Goldfield's Fabulous Boom by Alan H. Patera (Western Places Volume 9-4)

Of all the mining camps of the American West, Goldfield is exceptional for its rapid and sustained growth, fueled by some of the richest gold deposits ever discovered.  A city grew on a barren strip of desert, from a few tents in 1903 to become Nevada’s biggest city in 1908.  At a time when Las Vegas was a dusty railroad town of 4,000 people, metropolitan Goldfield could boast 20,000 people.  Men got rich from Golodfield’s mines, and political careers were launched that dominated Nevada politics for decades.

Goldfield generated a lot of the news of Nevada.  In addition to the ore strikes and gold production, the construction of substantial buildings, and the advent of new technologies using electricity and gasoline, there were shootings (even assassinations), accidents, fires, and many events that frame Goldfield on a personal level.  In 1907 Goldfield was on the national stage as labor strife culminated in the encampment of Federal troops.

Come read about Goldfield and how it grew, and be amazed at some of the stories that can be told.

Paperback, 88 pages