Star City, Nevada facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Star City, Nevada
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| Country | United States |
| State | Nevada |
| County | Pershing |
| Founded | 1861 |
| Abandoned | 1870s |
| Elevation | 5,981 ft (1,823 m) |
| Reference #: | 231 |
Star City was once a busy silver-mining town in Nevada. It was a "boom town," meaning it grew very quickly when people found a lot of silver there. Today, it's a "ghost town," which means almost no one lives there anymore. You can find it in what is now Pershing County, Nevada. It's even marked with a special sign called Nevada Historical Marker 231.
Contents
History of Star City
How Star City Started
Star City began in 1861. This was when people discovered a lot of valuable silver ore in the ground nearby. The town quickly grew because many people came hoping to get rich from mining.
Life in the Boom Town
Between 1864 and 1865, Star City was at its busiest. About 1,200 people lived there. The town had two hotels and three general stores where people could buy supplies. There was also a Wells-Fargo office, a church, and more than a dozen saloons. The town even had its own Post Office from April 1862 to September 1868.
The Mines and Decline
The biggest mine in the area was called the Sheba Mine. By 1868, this mine had produced about $5 million worth of silver. But that same year, the silver ore started to run out. This meant there wasn't much silver left to mine.
The town's population quickly dropped. One report from 1868 said that even though the mail, express, and telegraph services were still running, only one family lived in Star City. By 1871, only 78 people remained.
What's Left Today
Today, Star City is a true ghost town. All that's left are some old building foundations and rusty mining equipment. They are reminders of the busy town it once was.
Star City in a Book
Star City is also used in a fictional story! A book called Nevada by Imogen Binnie uses a made-up version of Star City as a setting. In the book, this fictional Star City has a Walmart where one of the characters works. This is different from the real ghost town.
Old Maps
An old map of the Central Pacific Railroad route once mistakenly called Star City "Ostar City." It showed the town between Humboldt and Humboldt Wells in Nevada.
