What remains of Silver City, Utah, lies in the former mine-rich area near the town of Eureka, once the heart of the Tintic Mining District. Silver was first found in what would become Silver City in 1869. This led to a boom that saw an abundance of mines constructed throughout the area, and the town became the center of local telegraph service and hosted a railroad station.
A discovery of new silver veins in the 1890s gave the town a second life. Around this time, mining magnate Jesse Knight chose Silver City as the location to build a large ore sampling mill. To serve the mill, Knight also built a second railroad into town, and Silver City experienced another period of prosperity, reaching its peak population of about 1,500 residents during this time. The town eventually declined after it became increasingly economical to ship ore to more distant mills, and few residents were left after about 1930.
Today, several ruins remain through the area, with the ore sampling mill being the dominant remnant of the former city. Though the area that was once the center of the town itself is now part of an active mining operation, concrete foundations and remains are dispersed between Highway 6 and the mouth of Dragon Canyon. Visitors should be aware that there are many pits and even shafts throughout the area, so be careful, especially if bringing children to the area.
Current and shuttered mining operations exist around the former townsite, so ruins also have some active development around. And the highway is adjacent to the mill site, meaning that this ghost town doesn't exactly feel far away from anything. Few cars make the stop along the quiet highway, however, and it is an interesting place to explore when passing through. There are no amenities of any kind at Silver City.
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