Furnace Creek, California
Furnace Creek is a census-designated place (CDP) in Inyo County, California, United States. The population was 136 at the 2020 census, up from 24 at the 2010 census. The elevation of the village is below sea level. Furnace Creek holds the record for the highest recorded air temperature on Earth at 134 °F (56.7 °C) on July 10, 1913. Furnace Creek also holds the record for the highest recorded natural ground surface temperature on Earth at 201 °F (93.9 °C) on July 15, 1972. The visitor center, museum, and headquarters of the  Death Valley National Park are located at Furnace Creek. Geography and climate. According to the United States Census Bureau, Furnace Creek has a total area of , over 99% of it being land. Springs in the Amargosa Range created a natural oasis at Furnace Creek, which has subsequently dwindled due to diversion of this water to support the village. From 1911 through 2006, a period of 95 years, Furnace Creek had an average high temperature of and an average low temperature of . During that time period, the hottest month was July with an average daily high temperature of and the driest  month was June with an average monthly precipitation of . Furnace Creek holds the record for the highest recorded temperature in the world, reaching on July 10, 1913. Some meteorologists dispute the accuracy of the 1913 temperature measurement. In addition, a ground temperature of 201 °F (93.9 °C) was recorded in Furnace Creek on July 15, 1972; this may be the highest natural ground surface temperature ever recorded. (Temperatures measured directly on the ground may exceed air temperatures by 30 to 50 °C.) History. The William Tell Coleman Borax Company established Greenland Ranch in 1883, named after the  green alfalfa fields which they planted there. They established a weather station at the ranch in 1891. Greenland Ranch was renamed Furnace Creek Ranch in 1933. The Timbisha tribe currently live at the Death Valley Indian Community reservation here. They provided many of the artisans and builders to construct the original Fred Harvey Company resort buildings, the Indian Village, and Park Service structures. They compose the majority of residents of Furnace Creek's permanent population at the tribe's reservation. Furnace Creek was formerly the center of Death Valley mining and operations for the Pacific Coast Borax Company and the  historic 20 Mule Teams hauling wagon trains of borax across the Mojave Desert. Demographics. The 2010 United States Census reported that Furnace Creek had a population of 24. The population density was 0.8 people per square mile (0.3/km). The racial makeup was six (25.0%) White, 16 (66.7%) American Indian, and two (8.3%) from two or more races. The Census reported that 24 people (100% of the population) lived in households. There were 15 households, out of which two (13.3%) had children under age 18, four (26.7%) were married couples living together, four (20.0%) had a female householder with no  husband present. Eight households (53.3%) were made up of individuals, and three (20.0%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 1.60. There were seven families (46.7%), and the average family size was 2.29. The population consisted of two people (8.3%) under 18, two (8.3%) aged 18 to 24, five (20.8%) aged 25 to 44, nine (37.5%) aged 45 to 64, and six (25.0%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 52.0 years. There were 15 occupied housing units at an average density of 0.6 per square mile (0.2/km), of which  11 (73.3%) were owner-occupied, and four (26.7%) were occupied by renters. Politics. In the state legislature, Furnace Creek is in , and . Federally, Furnace Creek is in . Tourist facilities. The village is surrounded by a number of National Park Service public campgrounds. The Ranch at Death Valley is located here, part of the Oasis at Death Valley, one of the park's major tourist facilities. The Furnace Creek Golf Course attached to the ranch claims to be the lowest in the world at below sea level. Some lodging is closed in the summer when temperatures can exceed , but the golf  course remains open; the resort established a summer tournament in 2011 called the Heatstroke Open which drew a field of 48. There are also a restaurant, café, store, and gas station in Furnace Creek village. The Furnace Creek Airport is located about west of the park headquarters. California Historical Landmark. Near Furnace Creek is California Historical Landmark number 442, Death Valley '49ers Gateway, assigned on October 24, 1949. The marker is at the corner of State Route 190 and Badwater Road. The California Historical Landmark reads: