The name Mojave came from the Indians who lived in the desert before the Europenas arrived.
In 1604 the first European, Juan de Ornate, came into the Mojave desert and found the Mojave Indians living in the area. They would travel across the desert to trade acorns for shells and salt with the coastal Indians. There was no settlement at the time and Father Garces was the first Caucasian to cross the desert. The Mojaves did not want the church in the area and they are credited with an attack on San Gabriel Mission by 1810. In 1826, Jedediah Smith came from Colorado across the desert to San Bernardino. This new route encouraged fur traders who fought with the Mojave. Tensions between the explorers and the local Mojaves continued. With the Gold Rush, the pressure to find short cuts created more routes. In 1849, a group from “the Hunt Wagon Party” were the first Caucasians to cross Death Valley. They were known as the lost 49ers. These various routes led to modern roadways. There were many deaths among the settlers and the Indians. When the miners settled, between 1860-70 the brought with them sheep and cattle. This was the beginning of grazing in this area.
By 1866 mail was delivered and military outposts were set up along the route. Also, in 1871 the Joshua tree was formally named by George Englemann, geologist. In 1876 the Southern Pacific established the community of Mojave. Freight was carried over the route and the railroad was finished in 1883. In 1894 there was mining on Soledad Mountain. This ceased in 1942 due to the war.
By 1916 the “Federal Aid Road Act” allowed the construction of Route 66. By the 1920’s Los Angeles population had doubled and homesteading begin in the Mojave Desert. Las Vegas also was growing.
By the 1930s the Depression had spurred people to California for gold or for farming. As people traveled from Las Vegas to Los Angeles, more people passed through the desert. General Patton used the Mojave Desert in order to train his soldiers in handling tanks. At this time there was a movement to eliminate coyotes and other predators which resulted in changing “large sections of desert flora and fauna.” During 1940-1960 there were military bases built as well.
After WWII the population really grew. The interstate highways brought new people to towns in the western area. Also when the California Aqueduct was developed more people came. This is also the home to Edwards Air Force Base.
http://mojavedesert.net/history/timeline.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mojave_Desert
In 1604 the first European, Juan de Ornate, came into the Mojave desert and found the Mojave Indians living in the area. They would travel across the desert to trade acorns for shells and salt with the coastal Indians. There was no settlement at the time and Father Garces was the first Caucasian to cross the desert. The Mojaves did not want the church in the area and they are credited with an attack on San Gabriel Mission by 1810. In 1826, Jedediah Smith came from Colorado across the desert to San Bernardino. This new route encouraged fur traders who fought with the Mojave. Tensions between the explorers and the local Mojaves continued. With the Gold Rush, the pressure to find short cuts created more routes. In 1849, a group from “the Hunt Wagon Party” were the first Caucasians to cross Death Valley. They were known as the lost 49ers. These various routes led to modern roadways. There were many deaths among the settlers and the Indians. When the miners settled, between 1860-70 the brought with them sheep and cattle. This was the beginning of grazing in this area.
By 1866 mail was delivered and military outposts were set up along the route. Also, in 1871 the Joshua tree was formally named by George Englemann, geologist. In 1876 the Southern Pacific established the community of Mojave. Freight was carried over the route and the railroad was finished in 1883. In 1894 there was mining on Soledad Mountain. This ceased in 1942 due to the war.
By 1916 the “Federal Aid Road Act” allowed the construction of Route 66. By the 1920’s Los Angeles population had doubled and homesteading begin in the Mojave Desert. Las Vegas also was growing.
By the 1930s the Depression had spurred people to California for gold or for farming. As people traveled from Las Vegas to Los Angeles, more people passed through the desert. General Patton used the Mojave Desert in order to train his soldiers in handling tanks. At this time there was a movement to eliminate coyotes and other predators which resulted in changing “large sections of desert flora and fauna.” During 1940-1960 there were military bases built as well.
After WWII the population really grew. The interstate highways brought new people to towns in the western area. Also when the California Aqueduct was developed more people came. This is also the home to Edwards Air Force Base.
http://mojavedesert.net/history/timeline.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mojave_Desert
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