Darwin was named after Dr. Darwin French who named a nearby wash after himself when
he was in the area in the 1860's looking for the "lost" Gunsight Lode.
Darwin was a supply center for local mines in the early 1870's until a
rich strike was discovered in 1874 transposing Darwin into a boomtown. The town
almost immediately gained a reputation for violence, with 124 graves in the cemetery,
122 by knife or gun!
By 1877 the town had
two smelters, 200 frame houses, and a population of around 200. The best saloon
in town, the Centennial, featured cut-glass chandeliers and a fancy billiard
table. One of the towns most Prominent citizens was Victor Beaudry, who was one of the prime movers in Cerro Gordo.
The town started to decline
in 1878 with the rise of Bodie and Mammoth. Darwin has fascinating history that
makes for some interesting reading. More interesting facts and pictures Here , Here and Here. |
