You’ll find Clifton among Wyoming’s abandoned mining settlements, where an 1867 gold discovery sparked a swift transformation from wilderness to boomtown. Though copper was later found in 1870, the town’s prosperity proved short-lived as higher-quality ore discoveries at Gold Hill drew miners away by the mid-1870s. Today, you can explore scattered ruins, including an old mercantile building, train station foundations, and storage cellars – silent remnants of a once-thriving frontier community.
Key Takeaways
- Clifton became a thriving mining town after copper’s discovery in 1870, featuring hotels, stores, and saloons serving the mining community.
- The town experienced rapid decline by mid-1870s when higher-quality ore was discovered near Gold Hill, triggering mass exodus.
- Population drastically reduced to only two permanent residents, Brigham H. and Oliver Young, after the mining bust.
- Today, only scattered ruins remain, including an old mercantile building, train station foundations, and a historically mapped cemetery.
- The town’s late establishment of a mill and smelter in 1872 failed to prevent its abandonment and transformation into a ghost town.
The Discovery of Gold and Early Settlement
While early traces of gold were reported near South Pass in 1842 by a Georgian working for the American Fur Company, the region’s true gold rush didn’t begin until the late 1860s.
Prospectors discovered various gold types, including fine flour gold and coarse gold, particularly in the Willow Creek area, though Native American attacks initially drove them away.
Early prospectors found rich deposits of flour and coarse gold in Willow Creek before Native American resistance forced their retreat.
The discovery of the Carissa lode in 1867-1868 by Henry S. Reedall and his group sparked intense interest, yielding over 400 ounces of gold in just one winter using basic tools.
Multiple mining districts quickly emerged, including the South Pass-Atlantic City district, which became one of the largest. By November 1867, fifty houses and mills had been established as the area rapidly developed into a bustling mining community.
Life During the Mining Boom Years
After copper’s discovery in 1870, Clifton rapidly transformed into a bustling mining town with essential infrastructure and commerce serving its growing population.
You’d find hotels, stores, and saloons lining the main streets, while medical professionals and churches helped civilize the rough mining community.
The social dynamics centered around physical labor in the mines, with workers facing dangerous conditions daily. Local miners faced similar challenges to those in Weston County’s Cambria coal settlement.
By the 1880s, a network of narrow-gauge railroads connected the mines to processing facilities, replacing inefficient mule and oxen transport.
You could see freight cars hauling heavy equipment in and copper ore out, while bowling alleys and other social venues provided much-needed recreation.
Despite the economic opportunities, life remained unstable due to fluctuating mining yields and market demands, with the town’s fortunes tied directly to copper’s success.
The arrival of the Arizona & New Mexico Railway in 1883 further expanded transportation options for the growing mining operations.
Decline and Abandonment of Clifton
Despite its initial prosperity, Clifton’s mining fortunes took a sharp downturn by the mid-1870s when higher-quality ore deposits were discovered farther north near Gold Hill.
The economic collapse happened swiftly as miners and investors redirected their attention to the new boomtown, leaving Clifton’s depleted mines behind.
Swift economic ruin struck as gold seekers abandoned Clifton’s exhausted mines for richer prospects in the northern boomtown.
You can trace the dramatic population decline through the exodus that followed, with the town dwindling to just two permanent residents – Brigham H. and Oliver Young.
The establishment of a mill and smelter in 1872 proved too late to save the declining town.
The town’s main attractions once included a hotel, saloon, and stores that served the mining community.
While Oliver Young’s log cabin survived, most structures fell into disrepair.
The town’s commercial infrastructure vanished as hotels, saloons, and stores closed their doors.
Today, you’ll find only scattered ruins, overgrown mine sites, and a small cemetery where William R. Sheldon’s marked grave stands as a silent reminder of Clifton’s brief but vibrant past.
Notable Structures and Remnants Today
Today at the Clifton site, you’ll find scattered structural remnants that paint a picture of this once-bustling mining town. The most prominent archaeological findings include an old mercantile building and train station, which stand as the last distinguishable structures. Similar to the mining operations in Jibo that ended in 1938, these buildings represent the final traces of industrial activity.
You can explore cellar-like depressions near the two-track road’s end in the main town area, likely used for storage or mining operations. Much like Western Nuclear layoffs, this area saw rapid decline and abandonment in the 1980s.
As you walk the hillside, you’ll discover old house foundations and traces of residential buildings that once housed Clifton’s inhabitants. While visitor experiences aren’t guided by formal infrastructure or signage, the site’s remote location lets you freely investigate building interiors and foundation outlines.
A historically mapped cemetery lies north of town, though its markers have vanished with time.
Native American Relations and Regional Impact
Before Clifton emerged as a mining settlement, the region served as ancestral homeland to numerous Plains Indian tribes, including the Arapaho, Cheyenne, Crow, and Blackfeet peoples.
The peaceful native tribes often assisted early white settlers as guides in navigating the unfamiliar territory.
You’ll find that their tribal sovereignty was steadily eroded through a series of treaties, particularly after the 1851 Horse Creek Conference, which imposed artificial boundaries without Native input.
The discovery of resources near what would become Clifton contributed to the cultural disruption of indigenous societies. The tribes were skilled craftsmen who relied heavily on buffalo hunting grounds before European settlement disrupted their way of life.
By 1876-1877, military campaigns had forced Native Americans onto distant reservations in Montana, the Dakotas, and Oklahoma.
The displacement shattered traditional hunting grounds, trade networks, and social structures, while government-appointed leaders replaced traditional tribal governance, fundamentally altering the region’s demographic and cultural landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions
Were Any Significant Gold Robberies or Heists Reported in Clifton During Its Heyday?
You won’t find documented gold thefts or robbery legends from Clifton’s prime years. Despite the area’s mining activity, historical records and police reports show no significant heists during that period.
What Happened to the Mining Equipment and Machinery After the Town’s Abandonment?
Like silent sentinels of a bygone era, you’ll find mining relics left to rust where they stood. Some equipment was salvaged for scrap, while other pieces were preserved in nearby museums.
Did Any Famous Outlaws or Historical Figures Ever Visit Clifton?
You won’t find any famous outlaws among Clifton’s historical connections. The town’s only notable visitors were Brigham Young’s nephews, with documented evidence focusing on mining and Mormon settlement activities.
What Was the Average Monthly Gold Production During Clifton’s Peak Mining Period?
You’ll find mining statistics show average gold production reached approximately 33 ounces per month during peak operations, though you should know these figures varied due to seasonal conditions and market demands.
Were There Any Documented Supernatural Occurrences or Ghost Stories From Clifton?
You won’t find documented ghost sightings or haunted locations from this site – historical records show no supernatural occurrences. The town’s remnants tell only of mining life, not paranormal activity.
References
- https://bonnevillemariner.wordpress.com/2008/05/02/forgotten-ghost-town-of-clifton-reminds-visitors-of-minings-boom-and-bust-times/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XZl5-drOQk
- https://www.susantregoning.com/blog/south-pass-city
- https://www.explorewy.com/play/activities/articles/ghost-stories-and-haunted-places
- https://www.legendsofamerica.com/wy-ghosttowns/
- https://www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/south-pass-gold-rush
- https://www.mininghistoryassociation.org/Journal/MHJ-v1-1994-Hausel.pdf
- https://geology.utah.gov/popular/rocks-minerals/utah-gold/
- https://main.wsgs.wyo.gov/mineral-resources/metals/gold
- https://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/1357/report.pdf
