9/27/2013
Ludlow, California
Ludlow Mercantile, Ludlow, California
Ludlow is a small town on the side of interstate 40 in the Mojave desert. Today, the town consists of a busy gas station, cafe and a small trailer park just off the I 40 exit. A few hundred feet south of the gas station and away from the freeway is the center of what was formerly a larger town. The 1930 census lists a population of 637 for Ludlow township. Otherwise from 1910 to 1950 censuses generally counted 250 or so residents in Ludlow. In the early 1900s Ludlow was a commercial center for regional mining operations and had a small railroad operations facility. Ludlow is at the point where route 66 and interstate 40 meet and before I 40 was built had services for travelers on route 66. There is a small cluster of ruined, former highway services buildings on route 66 just East of the operating gas station. This, presumably was the center of town before I 40 was built. The center of town before route 66 was built was along the railroad South of the operating gas station. There is a currently occupied house on Main Street between the open gas station and this area with lots of no-trespassing signs posted. I'm pretty sure the no-trespassing signs refer to the yard of that house and not the gravel road itself although it's not entirely clear. Beyond the that house is a gravel road that parallels the railroad tracks. This road (also Main Street) and the tracks were the center of Ludlow in the late 1800s and early 1900s. There are several ruins of homes and former commercial buildings along this road including the 1902 Ludlow Mercantile building (pictured).
Ludlow, California
Ludlow, California
Ludlow, California
Ludlow, California
Ludlow, California
Ludlow Mercantile, Ludlow, California
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