Querida, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Querida, Colorado
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What's left of the Bassick silver mine in Querida
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 Querida, Colorado
Location in Colorado
Querida, Colorado
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Colorado |
| County | Custer County |
| Government | |
| • Type | ghost town |
| Elevation | 8,986 ft (2,739 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 0203574 |
Querida (pronounced "Kuh-REE-duh"), also known as Bassick City, is a ghost town located in Custer County, Colorado, United States. A ghost town is a place where most people have left, and it's mostly empty. Querida was built to support the nearby silver mines, especially the famous Bassick mine. The name Querida is a Spanish word that means "beloved."
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What is a Ghost Town?
A ghost town is a town that used to be busy and full of people but is now mostly empty. These towns often become ghost towns when the main reason people lived there disappears. For Querida, that reason was mining. When the mines stopped producing enough valuable minerals, people moved away to find work elsewhere.
History of Querida
Querida was founded because of the discovery of valuable minerals. In the late 1800s, many people rushed to Colorado hoping to find their fortune in mining. Towns like Querida popped up quickly to house the miners and provide them with supplies.
The Bassick Mine
The most important mine near Querida was the Bassick mine. It was known for its rich deposits of silver. Miners worked hard deep underground to extract the valuable ore. The success of this mine brought many people to Querida, making it a lively place for a while.
Life in a Mining Town
Life in a mining town like Querida was tough but exciting. Miners worked long hours in dangerous conditions. The town would have had stores, saloons, and homes for the miners and their families. When the mine was doing well, the town would boom, with new people arriving all the time.
Why Querida Became a Ghost Town
Eventually, the silver in the Bassick mine started to run out. It became harder and more expensive to find and extract the ore. When the mine was no longer profitable, people began to leave Querida to find work in other places. Slowly, the town emptied out, becoming the ghost town it is today.
Geography
Querida is found at 38°07′34″N 105°20′04″W / 38.12611°N 105.33444°W. It is located on the eastern side of the Wet Mountain Valley. This area is known for its beautiful mountains and valleys in Colorado. The elevation of Querida is about 2,739 meters (8,986 feet) above sea level, which is quite high!
