Long ago, hopeful folks, ranchers, railroaders, miners
and their families socked away their money into Calico, California, located
8 miles from Barstow. For a long list of reasons, unfortunate circumstances
and fate, this boomtown went bust.
Calico gets its name from the myriad of colors that are part of the mountains, which
are the backdrop for the town. By the early 1800's, the Calico highlands,
in their kaleidoscope hues of green and rose had already earned the name
of "Calico Mountains." But at least one version of the town's christening
deserves repeating. A notable "…man about town in Calico was Joe, "Shorty"
Joiner, whose outstanding attire included a swallow-tail coat and a beard
which hung to his knees." When the name, "Silver Gulch" or "Buena Vista,"
was almost decided upon, Joe exclaimed, "It ain't gonna be no Boona Vista,
nor nothin' o' the sort! Look at the colors in them rocks! I say, call
her Calico!"
Calico gets its name from the myriad of colors that are part of the mountains, which
are the backdrop for the town. By the early 1800's, the Calico highlands,
in their kaleidoscope hues of green and rose had already earned the name
of "Calico Mountains." But at least one version of the town's christening
deserves repeating. A notable "…man about town in Calico was Joe, "Shorty"
Joiner, whose outstanding attire included a swallow-tail coat and a beard
which hung to his knees." When the name, "Silver Gulch" or "Buena Vista,"
was almost decided upon, Joe exclaimed, "It ain't gonna be no Boona Vista,
nor nothin' o' the sort! Look at the colors in them rocks! I say, call
her Calico!"