A utopian socialist experiment nestled in California’s majestic sequoias, striving for communal living and self-sufficiency.
Religion: Christianity
Founder: Burnette G. Haskell
Founded: 1885
Ended: 1892
Location: California, United States
Other Names: Kaweah Co-operative Colony
Size: 300 members (at peak)
The Kaweah Colony emerged in central California in 1886, inspired by the burgeoning movement of utopian socialism in America. Named with a phrase meaning “here we rest,” this community sought to embody the principles of shared labor and collective prosperity, setting its foundation within the verdant expanses of the Sierra Nevada range. Its establishment was notably influenced by the socialist theories of Laurence Gronlund and Edward Bellamy, aiming to translate these ideals into a tangible, functioning society. The colony was structured around a logging-based economy, with membership fees structured to encourage investment of both capital and labor. Despite reaching a peak membership of between 300 and 500 individuals, with about 150 residing within the community itself, the colony faced numerous challenges from its inception.
One of the Kaweah Colony’s notable achievements was its exploration and naming of the Giant Sequoia groves, including the tree known today as the General Sherman tree, which they initially named the Karl Marx tree. This act alone underscores the community’s dedication to its socialist ideals and its deep appreciation for the natural environment it called home. The colony was responsible for the area’s first newspaper, the Kaweah Commonwealth, serving as a vital communication tool for its members.
However, the colony’s existence was fraught with legal and logistical difficulties, particularly concerning land ownership and the right to log in the newly established Sequoia National Park. The U.S. District Court’s 1891 ruling against the colony for illegal logging marked the beginning of the end for this ambitious project. Despite efforts to secure compensation for their lost logging claims, the colony was officially dissolved in 1892. Yet, the spirit of the Kaweah Colony lives on, notably in the naming of a residence at the Twin Oaks Community in Virginia, a modern intentional community that honors historical attempts at communal living.
image via Yore Sequoia
