Trojan, South Dakota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Trojan, South Dakota
Portland
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Trojan area
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 Trojan, South Dakota
Location in South Dakota
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| Country | United States |
| State | South Dakota |
| County | Lawrence County |
| Abandoned | 1959 |
| Founded by | Trojan Mining Company |
| Elevation | 6,434 ft (1,961 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
Trojan, also known as Portland, is a ghost town in the Black Hills of Lawrence County, South Dakota. A ghost town is a place where people used to live and work, but now it's mostly empty. Trojan was started by a company called the Trojan Mining Company, which is also how it got its name.
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Why Was it Called Trojan?
Trojan got its name from the company that founded it, the Trojan Mining Company. Its earlier name, Portland, came from the nearby Portland Mine.
History of Trojan
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People knew there was gold in the Bald Mountain and Green Mountain areas near Trojan as early as 1877. By 1900, many small gold claims had been combined into just a few larger ones. By 1911, the Trojan Mining Company owned most of these claims.
The Mines Close Down
In 1928, the Bald Mountain Mining Company bought out the Trojan Mining Company. However, by the 1950s, the gold ore from the Trojan mines was not worth much money. It was only selling for $6 per ton. This was not enough to make a profit and keep the mines open.
The cost of materials like steel and gunpowder, which were needed to run the mines, went up. But the price of gold stayed the same at $35 an ounce, a price it had been since 1934. Because it was no longer profitable, all mining operations in Trojan shut down in 1959. All the mining buildings, including the homes where miners lived, closed. In 1960, the train tracks that served the mine were removed.
Attempts to Revive the Town
For a short time, the town tried to become a place for skiers visiting Terry Peak. However, this effort was not successful.
Trojan Today
In 1983, a new open-pit mine called the Wharf Mine was started in the Trojan area. This mine is still working today. It has grown so much that it has completely covered the old townsite and the Bald Mountain Mill. This means there are no historic buildings or remains left from the original town of Trojan.
Where is Trojan Located?
Trojan is found in the Black Hills of central Lawrence County, South Dakota, in the United States.
