Golden, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Golden, Washington
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 Golden, Washington
Location in Washington (state)
Golden, Washington
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Okanogan |
| Founded | 1887 |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
Golden is a fascinating ghost town located in Okanogan County, Washington, in the United States. A ghost town is a place where most or all of the people have left. It was once a busy mining town, founded around 1887 because of a big discovery of gold nearby.
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The Discovery of Gold in Golden
The town of Golden got its name from the exciting promise of more gold in the area. People hoped to find lots of this valuable metal. When gold was first found, many people rushed to the area, hoping to strike it rich. This rush led to the creation of the town.
Life in a Mining Town
By 1892, Golden was a lively place. More than thirty buildings had been built between the mines and Wannacut Lake. At its busiest time, called its "heyday," Golden had about 300 residents.
The town had everything people needed. There was a general store where you could buy supplies. People could eat at the restaurant and relax at the saloon. A post office helped people send and receive letters. Many other businesses with "false fronts" (meaning they looked bigger than they were) lined the streets.
Why Golden Became a Ghost Town
Sadly, the gold in the mines eventually started to run out. This meant there was less work and less reason for people to stay. As the gold became harder to find, the town slowly became empty.
By 1910, fewer than 100 people remained in Golden. Most of the residents had moved away to find work elsewhere. The town continued to shrink until it became a true ghost town.
Golden Today
The Great Depression in the 1930s brought a few new people to Golden. They hoped to find a new start or perhaps some leftover gold. However, this didn't last, and the town was eventually deserted again. Today, very little remains of the original town of Golden. It stands as a quiet reminder of Washington's gold rush history.
