Scranton, Utah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Scranton
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 Scranton
Location in Utah
Scranton
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Utah |
| County | Tooele |
| Established | 1908 |
| Abandoned | c. 1918 |
| Named for | Scranton, Pennsylvania |
Scranton is a ghost town in Tooele County, Utah, United States. It's located in Barlow Canyon, close to the Juab County line. Scranton was once a busy mining town, but it didn't last long.
No one has lived in Scranton for more than 100 years. Even so, some of its old buildings and mining equipment can still be seen today.
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Scranton: A Lost Mining Town
Scranton was founded in 1908. It grew up around the New Bullion Mine. This mine dug for valuable metals like lead and zinc.
The area was part of the North Tintic Mining District. This district was set up in 1902. It was known for its silver, lead, and zinc mines.
The Scranton Mining and Smelting Company owned the new town. They named it after their hometown, Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Life in Scranton
About 90 miners lived in Scranton. Some of them even brought their families. The town had several important buildings. These included homes and a boarding house where miners could stay.
There was also a general store that doubled as the post office. An assay office was also in town. An assay office is where they test rocks to see how much metal they contain.
Why Scranton Disappeared
The New Bullion Mine had a lot of good ore (rock with valuable minerals). But this rich supply only lasted about two years. After that, the town started to get smaller.
In October 1914, a new company called South Scranton began. Miners dug a long tunnel, hoping to find more minerals. During World War I, Scranton even produced tungsten. This metal was very rare then. They sent it by insured parcel post (mail delivery).
After the war ended, the town quickly became empty. Most people moved away.
What's Left of Scranton Today
By 1971, four old buildings were still in good shape. But a brush fire started during a National Guard exercise. This fire burned two of the buildings down.
The other two buildings have since fallen apart or burned too. Today, you can still find some old mine equipment. There are also several adits (mine entrances) that mark the spot of old Scranton.
