Aurora, Nevada

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Aurora
Aurora NV.jpg
Aurora, circa 1934
Aurora, Nevada is located in Nevada
Aurora, Nevada
Nearest city Hawthorne, Nevada
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Built 1860
NRHP Reference # 74001147[1]
Added to NRHP July 30, 1974
File:Esmerelda vein, Aurora NV.jpg
The Esmeralda vein, the discovery outcrop of the Aurora Mining District

Aurora is a ghost town in Mineral County in the western central part of the US state of Nevada, approximately 22 mi (35 km) southwest of the town of Hawthorne and three miles from the California border.

Today the townsite is a far cry from what it once was, having gone through heavy damage from vandals over the years. After World War II many of the buildings were torn down for their brick.[2]

The road leading into Aurora was once quite difficult to navigate except via four-wheel drive, as often the winter snows and spring run-off rutted out the road in the canyon leading to the town.[citation needed] However, in recent years the operations of a nearby mine have improved the road so that even non-4WD vehicles can reach the town site.[citation needed]

History

J.M Corey, James N Braley, and E.R Hicks founded the town in 1860. Corey is credited with having named the region Esmeralda but, in the late 1860s, he is reported to have changed the name to Aurora for the goddess of dawn.[3]

At one point it had a population of around 10,000.[4] Aurora's mines produced $27 million worth of gold by 1869. The town was governed by both California and Nevada until it was determined that the town lay entirely in Nevada. At one point it was simultaneously the county seat of both Mono County, California and Esmeralda County, Nevada. Its California assemblyman was the speaker of the house while the Nevada legislative member was elected as president of the Nevada Territorial Legislature.[5]

The town cemetery has suffered from vandalism over the years; the most notable destruction being the headstone of William E. Carder, a noted criminal and gunfighter who on the night of December 10, 1864 was "assassinated" by a man whom he had threatened in the preceding days.[6] The headstone erected by his wife Annie was toppled by thieves who attempted to steal it, and broken into several pieces, where they now lie sunken into the ground.[citation needed]

Rise of Aurora

Soon after its founding, a small crowd of miners quickly moved into the area after hearing about the deposits in the area. Crude homes and businesses were created using mud and other materials that could be found in the area or easily transported to Aurora. By April 1861, the population had risen to 1,400 people and town lots were selling for around $1,500. By 1862, the city already had a newspaper established called the Esmeralda Star. Two years later in 1864, the population had risen to 6,000 people. The peak population of the city was roughly 10,000 people.[4]

Prior to 1860 and the discovery of the mines, fewer than 100 people lived in the Aurora area. The biggest rush of population happened in the spring of 1863 after the Wide West Vein provided many jobs.[7] Aurora's mines were so rich that the boom town attracted miners to the area from all over the west.[8] Travel in the spring was much easier than in the winter or colder months. In the spring of 1863, Aurora had grown to 760 houses, 20 stores, and 22 saloons. Like most mining boom towns, the population included a small number of women and children compared to the very large male population.

Travel to Aurora was difficult but the Mono Trail and the Sonora Pass Route were important paths to Aurora. After it was built, the Esmeralda Toll Road connected Aurora to San Francisco through Carson valley. This allowed for Aurora to receive supplies directly from San Francisco, which contributed to its growth. As Aurora grew in size, agriculture grew as well with people farming hay, livestock, dairy products, grain, and vegetables.[7]

Life in Aurora

Aurorans quickly learned that the climate was harsh and the weather totally unpredictable, making life difficult for its residents. The majority of the population was male and saloons were numerous. Gambling houses and brothels were equally common and provided late night entertainment to the men of the town. There were numerous Chinese brothels that existed on the most public of streets and roughly half the women in the town were prostitutes. Other recreational activities for the men were hunting and fishing, dog fights or dog and badger fights, which was another opportunity to gamble. Skiing was a big recreational activity in the town thanks to the mountains surrounding the town. It was probably the most popular recreational activity among residents.

Violence was a major problem in the town. Most men carried guns and knives during daily life and armed conflict was not rare. These conflicts often ended in death. There are numerous examples of disagreements leading to armed violence. Family life was almost non existent due to the low number of women and children in the town. This allowed the men to frequent the saloons, brothels and gambling houses that were in the town.[8]

Fall of Aurora

Aurora had a difficult time maintaining its success due to the nature of the mines. Most mines in the city were less than 100 feet deep which did not provide enough depth to last very long. The gold and silver in the area had been completely mined by 1870. Many people deserted the area but left all buildings, stores and homes intact. Eventually, these buildings were stripped for their bricks to be used for fireplaces in California and other building needs.[4] Because of its isolation—Aurora was miles from any major city and surrounded by rugged mountainous terrain—furnishing supplies for the town became difficult. Food, fuel, lumber, machinery, tools, hardware, and clothing were scarce. They had to be shipped in on difficult roads and stage lines. Travel in winter months was also very difficult. The town was dominated by a harsh climate with violent and unpredictable weather, which made a permanent settlement increasingly difficult without outside support.[8]

By 1864, 7 of the 17 mills in the town had to be shut down and the remaining mills were operating at a fraction of their previous production. By the next year, production continued to decline and more mills were shut down. By 1870, half of the town's houses were deserted and most of the mills and buildings had been dismantled.[7] There were a few attempts to revive the city, but those were not successful with the last attempt ending in 1918.[7]

Current state

There are small remains from the city of Aurora that remain in the area. The streets and the foundations of some of the buildings are still somewhat visible. Most of the buildings were dismantled,[4] its materials used in homes in California as used brick became fashionable.[8]

Notable residents

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Florin, Lambert. 1971. Ghost towns of the West. [New York]: Promontory Press.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Earl W. Kersten, Jr., The Early Settlement of Aurora, Nevada, and Nearby Mining Camps, Annals of the Association of American Geographers , Vol. 54, No. 4 (Dec., 1964), pp. 490-507
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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