Brodhead, Colorado, Las Animas County is a fascinating ghost town with a rich history that captivates those interested in the remnants of the past. Below is detailed information about the town.
County: Las Animas County
Zip Code: Not available
Latitude / Longitude: 37.1986° N, 104.5044° W
Elevation: Approximately 6,220 feet (1,896 meters)
Time Zone: Mountain Standard Time (MST)
Established: Brodhead was established in the late 19th century, during the peak of the Colorado coal mining boom.
Disestablished: The town was largely abandoned by the mid-20th century as the mining industry declined.
Comments: Brodhead was primarily a coal mining settlement, reflecting the economic activities that dominated the region during its peak. Like many such towns, it rose quickly, prospering as long as the demand for coal remained high, before losing its population as resources dwindled and mining operations ceased.
Remains: Today, there are few visible remnants of Brodhead. Some foundations and structures may still be discernible to the keen observer, hinting at the once-thriving community that existed there.
However, nature has largely reclaimed the area, and many original buildings have either decayed or been removed.
Current Status: Brodhead is considered a ghost town, with no permanent population and minimal, if any, remaining infrastructure.
Brodhead was a mining town built and owned by a company formed by three brothers: Henry C. Brodhead (President) who was married to the author Eva Wilder Brodhead, Albert G. Brodhead (Vice President), and Robert S. Brodhead (Secretary and General Manager) and operated between the late 1890s and the mid-1960s.
The Brodhead brothers had previously operated a mine in Gonzales Canyon between 1896 and 1899. Initially, the town was built as a company town
Remarks: Brodhead poignantly reminds us of the transient nature of boomtowns. While its physical presence may be minimal, the history of such towns continues to evoke curiosity and interest among historians and ghost town enthusiasts.
The site stands as a symbol of the cycles of economic prosperity and decline that have shaped many communities in Colorado and across the American West.
