Colorado Gold Mining
The discovery of gold in Colorado in 1858 ignited a major influx of people from across the United States into the region. It was the second largest gold rush in United States history after the California Gold Rush a decade earlier. Several factors contributed to this influx, including the pacification of Native Americans and an economic downturn in the eastern United States.
Although the gold found in Colorado colorado gold was not as abundant as that found in California, it was still sufficient to spark a mining boom. Unlike the streambeds that yielded nuggets in California, gold in Colorado was found in hard rock veins or lodes. This required the use of stamp mills to crush gold from the rock after it was mined.
Initially, prospectors were drawn to the gold rich mountains of northern Colorado where they were able to make significant finds. As the population grew, many towns were established in and around the mines. These towns were often referred to as “gold camps.”
In the early years of the gold rush, most gold was discovered in placer gold mining districts along rivers and streams. These places were familiar to Ute Indians and other native people before they were used for mining purposes.
Some of these rivers were tributaries of larger river systems, such as the South Platte and Arkansas. In addition to sand and gravel aggregate operations that recovered small amounts of placer gold, many mining companies developed lode (or open pit) gold mines.
As mining became more profitable, many new companies were formed and more large scale mines were opened. By 1860, more than three hundred large gold mines were active in the state.
The earliest gold mines were located in and around the Rocky Mountains near Denver. The first to be established was the Cripple Creek and Victor (CC&V) mine in Teller County. This was the largest gold mine in the world until it closed in 2008.
Another significant area for gold production was Park County, which contains some of the most famous Colorado placer mining areas such as Tarryall, Fairplay, Alma, Breckenridge and Leadville.
There were also a number of smaller placer gold mining districts throughout Park County. Most of these were operated by the Alma Placer Mining Company.
Besides gold, other minerals were also mined in the Park County region. Some of these include zinc, copper, manganese, silver and uranium.
These industries helped drive growth in the region and in the early Colorado government. They also attracted tens of thousands of European-American and Mexican American immigrants who built thriving communities in the Rocky Mountain foothills.
Some of these communities were built along railroad lines. These tracks linked the mining camps to cities in the eastern part of the state, such as Denver and Colorado Springs.
The development of the railroads and the creation of new mining districts in the mountains drove rapid economic growth in many of these towns, as well as in the rest of the state. This fueled the creation of Colorado’s territorial government in 1861.