Fairly isolated, this small town has a population of somewhere between 30 and 35 full time residents (including those who live in some trailers on the outskirts of the downtown area). Today the town is a mix of various artists, characters and those who value their privacy. Straddling being a living town and a ghost town, remarkably it still exists. The residents change over the years but the town doesn’t seem to grow much.
Named after Darwin French, an adventurer and miner. Darwin was founded as a mining town in the 1870s for silver and lead – first as a tent town and then later permanent buildings were established. Additional minerals and metals in the vicinity were later discovered and mined. Remarkably at one point in the late 1870s Darwin had a population of around 3,500 residents. Today remnants of the towns mining history are scattered in select parts of the desert in the vicinity.
Darwin used to be on the main toll road leading to Death Valley but after Highway 190 was built, the town became more isolated from visitors. The original toll road still exists – now parts of it 4wd only – one can take this dirt road up a steep canyon from Darwin Springs through the mountains and by several mines. If you have the vehicle for it, we highly recommend driving this remote road into town rather then on the dirt road leading off of Highway 190.
The town has no gas station, paved streets, sidewalks, street lights, restaurants or stores. However a post office still exists – although it always appears to be closed when we drive by.
A film was made about Darwin some years back – to watch the trailer, visit: www.darwindoc.com
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