Welcome to the world of one-place studies! Twenty-six of our members are sharing something in their particular place for this year's A-Z Blogging Challenge. It's the turn of Erin Klein who shares with us views of evolution and devolution of places in her place.

The southwestern United States is home to many defunct boomtowns (also known as ghost towns) that sprang up overnight and just as quickly disappeared. In Nevada, the towns were centered on mining activity taking place in the area and populations rose and fell with the success and demise of the mines and mills. In my place of Nye County, Nevada there were many such boomtowns.

Few buildings of the boomtown era remain intact. Lumber was scarce in many areas and residents literally 'moved house' when they relocated to the next boomtown. The forces of nature and vandalism have taken their toll on the rest of the surviving buildings. I am always on the lookout for old photographs and postcards as well as current photographs of any remaining trace of the space they once occupied on the land.

Belmont, Nevada, circa 1871.
Photo in public domain
Belmont, Nevada, 2006
Photo by Don Barrett – Own Work, CC BY-NC/ND 2.0
Mill in Belmont, Nevada, circa 1871
Photo in public domain
Mill in Belmont, Nevada, circa 1871
Photo in public domain
One of the remaining smelter stacks. Belmont, Nevada 2005
Photo by QKC – Own Work, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cook Bank, Rhyolite, Nevada, 1908
Photo in public domain
Cook Bank, 101 years later
Photo by Tahoenathan – Own Work, CC BY-SA 3.0

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

The Society for One-Place Studies is a leading organisation dedicated to supporting One-Placers worldwide. 

Facebook Page  Twitter Profile  Instagram  YouTube  Members only Facebook Group  Pinterest

Contact Us

By email:
info@one-place-studies.org

By post:
Society for One-Place Studies,
28 St Ronan’s Avenue,
Southsea, Hampshire, PO4 0QE
United Kingdom

© The Society for One-Place Studies