43 days, from 6 July through 17 August 1917.[12] 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.[13][14]

Furnace Creek holds the record for the highest recorded temperature in the world, reaching 134 °F (56.7 °C) on July 10, 1913.[15] Some meteorologists dispute the accuracy of this measurement.[16][17]

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.[18] (Temperatures measured directly on the ground may exceed air temperatures by 50 to 90 °F (30 to 50 °C).)[19] The former world record for the highest overnight low temperature was 110.0 °F (43.3 °C), set on 5 July 1918, in Furnace Creek.[20]

Climate data for Furnace Creek, Death Valley, California (1991–2020 normals,[lower-alpha 1] extremes 1911–present). Elevation: −190 ft (−58 m).
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 90
(32)		 102
(39)		 108
(42)		 113
(45)		 122
(50)		 129
(54)		 134
(57)		 130
(54)		 127
(53)		 118
(48)		 98
(37)		 89
(32)		 134
(57)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 78.4
(25.8)		 85.1
(29.5)		 95.4
(35.2)		 106.0
(41.1)		 113.6
(45.3)		 122.0
(50.0)		 125.9
(52.2)		 123.4
(50.8)		 118.1
(47.8)		 106.2
(41.2)		 90.0
(32.2)		 77.8
(25.4)		 126.7
(52.6)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 67.2
(19.6)		 73.7
(23.2)		 82.6
(28.1)		 91.0
(32.8)		 100.7
(38.2)		 111.1
(43.9)		 117.4
(47.4)		 115.9
(46.6)		 107.7
(42.1)		 93.3
(34.1)		 77.4
(25.2)		 65.6
(18.7)		 92.0
(33.3)
Daily mean °F (°C) 54.9
(12.7)		 61.3
(16.3)		 69.8
(21.0)		 77.9
(25.5)		 87.8
(31.0)		 97.5
(36.4)		 104.2
(40.1)		 102.3
(39.1)		 93.4
(34.1)		 78.9
(26.1)		 64.0
(17.8)		 53.4
(11.9)		 78.8
(26.0)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 42.5
(5.8)		 49.0
(9.4)		 57.1
(13.9)		 64.8
(18.2)		 75.0
(23.9)		 84.0
(28.9)		 91.0
(32.8)		 88.7
(31.5)		 79.1
(26.2)		 64.4
(18.0)		 50.5
(10.3)		 41.1
(5.1)		 65.6
(18.7)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 30.5
(−0.8)		 36.1
(2.3)		 42.8
(6.0)		 49.8
(9.9)		 58.5
(14.7)		 67.9
(19.9)		 78.3
(25.7)		 75.3
(24.1)		 65.4
(18.6)		 49.5
(9.7)		 35.9
(2.2)		 29.0
(−1.7)		 28.0
(−2.2)
Record low °F (°C) 15
(−9)		 20
(−7)		 26
(−3)		 35
(2)		 42
(6)		 49
(9)		 62
(17)		 65
(18)		 41
(5)		 32
(0)		 24
(−4)		 19
(−7)		 15
(−9)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.37
(9.4)		 0.52
(13)		 0.25
(6.4)		 0.10
(2.5)		 0.03
(0.76)		 0.05
(1.3)		 0.10
(2.5)		 0.10
(2.5)		 0.20
(5.1)		 0.12
(3.0)		 0.10
(2.5)		 0.26
(6.6)		 2.20
(56)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 2.4 2.9 2.0 1.1 0.9 0.3 1.1 0.9 0.8 1.1 0.9 1.6 16.0
Mean monthly sunshine hours 217 226 279 330 372 390 403 372 330 310 210 186 3,625
Source: NOAA[21][22]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
200031—
201024−22.6%
2020136466.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[23][24]

The 2010 United States Census[23] 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.[25]

Government

Furnace Creek in 1871

In the state legislature, Furnace Creek is in the 4th Senate District, represented by Democrat Marie Alvarado-Gil,[26] and the 26th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Evan Low.[27]

Federally, Furnace Creek is in California's 3rd congressional district, represented by Republican Kevin Kiley.[28]

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.[29] 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.[30]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Mean maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.

References

  1. ↑ "2010 Census U.S. Gazetteer Files – Places – California". United States Census Bureau.
  2. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Furnace Creek, California
  3. ↑ "Explore Census Data".
  4. ↑ "disaster Directory inyo county" (PDF). Cal OES. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  5. ↑ NPS- Death Valley Visitor Center (accessed 4/11/2010.
  6. ↑ "Furnace Creek Resort". Archived from the original on May 13, 2013. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
  7. ↑ Timbisha Shoshone Tribe History (accessed 4/10/2010)
  8. ↑ The Timbisha Shoshone Tribe, Death Valley (accessed 4/10/2010)
  9. ↑ NPS- Death Valley History (accessed 4/11/2010)
  10. ↑ "Furnace Creek: Focus on Water". US Geological Survey report. Archived from the original on November 20, 2009. Retrieved February 23, 2010.
  11. ↑ The average annual temperature is 77.2 °F (25.1 °C)."Weather and Climate - Death Valley National Park" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Weather and Climate Death Valley National Park" (PDF). U.S. National Park Service. July 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2009. Retrieved April 16, 2009.
  13. ↑ Ian, Livingston. "Death Valley Sets New Global Record for Hottest Single Month". Wunderground. Archived from the original on May 1, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  14. ↑ Fritz, Angela (August 7, 2017). "Death Valley just experienced the hottest month ever recorded on Earth". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 1, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  15. ↑ El Fadli, Khalid Ibrahim; et al. (September 2012). "World Meteorological Organization Assessment of the Purported World Record 58°C Temperature Extreme at El Azizia, Libya (13 September 1922)". Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. 94 (2): 199–204. Bibcode:2013BAMS...94..199E. doi:10.1175/BAMS-D-12-00093.1.
  16. ↑ Masters, Jeff. "Historic Heat Wave Reponsible [sic] for Death Valley's 129°F Gradually Weakening". WunderBlog. Wunderground.
  17. ↑ Burt, Christopher. "An Investigation of Death Valley's 134°F World Temperature Record". WunderBlog. Wunderground.
  18. ↑ Kubecka, Paul (July 2001). "A possible world record maximum natural ground surface temperature". Weather. 56 (7): 218–221. Bibcode:2001Wthr...56..218K. doi:10.1002/j.1477-8696.2001.tb06577.x. S2CID 120698040.
  19. ↑ Mildrexler, David J.; Zhao, Maosheng; Running, Steven W. (2011). "Satellite Finds Highest Land Skin Temperatures on Earth". Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. 92 (7): 855–860. Bibcode:2011BAMS...92..855M. doi:10.1175/2011BAMS3067.1.
  20. ↑ "July Daily Normals And Records" (PDF). The Death Valley Climate Book. National Weather Service. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 15, 2017. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
  21. ↑ "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  23. 1 2 "Total Population". 2010: Dec Summary File 1. Census.gov. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  24. ↑ "Total Population". 2018: ACS 5-Year Estimates Detailed Tables. Census.gov. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  25. ↑ "Furnace Creek CDP, California". 2010 Census. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  26. ↑ "Senators". State of California. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
  27. ↑ "Members Assembly". State of California. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
  28. ↑ "California's 8th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
  29. ↑ Yoon, Peter (August 17, 2011). "This is what 18 in hell feels like". ESPNLosAngeles.com. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  30. ↑ californiahistoricallandmarks.com Landmarks chl-442
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