Traver townsite was laid out by the 16 Land and Water company, and an auction of lots was held on April 8, 1884. Within sixty days a small town was in existence. It prospered for a few years and was probably the largest grain shipping point in the United States. Irrigation caused alkali to come to the surface in the nearby area, and the land became worthless. Construction of the Eastside branch of the Southern Pacific diverted freight to Reedley and Dinuba. The 16 Company sold its canals and water rights to the Alta Irrigation district in 1890, and Traver almost disappeared.