STATELINE, UTAH
Iron County
When gold, and then silver, were discovered in the branches of Stateline Canyon in 1894 a mining district was quickly formed. A small mining camp was soon established at the mouth of the canyon. From this small tent camp the town of Stateline was later formed.
Why minerals were not found in Stateline canyon sooner is a mystery. From the 1870s the main stage road from Frisco, Milford, and the Mormon settlements further east ran right through here as it headed towards Pioche, and the southwest Nevada mines. Countless prospectors and mining men must have passed the promising looking ledges along the canyon, either by stage, or on horseback but were apparently unimpressed. The canyon was also used by cattle rustlers and other outlaws. They found it a convenient route to move their stolen Mormon cattle from Utah to Nevada where officials turned a blind eye to stray Mormon cattle brought in to feed the hungry miners of the Nevada mines. One such outlaw was Nate Hansen who was shot within a few hundred yards of the state line by an angry Mormon posse determined to get their cattle back before they could be sold.
Though small time mining started in 1894, it was not until 1896 that rich silver/gold ore was found in the shallow workings of the Ophir mine. This touched off a small stampede to the area and other major outcroppings were found to contain paying quantities of both silver and gold. The major mines included the Ophir, the Johnny, and Creole. The ore coming out of the Creole in 1899 was so rich that the ore dump was successfully panned by the company.
Stateline grew quickly from a small tent camp to a full fledged mining town. In 1896, the Intermountain Mining Review reported on July 9th that a new town site had been established and that town lots were being sold for $100 apiece. On July 16th they reported that there were twelve active mines in the district. Subsequently by September 24th it was reported that a post office had been established, over 180 men were working in the mines with more coming in daily, and that Line City contains 17 houses and more are being put up.
By 1903, Stateline had grown to a solid mining town of 300, with two or three general stores, a fine hotel, two saloons, blacksmith shop, shoemaker, restaurant, a daily stage to Modena on the railroad sixteen miles away, and its own newspaper, the Stateline Oracle. Several mills, for processing the ores from the Ophir, Johnny, Creole, and Big Fourteen mines were also erected in the surrounding area, close to their respective mines.
Extensive mining continued until about 1910 when many of the mines started closing because of a lack of high quality ore. Miners and business gradually drifted always until in 1918 there were only about18 individuals left in town carrying on small time mining in some of the lesser claims. Since about 1920 some mining has continued in the area with minor upswings in activity in the 1930s and 1940s. As late as early1980s limited mining was being done. In 1984, the small mill that sits prominently on the hill above the town was closed by the EPA for improper environmental procedures, closing the last mining operation in the area.
Today the ruins of what is left of Stateline lay along a one mile stretch of road leading into the mouth of the canyon. On a visit there in 1996 at least one cabin still looked to be occupied. The saloon, which stood next to the general store had collapsed into a pile of broken boards, the ruins of the stage station/livery stable along with several other cabins still stood.
Iron County
When gold, and then silver, were discovered in the branches of Stateline Canyon in 1894 a mining district was quickly formed. A small mining camp was soon established at the mouth of the canyon. From this small tent camp the town of Stateline was later formed.
Why minerals were not found in Stateline canyon sooner is a mystery. From the 1870s the main stage road from Frisco, Milford, and the Mormon settlements further east ran right through here as it headed towards Pioche, and the southwest Nevada mines. Countless prospectors and mining men must have passed the promising looking ledges along the canyon, either by stage, or on horseback but were apparently unimpressed. The canyon was also used by cattle rustlers and other outlaws. They found it a convenient route to move their stolen Mormon cattle from Utah to Nevada where officials turned a blind eye to stray Mormon cattle brought in to feed the hungry miners of the Nevada mines. One such outlaw was Nate Hansen who was shot within a few hundred yards of the state line by an angry Mormon posse determined to get their cattle back before they could be sold.
Though small time mining started in 1894, it was not until 1896 that rich silver/gold ore was found in the shallow workings of the Ophir mine. This touched off a small stampede to the area and other major outcroppings were found to contain paying quantities of both silver and gold. The major mines included the Ophir, the Johnny, and Creole. The ore coming out of the Creole in 1899 was so rich that the ore dump was successfully panned by the company.
Stateline grew quickly from a small tent camp to a full fledged mining town. In 1896, the Intermountain Mining Review reported on July 9th that a new town site had been established and that town lots were being sold for $100 apiece. On July 16th they reported that there were twelve active mines in the district. Subsequently by September 24th it was reported that a post office had been established, over 180 men were working in the mines with more coming in daily, and that Line City contains 17 houses and more are being put up.
By 1903, Stateline had grown to a solid mining town of 300, with two or three general stores, a fine hotel, two saloons, blacksmith shop, shoemaker, restaurant, a daily stage to Modena on the railroad sixteen miles away, and its own newspaper, the Stateline Oracle. Several mills, for processing the ores from the Ophir, Johnny, Creole, and Big Fourteen mines were also erected in the surrounding area, close to their respective mines.
Extensive mining continued until about 1910 when many of the mines started closing because of a lack of high quality ore. Miners and business gradually drifted always until in 1918 there were only about18 individuals left in town carrying on small time mining in some of the lesser claims. Since about 1920 some mining has continued in the area with minor upswings in activity in the 1930s and 1940s. As late as early1980s limited mining was being done. In 1984, the small mill that sits prominently on the hill above the town was closed by the EPA for improper environmental procedures, closing the last mining operation in the area.
Today the ruins of what is left of Stateline lay along a one mile stretch of road leading into the mouth of the canyon. On a visit there in 1996 at least one cabin still looked to be occupied. The saloon, which stood next to the general store had collapsed into a pile of broken boards, the ruins of the stage station/livery stable along with several other cabins still stood.
