Goldfield, Nevada: A case study of colonialism in the American West, 1900--1920

This study explores the relationship of Goldfield, Nevada and the colonial thesis of the American West. Nevada mining towns of the 19th century epitomized the outside dominance of the region. Foreign and eastern capital was responsible for the development of a large number of camps during this period. Goldfield, however, defied the trend of foreign and eastern control and established itself as a community that was characterized by a degree of economic independence.; Founded in 1903, Goldfield was one of the first mining camps in Nevada in the 20th century and acquired it's name from the dominant metal that was mined, gold. This was in contrast to the majority of Nevada mining towns, as they produced silver and small amounts of gold. The large quantities of gold produced by the Goldfield mines generated huge profits that established the economic preeminence of the district.; The wealth of the strike attracted miners, businessmen, and potential investors. By 1907, Goldfield was the second largest city in Nevada with an estimated population of 20,000 residents. The city also had the distinction of being the only community in the state to be serviced by three railroads and was also home to the Goldfield Consolidated Mining Company, one of the largest mining operations of the time. In many respects, Goldfield resembled a modern city which was contradictory to the perception of Nevada mining towns.; Economic preeminence of the Goldfield mining district reduced the need for external capital to develop the mines and city. Consequently, Goldfield developed in a different manner than Nevada mining towns of the 19 th century. The locators of the principal Goldfield mines tended to stay in the district after the leasing period had expired and played an active role in the development of the infrastructure of the community. As a result, Goldfield was built by internally generated capital mainly by the men who owned the principal mining operations in the district.; Goldfield was not the sole exception of self development of a community in the West. At the beginning of the twentieth century, industries in the West were increasingly coming under the control of Western capitalists. This study confirms that investment capital from the West was replacing funding from the East in the early 20th century. Within Nevada, Goldfield was the first mining district and city in the state to claim that it was a self-made community.