Sneffels, Colorado facts for kids
Sneffels was once a busy mining town located in Ouray County, Colorado, United States. It got its name from the tall and impressive Mount Sneffels nearby. Today, Sneffels is known as a "ghost town" because most people have moved away.
The Story of Sneffels
A Town Built on Mining
The town of Sneffels started in 1875. It was built right on the side of the mountain it was named after. People came to Sneffels hoping to find valuable metals like gold and silver deep inside the earth.
Sneffels grew very quickly. Between the mid-1880s and 1891, it became a lively place. At its busiest, about 2,000 people lived there! They were all part of the exciting, but sometimes tough, mining life.
The Revenue Mill
A very important place in Sneffels was the Revenue Mill. A mill is like a big factory that processes ore. Ore is rock that contains valuable metals. The Revenue Mill took ore from mines like the Virginius and other mines close by.
This mill was huge and employed many people. At its busiest time, about 600 men worked there. They helped turn the raw ore into valuable metals that could be sold.
Sneffels Today
After the mines started to close and the valuable metals became harder to find, people began to leave Sneffels. Today, it is mostly a ghost town. You can still find scattered pieces of old buildings and equipment, which are like clues to its past. Only a few people live nearby now, but the history of Sneffels lives on.
