Are people still living in Slab City?
Despite the high temperatures, there are about 150 permanent residents of Slab City. Some of these “Slabbers”, or “Year-Rounders”, derive their living from government programs and have been driven to Slab City by poverty or job loss.
Was Slab City a military base?
Situated on 640 acres of public land located about 50 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border in Imperial County, California, Slab City sits on the site of Camp Dunlap, a former U.S. Marine Corps base.
Who lives at Slab City?
Named for its concrete foundation, the remains of a World War II-era military base, Slab City has drawn retirees, artists, anarchists, outcasts, the impoverished and others since the 1950s.
Who owns the land at Slab City?
The state
The state owns the land, and any revenues derived from it are earmarked for the California State Teachers Retirement System. Slab City nowadays is home to some 200 permanent residents and between 1,000 and 2,000 retirees seeking refuge from their native cold winter climes.
Can you carry a gun in Slab City?
NOTE WELL: NOTHING ILLEGAL IN IMPERIAL COUNTY, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, OR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BECOMES MAGICALLY LEGAL HERE IN SLAB CITY. IF YOU BREAK THE LAW, YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN. 6.5) Likewise, FIREARMS must be used in designated areas only and fireworks are illegal in this county.
Is it free to live in Slab City?
While Slab City has package delivery and there is no charge to live here, there is no running water, sewage, plumbing or electricity, unless you are creative and savvy enough to create your own, which some have done.
Is Slab City safe to visit?
Are the Slabs Dangerous? There are no laws officially enforced in the Slabs, meaning there is some inherent danger to going here. Sometimes a police cruiser will come by and check on the town, but there are no actual city services to turn to in times of crisis. Drug crimes are definitely a concern here.
Is it legal to live in Slab City?
Slab City is a lawless place in terms of government laws. That doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have its own laws. You can live freely here and you can be whoever you want, but you also have to follow the rules. There is a leader and a core community of long term Slabbers that call the shots.
Are there children in Slab City?
If you spend a decent amount of time in Slab City you will likely run into children at some point. Families with kids do in fact live in Slab City. During our time at the slabs we spoke with a young man about his experience growing up in Slab City.
Do police go to Slab City?
While it gets described as the “last free place in America,” and a lawless land, that’s not entirely accurate. The Imperial County Sheriff’s Department and the Niland Fire Department provide services to Slab City, while they receive nothing in return such as taxes.
Are there cops in Slab City?
There is no police department or any kind of government entity. Here, you are pretty much on your own. Somehow, on some level, it seems to work. Visitors to Slab City must first pass through the tiny town of Niland, near the southeast shore of the Salton Sea.