Goldfield, CO: Population of 36

ONCE THE HOME TO 3,500 PEOPLE, GOLDFIELD, CO, IS NOW A GHOST TOWN. SO, WHAT HAPPENED?

The Heart of the Labor Wars, 1895-1905

Goldfield/Independence, CO: City Hall/Fire Station

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A 90-Acre Town, Located in Teller County

With a population of just 36 people, recorded by the U.S. Census in 2019- Goldfield, Colorado, is, now, considered a, "ghost town",

At one time, however- this was not the case.

Once known as, "Independence," and settled in 1895 by the Portland Mines, the town was originally named after a local gold mine. Colored in wildflowers and raspberry bushes, the town was pulled together by wooden sidewalks that playing children would search for coins under.

The town went on to hit it's peak in the year of 1900, with a recorded population of 3,500. By 1901, there were 2 newspapers and several small businesses in town.

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Abundancy of Gold, Because of Location

Compared to Cripple Creek and Victor, Goldfield was the smallest of the three towns. But it was also part of the virtual, "dome," of gold, positioned in the mountains. The surrounding area: once a volcanic bubble layered with gold and other precious metals.

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The town was originally built around the Portland Mine, one of the best producing mines in the district.

Goldfield/Independence, CO, processed and shipped an unbelievable 30 million dollars in gold by 1911. And a whopping 75% of all ore from the entire mining district was shipped to Goldfield, owing to the town's level grounding.

One of the few buildings remaining in Goldfield, CO.

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But the Colorado Labor Wars...

Located just above Victor, CO, to house miners in the district and a town that was home to so much gold, Goldfield was the heart of the labor wars from 1895-1905. Through the years, a feud between the Western Federation of Miners (WFM) and the Cripple Creek Mine Owners' Association (CCMOA) raged.

Union miners felt they were underpaid and overworked, but the mine owners refused to accommodate the needs of workers.

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The Western Federation of Miners Union summoned miners to strike in unison with smelter workers in Colorado City who were earning just $1.85 per day. 3,500-4,000 union members in the Gold Camp went on strike, halting mining operations and resulting in complete chaos in the district.

Mines attempted to reopen with non-union labor, resulting in violence by union members on strike.

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The National Guard moved into Independence/Goldfield, CO, and the town served as it's headquarters for the violent strikes that began in 1903.

Martial law was enacted in the district, and individuals accused of, "talking too much," in support of the strike, or in the case of, "military necessity," were hauled away and placed in military stockades, or "bull pens", in Goldfield, CO.

It has been noted that there were approximately 175 people who were locked away in these bull pens and were starved until the Women's Auxiliary was eventually given permission to feed the men.

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During the ending times of these wars, soldiers, sheriff's deputies, and citizens searched the district for union members. The union members, sympathizers, and other supporters were shipped out of state lines on special trains.

And in a matter of days, the Western Federation of Miners was dismantled in the Cripple Creek district, and the miners were gone.

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Additional participants in Colorado's Labor Wars, include: the National Guard (or the militia), private contractors such as the Pinkertons, Baldwin-Felts, and Thiel detective agencies, various labor entities, employers' organizations, such as the Mine Owners' Associations, and vigilante groups, as well as employer-sponsored citizens groups, such as the Citizens' Alliance.

Our Experience

Goldfield was a diamond in the rough, with little to be found about the history. We really had to dig to get any information, which made this post just a little more interesting for us.

We hope you enjoyed this article!