Central City - Colorado Ghost Town

CENTRAL CITY

NAME: Central City
COUNTY: Gilpin
ROADS: 2WD
GRID: 2
CLIMATE: Cold winter with snow, cool summer.
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Summer

COMMENTS: Just west from Denver, semi-ghost, many gambling facilities.
REMAINS: Many original buildings.

A population of 30,000 during the summer months and a population of 1500 during the winter months. But that's only part of the early history of Central City. Founded in 1859, it soon acquired the reputation of being in the middle of "the richest square mile on earth." By the end of its second year, most of the placer gold was gone which forced hard rock mining into being. As it turned out, that's were the money was, anyway. Over speculation of some mining stocks created a real depression for a while but the area survived and had good years during the '70s and '80s. Like most other mining towns of the era, Central City had its share of fires that ultimately resulted in brick being the material of choice with which to rebuild the town. Not far from Denver, Central City is on highway 160 north of highway 40 west of Denver. A must see town. Submitted by Henry Chenoweth. Central City Cemetery Courtesy Dolores Steele Central City Cemetery Courtesy Dolores Steele Died - 1878 - 15yrs. 5 mo. 9 days Courtesy Dolores Steele Died 1876 Courtesy Dolores Steele Marker - Queen of Central City - Mattie Mosch Courtesy Dolores Steele The new Forutne Valley Casino Courtesy Walt Jankowski Central City Today Courtesy Ryan Sullivan-Elkins Central City Today Courtesy Ryan Sullivan-Elkins Central City cemetary, current photo of previously posted photo. Courtesy Ryan Sullivan-Elkins	Town of Central City Courtesy Dolores Steele Wells Fargo Express Office Courtesy Dolores Steele Williams Livery Stables Courtesy Dolores Steele Hardware Courtesy Dolores Steele Opera House Courtesy Dolores Steele Theatre Courtesy Dolores Steele Toll Gate Saloon Courtesy Dolores Steele Current picture of Central City Main Street Courtesy Joe Ptak The Following 2 pictures can be clicked on for full size picture Central City - from Winnebago Hill Central City - 1912 Central City Hillside Mines Courtesy Ryan Sullivan-Elkins New Smuggler's Run housing developement in Central City Courtesy Ryan Sullivan-Elkins Grand Central Mine Courtesy David Johnson

A population of 30,000 during the summer months and a population of 1500 during the winter months. But that's only part of the early history of Central City. Founded in 1859, it soon acquired the reputation of being in the middle of "the richest square mile on earth." By the end of its second year, most of the placer gold was gone which forced hard rock mining into being. As it turned out, that's were the money was, anyway. Over speculation of some mining stocks created a real depression for a while but the area survived and had good years during the '70s and '80s. Like most other mining towns of the era, Central City had its share of fires that ultimately resulted in brick being the material of choice with which to rebuild the town. Not far from Denver, Central City is on highway 160 north of highway 40 west of Denver. A must see town. Submitted by Henry Chenoweth.