Parkfield | |
|---|---|
 Parkfield Cafe | |
  Parkfield Location in California  Parkfield Parkfield (the United States) | |
| Coordinates: 35°53′59″N 120°25′58″W / 35.89972°N 120.43278°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Monterey County |
| Elevation | 1,529 ft (466 m) |
Parkfield (formerly Russelsville)[2] is an unincorporated community in Monterey County, California.[1] It is located on Little Cholame Creek 21 miles (34 km) east of Bradley,[2] at an elevation of 1,529 feet (466 m).[1] As of 2007, road signs announce the population as 18.
Parkfield is located in the Temblor Range between the San Joaquin Valley and the Central Coast, at an elevation of 1,529 feet (466 m) above sea level. Mining and homesteading used to be prosperous activities in this community, but the mines were exhausted below economic recovery levels, and the industry moved elsewhere. Today, Parkfield is a small town of about 18 people, most of whom are ranchers and farmers. There is a small tourism industry in the town based on equine-related events, hunting, a bluegrass music festival, and Parkfield's unique earthquake history (see the Geology section below). The Parkfield motto is, "Be here when it happens."
A post office operated at Parkfield from 1884 to 1954.[2] The town's original name of Russelsville was rejected by the post office, and Parkfield was chosen from the town's park-like setting among oak trees.[2]
The ZIP Code is 93451, and the community is inside area code 805.
- ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Parkfield, California
- ^ a b c d Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, Calif.: Word Dancer Press. p. 934. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.