Belleville, Nevada facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Belleville, Nevada
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 Belleville, Nevada
Location in Nevada
Belleville, Nevada
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Nevada |
| County | Mineral |
| Elevation | 5,190 ft (1,582 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 854361 |
| Reference #: | 154 |
Belleville, Nevada, located in Mineral County, Nevada, United States, was once a busy mining town. It grew because of a mill that processed valuable rock from nearby mines. Today, Belleville is known as a ghost town, meaning it's mostly deserted.
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The Story of Belleville
Belleville was founded around 1873 or 1874. Its main purpose was to process ore, which is rock containing metal, from the Northern Belle Mine in Candelaria. The mill was just east of where a historical marker stands today.
How Belleville Started
The first shipment of bullion (bars of pure metal, like gold or silver) from Belleville was made in April 1875. It was worth $9,200, which was a lot of money back then! The town quickly became known for its lively and exciting atmosphere, typical of the "Wild West."
Life in the Town
When the Carson and Colorado Railroad arrived in 1882, Belleville was a thriving place with about 500 people. The town had many important services for its residents:
- A doctor to help the sick.
- An assay office to test the purity of metals.
- An express office for sending packages.
- A telegraph station for quick communication.
- A livery stable for horses and wagons.
- A school for children.
- Two hotels and several restaurants.
- Blacksmith shops for metalwork.
- Seven saloons, which were popular gathering spots.
Why Belleville Became a Ghost Town
The town's post office was open from December 1874 until 1894. However, things started to change around 1892. Water was piped directly to Candelaria, which meant the ore could be processed right at the mine. This made the mill in Belleville less important.
As a result, most people left Belleville, and it became deserted. There was a short period from 1915 to 1918 when the town saw a small comeback, and the post office reopened briefly. But after that, Belleville truly became the ghost town it is today.
