The Mussel Slough Tragedy is the name given to a gunfight that occurred on May 11, 1880 near the town of Hanford, California in the central San Joaquin valley.  The gunfight took place between a large group of lightly armed settlers who were attempting to dissuade a U.S. Marshal from evicting settlers from land owned by the Southern Pacific Railroad and the legal owners of that land who were attempting to take possession of it.  The confrontation erupted in gunfire and seven men died as a result.  It was the deadliest gunfight in California history and ranks among the top two or three gunfights in American history in terms of the loss of life and many consider it to be the most influential gunfight in American history in terms of its long-term ramifications.

The Mussel Slough Country, where the gunfight took place, was named after a local waterway--the Mussel Slough--which was, in turn, named after the freshwater mussels that inhabited its banks.  Originally a part of Tulare County, the Mussel Slough Country is now in Kings County--by which appellation it  is now known.  Prior to the formation of Kings County, the political leaders in the Mussel Slough Country, desiring a more amenable and attractive sounding name to attract settlers and businesses, began calling the area the Lucerne Valley.  That name prevailed for awhile but, in general, the historic Mussel Slough/Lucerne Valley area is simply called Kings County today.