Leadfield was founded by a shady promoter, C. C. Julian, in 1926. He used the town primarily to promote the sale of stock in a lead mine. California lawmen were already investigating Julian as he was starting the town. The place never flourished, and more money was undoubtedly made on stock sales than from the lead that was mined. 300 people lived there before the mine proved to be a dud. The post office lasted only 8 months.
Check out nearby Rhyolite, Nevada