Aurum, Nevada facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aurum, Nevada
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 Aurum, Nevada
Location in Nevada
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| Country | United States |
| State | Nevada |
| County | White Pine |
| Elevation | 7,159 ft (2,182 m) |
| GNIS feature ID | 862317 |
Aurum is a ghost town in White Pine County, Nevada, United States. A ghost town is a place where people used to live and work, but now almost no one lives there. Aurum was once a busy mining town.
Contents
History of Aurum
Aurum started as a mining community in 1878. It was first called "Silver Canyon" because of a nearby canyon.
How Aurum Got Its Name
On April 4, 1881, a post office opened in the town. That's when the community officially got its current name, Aurum.
Life in Aurum
Aurum had two main parts, based on how high up they were.
- The higher part was called "Doughburg." This area had boarding houses where miners lived.
- The lower part had homes, shops, and the post office.
The Silver Canyon Avalanche
On February 11, 1884, a big avalanche happened in Silver Canyon. It struck near the Sadie L Mine's boarding house. Three people died in this event. Two of them, H. W. Mickel and Wallace McCrimmon, were buried in Aurum. The third person, John Fox, was buried in Cherry Creek.
Boom and Bust Cycles
Over the years, Aurum went through many "boom and bust" periods.
- During a "boom," the town grew very fast. Hundreds of people would move there.
- During a "bust," miners would leave, shops would close, and the number of people would drop quickly.
At one point during a "bust," only one person lived in Aurum! His name was Simon Davis. Eventually, all the mining in the area stopped for good. The post office closed for the last time on May 31, 1938. Since then, no one has lived in Aurum.
Notable People
- Milton H. Erickson, a famous psychiatrist, was connected to this area.
