COLUMBUS

NAME: Columbus
COUNTY: Esmeralda
ROADS: 2WD
GRID: 5
CLIMATE: Cold in winter, Hot in summer.
BEST TIME TO VISIT:
Spring and Fall.
COMMENTS: 5 miles southwest of US 95.
Semi-Ghost. A current small mining operation is going on about 2 miles from the site of the original town. The newer looking buildings are from the 1950's. Look nearer to the hills for the original site and ruins.
REMAINS: Rock wall foundations and a few graves.

Columbus was founded in 1865 by silver miners. But a rich supply of salt was discovered nearby and by 1866 the population had grown to 200. In 1871 borax was also discovered and by 1873 there were several companies at work. By 1875 there was a school, a post office, an iron foundry and a weekly newspaper. But the towns major borax company moved that same year and town began decline that summer. Town was competely dead by the mid 1880's.
Numerous other operations have since tried to revive the borax mining up through to today but none have lasted.

Submitted by: Cat Evans


Columbus
Courtesy Cat Evans


Columbus
Courtesy Cat Evans

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