You’ll find Ruby City, Idaho’s second permanent settlement, perched at 6,200 feet in the rugged Owyhee Mountains. After gold’s discovery in 1863, this boomtown briefly flourished as Owyhee County‘s first seat, with miners flooding in at a 200-to-1 gender ratio. Despite generating over $1 million annually from nearby mines, Ruby City declined when the county seat moved to Silver City in 1867. Today, only scattered foundations and mining debris reveal its short-lived glory.
Key Takeaways
- Ruby City was established in 1863 as Idaho’s second permanent Owyhee Mountains settlement and first Owyhee County seat.
- The town boomed after gold and silver discoveries, with mining operations generating over $1 million annually by late 1860s.
- Ruby City declined after losing its county seat status to Silver City in 1867 and miners left for richer deposits upstream.
- By the 1930s, Ruby City had transformed into a ghost town, abandoned due to dwindling gold deposits and economic shifts.
- Today, visitors can explore scattered foundations and mining debris, though the site lacks preservation compared to nearby Silver City.
The Rise of a Mining Boomtown
When prospectors discovered the Morning Star quartz deposit in November 1863, Ruby City quickly emerged as the second permanent settlement in Idaho’s Owyhee Mountains.
You’d find miners shifting from basic placer mining techniques to more complex lode mining operations on War Eagle Mountain, sparking rapid growth in this high-elevation frontier town.
As Ruby City became Owyhee County’s first official seat in 1863, you’d witness a bustling community dynamics unlike anywhere else.
The town’s population swelled with determined men seeking their fortunes, creating an extreme gender ratio of 200-to-1.
Despite the harsh conditions and expensive supplies – with hay costing up to $300 per ton at 6,200 feet elevation – the settlement thrived with essential services including a post office, newspaper, mercantiles, and law enforcement. The Owyhee Avalanche newspaper established itself as the county’s first press, bringing news and information to the mining community. To keep spirits high during long winters, residents enjoyed entertainment from Hurdy Gurdy Girls who traveled to perform dances.
Life in the Rugged Owyhee Mountains
Despite the Owyhee Mountains’ harsh semi-arid climate, Ruby City’s pioneers carved out a challenging existence at 6,200 feet elevation. Today, these lands comprise 7 million acres spanning Oregon, Idaho, and Nevada.
Nestled high in the Owyhee range, determined settlers built Ruby City, defying nature’s resistance at this remote mountain outpost.
You’d find environmental challenges at every turn, from scorching summers reaching the 90s to limited water access on the mesas. With only 10 inches of annual rainfall, survival required careful resource management. The rugged volcanic terrain and deep canyons made daily life a test of endurance, while wildlife adaptation shaped both human and animal behavior in this unforgiving landscape.
- You’ll encounter over 1,200 plant species, including 26 endemic varieties unique to the Owyhee region.
- You’re limited to groundwater sources, as surface water remains scarce due to the area’s deep canyons.
- You’re dealing with summer droughts that force careful water management.
- You’ll find dramatic elevation changes from 2,000 to 8,000 feet, affecting both temperature and rainfall patterns.
Gold, Silver, and Economic Growth
The 1863 gold discovery by the Jordan party sparked a transformative era in the Owyhee Mountains‘ history. You’ll find that within months, prospectors uncovered the Oro Fino and Morning Star quartz deposits, shifting operations from surface to hard rock mining.
The region’s gold production and silver mining operations thrived, generating over $1 million annually by the late 1860s. Like Ruby City in Washington, early mining towns boasted over a thousand inhabitants during their peak periods.
The first stamp mill was built in the summer of 1864 and recovered $90,000 in 45 days.
The economic boom transformed the landscape as quartz mills sprouted along Jordan Creek, powered by rushing waters that turned raw ore into valuable bullion.
Despite the area’s remoteness, you’d have seen a flurry of supporting industries emerge – blacksmiths, sawmills, and machine shops.
This industrial diversity helped maintain the region’s prominence in Idaho’s economy for nearly five decades, until production began declining after 1912.
From County Seat to Ghost Town
Originally established as Owyhee County’s first seat of government in 1863, Ruby City rapidly grew into a bustling mining town of over a thousand residents near Jordan Creek.
The administrative shift to Silver City in 1867 marked the beginning of Ruby City’s decline, as demographic shifts reflected the harsh realities of frontier life and dwindling gold deposits. The discovery of richer silver deposits upstream led many miners to abandon the area.
- Men outnumbered women 200 to 1, with social life centered around dances and saloons
- The Owyhee Avalanche newspaper documented the town’s challenges, including mining disputes
- High living costs and brutal winters tested the residents’ resilience
By the 1930s, the once-thriving county seat had transformed into a ghost town.
Today, you’ll find only scattered remains of Ruby City’s brief but significant role in Idaho’s mining history.
Exploring the Historic Remnants Today
Modern visitors to Ruby City encounter a stark contrast to its once-bustling heyday.
You’ll find little more than scattered foundations and mining debris where stores and saloons once stood. Unlike its neighbor Silver City, Ruby City hasn’t benefited from historic preservation efforts, leaving only minimal physical evidence of its mining-era past.
The Idaho Hotel was relocated from Ruby City to Silver City in 1866.
Natural disasters and fires contributed heavily to the town’s eventual abandonment.
If you’re planning to explore, you’ll need to come prepared.
The site’s remote location along Jordan Creek means you should bring water, food, and emergency supplies. While you can hike the surrounding trails and photograph the evocative landscape, visitor safety is essential – watch for abandoned mine shafts and unstable ground.
There’s no visitor center or guided tours, so you’re free to discover the ghostly remnants of this former county seat at your own pace.
Frequently Asked Questions
Were There Any Notable Crimes or Gunfights in Ruby City?
While you might expect wild shootouts in a mining town, Ruby City, Idaho’s crime history shows no documented gunfights or major criminal incidents, despite conditions that could’ve encouraged lawlessness.
What Happened to the Native American Tribes in the Ruby City Area?
You’ll find the Western Shoshone, Northern Paiute, and Bannock peoples faced tribal displacement from their ancestral lands as settlers arrived, devastating their cultural heritage and forcing them onto smaller reservations nearby.
How Did Harsh Winters Affect Survival in Ruby City?
You’d face severe winter hardships at 6,200 feet elevation, where scarce supplies cost a fortune and isolation strained survival strategies. Most miners couldn’t endure these brutal conditions, prompting mass exodus.
Did Any Famous Historical Figures Visit or Live in Ruby City?
You’ll find that John Kelly, a famous violinist, was among the town’s most notable visitors, while circuit preachers and Catholic missionaries regularly traveled through, adding to Ruby City’s historical significance.
What Artifacts Have Been Discovered at the Ruby City Site Recently?
Time has wiped the slate clean – you won’t find recent discoveries here. No systematic artifact analysis or excavation techniques have unearthed new items in recent years, as looters stripped the site.
References
- https://idaho.com/history/ruby/
- http://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/idahopanhandle/recreation/idaho-gold-and-ruby-mine-boulder-city-ghost-town
- https://westernmininghistory.com/towns/idaho/ruby-city/
- https://www.hhhistory.com/2017/05/ruby-city-idahoand-giveaway.html
- http://www.ghosttownsusa.com/ruby2.htm
- https://payettecounty.info/marlow/owyhees.html
- https://kids.kiddle.co/Ruby_City
- https://parks.wa.gov/about/news-center/field-guide-blog/old-ruby-state-park-heritage-site-history
- https://www.jstor.org/stable/40486432
- https://www.idahogeology.org/pub/Pamphlets/P-131.pdf
