The beginning of Hamilton in 1868 started a boomtown that resulted in 25,000 people of all types migrating to the area where silver ore was for the taking. Or so it was thought. That it was partially correct lasted until 1887 when big-scale production ceased. All the silver was on top and none below. At 8,000 feet elevation, people werent about to stay to see if a real vein could be located. People moved out almost at the same rate as they moved in, in 1868. By then there had been shipped a total of $22,000,000 in silver bullion Treasure Hill was the site of discoveries in late 1867. The area was not suitable for a townsite, so one was located at the base of Treasure Hill in May of 1868. The town was given its name after a W. H. Hamilton, one of the three that laid out the townsite. By June, the town had a population of 30 and one business establishment—a saloon. Rich discoveries on Treasure Hill created a boom and a huge rush to Hamilton took place. By winter, Hamilton’s population had swelled to 600. Once the spring thaw was over, the town had a floating population of over 10,000. Stage lines were running to Hamilton on a regular basis by summer. When White Pine County was organized in March of 1869, Hamilton was selected as the county seat. By summer, Hamilton boasted a population of 12,000. There were close to 100 saloons, several breweries, 60 general stores, and many other businesses. The town also had theaters, dance halls, skating rinks, a Miners’ Union Hall, and a fraternal order. During the peak of the White Pine rush, close to 200 mining companies were operating in the area. But once the uncertainty of the mines potential became known, many of them left the district. Hamilton then experienced a depression and many residents left as quickly as they had come. The population shrunk to 3,915. A disastrous fire on June 27, 1873 spread throughout the business district and caused $600,000 in damage. Hamilton’s slide continued and by late 1873 had shrunk to 500. Another fire struck the town on January 5, 1885, destroying the courthouse and much of what remained in the dying town. Hamilton was dealt its worst blow when the county seat was moved to Ely in 1887. The town was revived in the early 1980s when extensive mining operations began on Treasure Hill. The town now has bout 75 residents and care has been taken not to disturb the ruins. Hamilton is well worth the trip. Hamilton, Nevada: Desert Magazine, October, 1941, by Dale Hamilton. Hamilton rapidly came into being after discovery of rich silver ore in the area. The first settlers found shelter in local caves, which were numerous. By May 1868, the settlement, then known as Cave City was formed. The town boomed following the discovery of rich silver deposits nearby. By that winter, it had approximately 600 inhabitants. It was soon renamed for mine promoter W.H. Hamilton. The post office first opened for business on August 10, 1868 while the community was still part of Lander County, Nevada. White Pine county was formed in March 1869 and Hamilton was selected as the first county seat. By its peak during the summer of 1869, Hamiltons population was estimated at 12,000. There were close to 100 saloons, several breweries, 60 general stores, and numerous other businesses. There were also theaters, dance halls, skating rinks, a Miners’ Union Hall, and a fraternal order located in the thriving community. Close to 200 mining companies were However, Hamiltons prosperity was not to last. It was soon discovered that the local ore deposits proved shallow. Subsequently, by 1870, less than two years after its founding, the community was already in decline. Once the shallow nature of the local ore deposits became known, many of the mining companies left the area. Hamiltons population and economy began a rapid decline. At the census of 1870, the population was 3,915, less than a third of what it had been estimated at the previous summer. On June 27, 1873, a large fire spread throughout the business district and caused an estimated $600,000 in damage, a huge sum at the time. Most businesses that burnt down were abandoned, and not rebuilt. By this time, the towns population was estimated to have shrunk to only 500. Another fire destroyed the courthouse at Hamilton along with all of the records in January 1885. County records began to be kept at the Ely Courthouse begin January 5, 1885. Although Hamilton was the first county seat of White Pine County, the rapidly shrinking community lost that designation to the town of Ely in 1887. The Hamilton post office closed in 1931. Wikipedia
Posted on: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 00:53:33 +0000
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