The estimate of the current population is about 6,400. The Median temperature in the summer is around 113 degrees Fahrenheit and in the winter it is around 30 degrees Fahrenheit. The yearly rainfall is 4.17". Most of the land near the mountains is rocky and mixed with a great deal of lava rock. Newberry Springs is a large valley surrounded by mountains on 3 sides. A lot of the land is hard packed clay covered with sand. Around 700 years ago the Pisgah Mountain blew its top and the Pisgah Crater was formed. The lava tubes and lava flow was created then! Most of Newberry Springs terrain consists of sand, clay, rocks (including volcanic), volcanic ash, dry lakes, and lava flow. Most of the foliage is Grease Wood, Athel Trees (Tamarix aphylla, also called saltcedar, Cactus, Desert Bird of Paradise, and wild flowers.

Newberry Springs has a History that can be dated as far back as as pre 20,000 BC. There is an Archaeological Dig site called the Calico Early Man Site where tools were dated as pre 20,000 BC.

Another site called the Schuilling Cave held human skull fragmants that dated back to 19, 000 BC.

Lake Manix covered much of the area of Newberry Springs up until 18,000 BC. It is said that at that time a massive earthquake caused this lake to drain, leaving only marshes and swamps behind. Early Man moved into the lower elevations where they hunted for their food sources such as Mammoths near water sources.

The Mojave Trail was one of the oldest trade routes of the "New World". The Mojave Trail runs adjacent to the Mojave River. The Mojave river was known as Rio de Los Animas ( the River of the Spirits). Trapper/trader Jedediah Smith named the river "Inconstant" since it would not run above ground at all places. The Mojave Indians would use this trade route to trade their goods with the Indians of the coastal area from San Diego to the San Louis Obispo area around 4000 years ago.

Padre Francisco Garces from Europe travelled the Mojave Trail through Newberry Springs in 1776, led by two Indian guides. He was looking for a route from New Mexico to the Missions in California.

The Mojave Trail saw many things while a popular trade route! From Indian slaves for trade to Piute Indians with stolen Spanish herds of mules, cattle, and horses, as Spanish Dragoons were on their tail, even A yearly mile long Spanish caravan of horses and mules ran the trail from California to Santa Fe.

Well known names such as Trapper/trader Jedediah Smith, Kit Carson, Yount, the Sublett brothers and Thomas "Peg Leg" Smith traveled the trail.

As the trapping business became slow, many trappers became law breakers and used the Mojave Trail as a get away route. Using this route was also convenient because of the Mojave River. It was a good place to stop and water stolen herds or slaves.

The Gold Rush of 1849 brought more traffic through the now Newberry Springs on the Mojave Trail.

Sanford & Banning started a freight and mail route between Salt Lake and San Bernardino which would follow the Mojave Trail and travel through the now Newberry Springs Area.

Travelers had to learn to travel in groups for safety against attacks by the Piute, and Chimehueve Indians.

Fort Cady was built in Newberry Springs for horse and camel mounted cavalry as the Piutes and Chimehueve Indians continue to prey on travelers and freighters. It was abandoned shortly after the start of the Civil War. Then reestablished when the Indians increased their attacks on the travelers killing many. Soon weakened and overpowered they caught and sent to Reservations. By 1868 All of the Indians in the area were either on Reservations or had been killed.

In 1875 prospectors first found silver on the south slope of the Calico Mountains, just North West of Newberry Springs. In 1881 came the discovery of the Silver King, It would be Calico’s richest mine. In the 1880's,The Alvord stamp mill was set up along the Mojave River not far from Fort Cady. The town of Calico was set up following the traders and freighter stations. The local farms supplied the food and supplies needed for Fort Cady, the travelers along the Mojave Trail and the town of Calico. The Mills were powered by Mesquite Wood harvested from Troy Lake and along Mojave River.

By the late 1800's, the town of Calico was filled with prospectors searching for their fortunes and the Calico Mining District became one of the richest in the state.

In 1883, borax was discovered three miles east at Borate, and many of the miners left Calico. But when late in the year the camp was destroyed by a fire they returned to Calico again. In 1884 additional silver veins were discovered in Calico and the town bloomed! The population boomed! Some 2,500 people lived there. They built two dozen saloons and gambling halls that never closed, a church, a public school, a dance school, a literary society, along with dozens of retail businesses.

After 1884 many of the mines consolidated.In 1888, the Oro Grande Mining Company was forged on the north bank of the Mojave River. It would connect the stamp mill, near Daggett, to the Silver King mine by the ten mile narrow-gauge Calico Railroad.

Around 1917 a cyanide plant was built in Calico, using the Silver King Mine dumps. The town of Calico was revived once again. By 1935, the town was abandoned once again!

In 1950 Knott’s Berry Farm , owned by Walter Knott bought the town of Calico and began restoration of the town. It is said that Walter spent a lot of time with his Uncle who lived there. He and his Uncle helped to build a Silver Mill during the time of the Civil War. One third of the town has been rebuilt and restored. The rest of the town has been built to follow the same old west theme as closely reflecting the memories of Old Calico as possible.

In November 1966, Walter Knott donated Calico to San Bernardino County. It is now a San Bernardino County Regional Park.

In 1885 the railroad was finished (called the Southern Pacific and then the Santa Fe railroad now!) With the inception of the railroad, travelers were becoming fewer and fewer on the Mojave Trail and Fort Cady was no longer needed so it closed. The farmers who lived along the Mojave River were now supplying feed for the 20 mule teams who brought Borax into Daggett. Many of them moved on though as did traders and freighting stations along the river since people began using rail travel as the preferred method of travel across the harsh desert. Newberry Springs was previously called "Water" in those days. Water from "Water" was shipped via tank car to fill all of the tanks and underground cisterns located at the railroad section houses as far East as Essex. The water from "Water" which is now called Newberry Springs has always been, and is still, the water source for much of the Eastern Mojave today.

Once the Automobile was a popular way of travel. A road was built for them that followed the same route as the railroad tracks. This road was called Highway 66. It was located a little farther to the South of what is known as Route 66 today! It was moved later to avoid marshes located at the Springs, and the seasonal mud bogs of Troy Lake and the deep sand of the valley floor. Old stretches of the old Highway 66 can still be found today! There are even a few old homestead foundations to be seen and graves marking the final resting place of of a time gone by!

During the middle to late 1920's homesteading broke loose in the Newberry Springs Valley. The clearing of land, developing of water sources, and the building of a house were required to prove you were homesteading that particular piece of land. The water table was on average between 12 and 16 feet below the surface of the grown and there was more than enough of it for watering crops, herds and household domestic care.

The population in Newberry Springs began to grow again shortly after the great depression. Westbound refugees traveled down Highway 66 from Oklahoma's dust bowl. Many became stranded when their vehicles broke down near the springs. They were forced to settle in the area!Those from the cities who could not afford to live there any more showed up at the homes of friends and relatives in the area and relied on them to take them in. These homesteaders became overwhelmed and many a ranchers cattle and Desert Burro fed them or they would not have survived!

As the depression began to fade away, and it was affordable to live in the city again. Many of those who didn't care for desert living returned to the hustle and bustle of city life. Those who had money to travel took their travel along Highway 66 and this made way for many new business in the Newberry Springs area. Many of the Farmers turned to raising Chickens for Walter Knotts. His famous Chicken Restaurant at Knotts Berry Farm in Buena Park, California was supplied by these. Walter Knott and his family had once lived in Newberry Springs and had never forgotten how the residents of Newberry Springs had helped them during rough times!

During the beginning of WWII, the Daggett airport and the Barstow Marine Base became good sources of employment for the people of Newberry Springs. Military Convoys used Highway 66 but gas rationing slowed down tourism and trips through the Newberry Springs area via Highway 66. There were those travellers coming from the Northwest in search of jobs along the coast. There was some money made off of these travelers, but not much. The Los Angeles Black Market Beef industry was a sure fire way for farmers/ranchers in the valley to make a living!

By the end of WWII, Newberry Springs was home to : 5 gas stations, 4 motels, 4 auto repair garages, one general store, 1 grocery store, 5 cafes, one rock and curio shop, 1 barber shop, 1 public swimming pool and a couple of bars. Alfalfa and melons became the major crops of the valley and turkey ranches joined the many chicken ranches.

By the many retirees from the city joined the population of Newberry Springs. They were being wooed by the beauty of the desert, the sunshine and clean air. Many of these retirees added to their retirement incomes by taking up farming! Catfish farms were added, Pistachio farms and many others. Newberry Springs was soon dotted with private lakes, ponds and lush orchards.

When Interstate 40 was built to replace highway 66 the businesses in Newberry began losing business rapidly. Now there are only a few left. They mainly do business with the local people and a few stragglers from the Interstate. In 1967, Newberry was renamed Newberry Springs. Mail was often wrongly sent to Newbury Park so the U. S. Postal Service intervened and the renaming was their solution!

In the late 1980's the movie the Bagdad Cafe, starring Jack Palance, CCH Pounder and Marianne Sägebrecht was filmed on location in Newberry Spings at what was then called the Sidewinder Restaurant and the Motel next door. Once the movie was finished being filmed the name of the restaurant was changed to The Bagdad Cafe to bring in film fans and other tourists!

L & P Publishing: Owners Lyn and Pat Wright, Chevron Gas Station/Kelley's Market, Silver Valley Towing, Magee Enterprises, Electric and General Contractor: Owner Asher Magee, Silver Valley Septic and Hendley Enterprises: Manager Richie Hendley, PGI Graphics& Illustrating, Emilio's Hauling Service: Owner Emelio Becerra, Mom's Portable Toilets: Owners Lee & Evelyn Harman, Desert Dragon Martial Arts: Owner Jeff Gaastra, Deel Plumbing: Owner: Paul & Paula Deel

Internet Dial-Up & Satellite Service, Net Surfers Main Street-Dial-Up, Clark's Water Well Service: Owner Larry Clark, Silver Valley Propane, Eagle Well Drilling & Pump Service: Owner Raymond Ward, Nationwide Realestate: Broker Sandy Brittian, JC'S Vehicle Registration & Lien Sale & Notary Public: Owner Julie Currier, Texaco Gas Station, Silver Valley Tires, and Newberry Mountain RV Park.

Bagdad Cafe, Horton Ski Lakes: Owner: Dr. Jack and Mrs. Gretchen Horton, Wet Set Villiage, Koi Heaven, Barstow Koi Farms, Newberry Springs Senior Association (Resteraunt & Thrift Shop), Le Belle Rouge Rooster Farm: Owner: Paul Hong, Big Als Pistachio Farms and Plant, 3W Ranch-Alpaca and Farm Raised Catfish, Alfalfa Farms- Owners such as Alfredo Arguelles, Alan De Jong, Mitch Hammock, and many more...

As you can see the area of Newberry Springs has expanded its businesses quite a bit since the late 1960's!