Society
Slab City, the last “lawless” city is in California, where you won’t find water, electricity or taxes, but maybe some inner peace
100 miles northeast of San Diego, you can find a community where most residents want to get lost. This “squatters paradise” is home to up to 4,000 people who just want to be left alone.
For most of us, living without water, electricity and the internet is unthinkable. But over the last 70 years Slab City has attracted artists, retirees and a wide range of outcasts who were looking for some freedom in the California desert. The “city” is made up primarily of people over 60 years old, who live off of their social security checks or disability benefits. Some residents get money from tourist donations and selling goods to visitors.
Living off the grid and dropping out of society
The 1960s were years in which hippies and society dropouts looked for ways to protest against the establishment. Many chose to live off the grid in communes and other counterculture communities. The area was originally an artillery training range for Camp Dunlap, but by the 60s all of the buildings had been taken down and very little remained. According to an article in the San Diego Reader, by 1984 there were more than 600-700 recreational vehicles on the land and other estimates calculate as many as 2000 trailers were located in the area.
The famous Salvation mountain, which was created by Leonard Knight, is a colorful mountain made of adobe and paint. Although there is no official local government, the roads around the community are patrolled by the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office and if required, the Niland Fire Department is available for emergencies at the site.
There is some confusion regarding who owns the land. Some claim that the State of California is the legal owner of the area, while others report a building contractor purchased the land. The lawless city is currently managed by its own residents, who use generators or solar panels for electricity. A tank at the community church provides clean water for residents.
Tourist attractions
Slab City is made up of different districts or neighborhoods, where some people live all year, “Slabbers” or “Year-Rounders,” while other people come and go. Winter is the time of year when the population is at its peak, while the hot climate in the summer reduces the number of residents to 150 people, according to some estimates. Some of the areas that make up Slab City are East Jesus, which features “artwork” and experimental art as well as live events and performances. The Range is another area, which offers entertainment with its own stage, lights, speakers, etc. Probably the most famous landmark in Slab City is Salvation Mountain. The small hill of colored adobe was made by Leonard Knight, who quit his job and dropped out of society when he found out he had cancer. He died on Feb. 10, 2014.
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