Copperopolis, Montana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Copperopolis, Montana
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 Copperopolis, Montana
Location in Montana
Copperopolis, Montana
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Montana |
| County | Meagher |
| Elevation | 5,652 ft (1,723 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| Area code(s) | 406 |
Copperopolis was once a busy mining town in Meagher County, Montana. It's now a ghost town, meaning almost all its buildings are gone, and no one lives there anymore. It was famous for its copper mines and played a role in Montana's history.
Contents
History
A Busy Stop
Long ago, Copperopolis wasn't just about mining. It started as a "stage station" around 1866. Imagine a place where horse-drawn carriages, called stages, would stop to rest, change horses, and let passengers eat or sleep. Copperopolis was perfectly located halfway between two other towns, White Sulphur Springs and Martinsdale.
The Copper Rush
In 1866, something exciting happened: people found shiny copper deep in the ground north of the Castle Mountains. This discovery quickly turned Copperopolis into a mining hub. Miners dug deep shafts, some going down 550 feet! But even with so much copper, it was hard to get it out and sell it because transporting it was super expensive. This changed in 1896 when a railroad was built in Martinsdale, making it much easier to move the copper.
Life in Copperopolis
Copperopolis grew into a real family town. It had everything people needed: a general store, a place to keep horses (livery stable), a blacksmith shop, a barber shop, a boarding house, a restaurant, and even bunkhouses for the miners. In its first nine months, the mines produced a quarter of a million dollars worth of copper!
The End of the Town
Sadly, the good times didn't last forever. In 1901, the price of copper dropped a lot because of economic problems in Germany. This meant the mines couldn't make enough money, and they were forced to close in 1903. Without work, families started to move away.
A funny story from that time says that only two men stayed behind. But they didn't like each other at all! They even made sure to visit the town's spring at different times so they wouldn't have to see each other.
What's Left Today
In 1915, some people tried to start farms on the land, a process called "homesteading." However, Copperopolis never became a busy place again. Over time, all the buildings were torn down, and their wood was taken away. Today, only one cabin remains, making Copperopolis a true ghost town.
