Historical Timeline
Pre-1900s: Long before mining arrived, Native American groups like the Kawaiisu and Panamint Shoshone traveled through the area, using seasonal springs and trading routes across the western Mojave Desert.
1905: Amargo rail siding popped up along the Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad line. It mostly served borate shipments from nearby mines like Borate and played a minor role in desert freight traffic.
1913: Dr. J.K. Suckow, a homesteader and geologist, drilled a water well near Boron and hit a strange white mineral instead — colemanite, a borate ore. He had stumbled onto one of the richest borate deposits in the world.
1925: A large-scale borax deposit was confirmed in the area. This set off a new development chapter as mining companies raced to secure land and mineral rights. The town of Boron was born around this effort.
1927: The Pacific Coast Borax Company opened a mine and began full-scale operations. A mill and housing followed quickly, forming the roots of what became a tight-knit mining town.
1930s–40s: Boron continued to grow with steady borax production. During World War II, borates were vital in producing glass, steel, and other military materials, making the town strategically important.
1957: U.S. Borax, which had taken over operations, opened the Borax Visitors Center to showcase the mineral’s and industry’s significance to the public.
1961: NASA began testing rocket engines and aircraft nearby at the Boron Federal Aviation Facility, later used by Edwards Air Force Base. The open land and clear skies made it ideal for aerospace development.
1970s–1980s: Boron became famous for having the largest open-pit borax mine in the world—a giant hole in the desert with a global economic impact. Most of the world’s borates came out of this little town.
1990s: Rio Tinto Minerals, an international mining company, acquired U.S. Borax. The site remained one of the company’s most productive and technologically advanced operations.
2000s–2010s: Boron remained focused on mining, but the town faced challenges as automation reduced jobs and younger generations left for opportunities elsewhere.
Present Day: Boron is still home to one of the world’s largest borate mines. The town has a museum, a tight-knit community, and a front-row seat to the blend of industrial history and desert resilience. Mining built everything—from streets to schools—and the desert continues to shape daily life.