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Discovering Hamilton: A Journey Through White Pine County’s Ghost Town

Hamilton is a captivating ghost town situated in White Pine County, Nevada. Established during the silver mining boom in the 1860s, this once-thriving town now stands as a testament to the rise and fall of mining communities in the American West.

Delve into the rich history of Hamilton and explore the remnants of its past, from abandoned mines to weathered buildings that still stand today.

Hamilton Nevada

Hamilton Overview

The mines of the White Pine district were first established in 1865.

Between 1868 and 1875, they supported many thriving towns including Hamilton, Eberhardt, Treasure City, and Shermantown. These communities, now all ghost towns, are clustered eleven miles south of this point

Year Established/Founded

Hamilton was established in the year 1868.

Hamilton Nevada History

Hamilton was founded during the height of the silver mining boom in the late 1860s. The town got its name from W.H. Hamilton, who was instrumental in promoting the area’s mining potential. As the mines flourished, Hamilton’s population rapidly increased, attracting prospectors, merchants, and settlers seeking fortune and opportunity. However, by the late 1870s, the town began to decline as the mines became less productive, and residents gradually moved away.

Timeline

  • 1868: Hamilton is founded and named after W.H. Hamilton
  • 1869: The Hamilton Mining District is established
  • 1870: Population peaks at around 12,000 residents
  • 1873: The financial crisis hits Hamilton, causing a decline in mining investment
  • 1877: The Great Fire of Hamilton destroys much of the town
  • Late 1870s: The mines’ productivity declines, leading to the town’s gradual abandonment

Mines

  • Eberhardt Mine – Silver
  • Hidden Treasure Mine – Silver
  • Independence Mine – Silver
  • Treasure Hill Mine – Silver

Post Office

The Hamilton Post Office was established on April 9, 1869, and was closed on November 30, 1931.

View the list and history of Nevada Post Offices.

Newspaper

The town’s local newspaper was the “Hamilton Inland Empire.”

Learn more about Nevada Newspapers

Category

Mining

Marker Type

Blue marker

Nevada Historical Marker Number

Hamilton Nevada is Nevada Historical Marker #53.

Click here to view the full list of Nevada State Historical Markers.

County

White Pine County, Nevada

GPS Coordinates

39.353654, -115.394466

Nevada Historical Marker Transcription

The mines of the White Pine district were first established in 1865.  Between 1868 and 1875, they supported many thriving towns including Hamilton, Eberhardt, Treasure City, and Shermantown.  These communities, now all ghost towns, are clustered eleven miles south of this point.

Hamilton and its neighbors thrived as a result of large-scale silver discoveries in 1868.  Experiencing one of the most intense, but shortest-lived silver stampedes ever recorded, the years 1868-1869 saw some 10,000 people living in huts and caves on Treasure Hill at Mount Hamilton, at an elevation of 8,000 to 10,500 feet above sea level.

Hamilton was incorporated in 1869 and became the first county seat of White Pine County that same year.  It was disincorporated in 1875.  In this brief span of time, a full-sized town came into bloom with a main street and all the usual businesses.  Mine brick courthouse was constructed in 1870.

On June 27, 1873, the main portion of the town was destroyed by fire.  The town never fully recovered.  In 1885, another fire burned the courthouse and caused the removal of the White Pine County seat to Ely.

STATE HISTORICAL MARKER No. 53

STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE

WHITE PINE PUBLIC MUSEUM INC.

References Used

Hamilton Nevada