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Peggy Jeanne Green papers, circa 1960-1975.
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Collection Overview
Title:
Peggy Jeanne Green papers, circa 1960-1975Creator/Contributor:
Green, Peggy Jeanne., creatorCreator/Contributor:
California City RealtyCreator/Contributor:
G.W.U. Properties, IncAbstract:
Contains promotional materials, advertisements, and other ephemera for California City, Calif. used by an agent to promote
real estate sales. Also includes a buyer copy of a real estate agreement (signed by Green) to purchase land in California
City from G.W.U Properties (Grand Western Cities, Inc). Also includes newspapers and maps pertaining to California City.
Calif. real estate (tract maps with street guides) and photocopies of Record-Of-Survey maps for California Valley ( San Luis
Obispo County, Calif.). Also includes some sales literature, publicity photographs (6), and survey maps for another planned
city that did not grow as anticipated, California Valley (San Luis Obispo County, Calif.). Black and white photographs (4,
8x10) include two men standing in a field, men operating road grading equipment, two men standing in front of a building with
a large "California Valley" sign on it, children playing on playground equipment. Color photograph (2, 5x7) showing car on
side of isolated highway with mountains in the distance, and a similar shot without the car.
Date:
1960 (issued)Subject:
n-us-caGreen, Peggy Jeanne -- Archives
Green, Peggy Jeanne -- Correspondence
New towns -- California
Planned unit developments -- California
Real estate development -- California -- California City
Real estate development -- California -- California Valley
Real property -- California -- California City
Real property -- California -- California Valley
Real estate agents -- California -- California City
Real estate agents -- California -- California Valley
Real estate management -- California -- California City
Real estate management -- California -- California Valley
California City (Calif.) -- Pictorial works
Kern County (Calif.) -- Pictorial works
California Valley (Calif.) -- Pictorial works
San Luis Obispo County (Calif.) -- Pictorial works
Note:
Peggy Jeanne Green papers, BANC MSS 2011/169, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
In English.
California City in Kern County, Calif. had its origins in 1958 when real estate developer and sociology professor Nat Mendelsohn
purchased 80,000 acres of Mojave Desert land with the aim of master-planning California's next great city. He designed his
model city, which he hoped would one day rival Los Angeles in size, around a Central Park with a 26-acre artificial lake.
Growth did not happen as he anticipated but despite large amounts of abandoned and undeveloped areas, California City has
grown from 3,200 people in 1985 to over 14,000 in 2009. Cerro Coso Community College, based in in the heart of California
City, serves Edwards AFB, California City, Mojave, Boron, North Edwards and the entire high desert in the Antelope Valley.
California Valley is part of an original Spanish land grant that was parceled out in 1960 into over 7,200 2.5 acre sections
by optimistic real estate developers. According to their own advertising fliers, these 1960 developers believed that the California
State Water Project might bring water to the area. After a more northerly route (closer to Highway 41/46) for the State Water
Project was chosen, many buyers lost heart, many properties were abandoned and the original developers went bankrupt. Several
ranches and other developments built dirt or gravel airstrips and at least one paved runway was built and was at one time
listed on aeronautical charts. A few hundred people have built homes in this isolated area since, but the massive growth
once promised never materialized.
Type:
Advertisements.Maps.
Photographs.
Legal instruments.
Certificates.
Physical Description:
1 box, 1 oversize box, 1 oversize folder (0.65 linear feet)
Language:
English