Wendel, California

Wendel
Unincorporated community
Wendel Location in California Show map of California Wendel Wendel (the United States) Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 40°20′54″N 120°14′01″W
Country	United States
State	California
County	Lassen County
Elevation [1]	4,012 ft (1,223 m)

Wendel is an unincorporated community in Lassen County, California.^[1] It is located 23 miles (37 km) east-southeast of Susanville,^[2] at an elevation of 4012 feet (1223 m).^[1] Wendel's ZIP Code is 96136.

The Wendel post office opened in 1915 (when it was transferred from Purser), closed in 1920, and re-opened in 1921.^[2] The name Wendel was bestowed by Thomas Moran, the president of the Nevada–California–Oregon Railway, for a friend.^[2]

Wendel was once a crew change point for the railroad, with housing, hotels, and other services for train workers. Most of the railroad infrastructure in Wendel was demolished in 1996, and the railroad is now abandoned.^[3] A few homes can still be found in the area, however.

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Wendel, California
2. Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, Calif.: Word Dancer Press. p. 428. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
3. Kreiss, Joseph (December 10, 1996). "Railroad era in Wendel demolished". Lassen County Times. Susanville, CA. Retrieved January 1, 2024.