The Economic Times

In 1897, gold discoveries helped establish Ballarat near Death Valley, and its population reached 400 by 1898; today, adobe ruins remain after the mining boom faded

Ballarat, founded in 1897 in the notorious Death Valley of California, flourished as a mining hub following the gold rush in the nearby Panamint Mountains. Once boasting a vibrant community of around 400, it was home to saloons, hotels, and essential services for miners. Sadly, as key mines closed, the town's population dwindled, and by 1917, the post office's closure signified its decline into obscurity.