Searles Valley, CA

Set in a wide, dry basin in the northern Mojave Desert, Searles Valley is home to a handful of small desert communities including Trona, Argus, and Pioneer Point. The valley grew around its mineral-rich dry lakebed in the late nineteenth century, when prospector John Searles discovered rich borax deposits. Soon after, industrial plants sprang up to extract soda ash and potash, and Trona was built as a dedicated company town with employee housing, a school district, and its own freight railway. That industrial background still defines the valley, giving it a practical, hardworking character.

For day-to-day needs, residents look to local services or take Highway 178 about thirty miles west into Ridgecrest and the China Lake naval base for larger grocery stores, medical care, and entertainment. The surrounding desert can be severe, with blistering summer heat and long stretches of open highway, but it also features incredible scenery like the famous Trona Pinnacles and sweeping mountain views. It is a quiet, straightforward place to live, best suited for people who value wide-open spaces, affordable housing, and a self-reliant desert lifestyle.