While looking at a lot of old west saloon pictures in another thread, I noticed many of the pictures came from what they call boomtowns. "A boomtown is a community that undergoes sudden and rapid population and economic growth, usually one started from scratch. The growth is normally attributed to the nearby discovery of a precious resource such as gold, silver, or oil, although the term can also be applied to communities growing very rapidly for different reasons, such as a proximity to a major metropolitan area, huge construction project, or attractive climate."
In September 1918, Tom Dees, director of the Hog Creek Oil Company, struck oil on land owned by Joe Duke, and Desdemona, Texas, quickly joined the list of western boomtowns. As many as sixteen thousand flocked to Desdemona between 1919 and 1922. In 1976, ninety wells were still producing oil or natural gas in the Desdemona field, and a Mobil plant was producing butane. In 2000, the Desdemona population was reported as 180. As of 2013 three businesses remain in the town.
Deadwood, South Dakota, late 1870's "The discovery of gold in the southern Black Hills in 1874 set off one of the great gold rushes in America. Practically overnight, the tiny gold camp of Deadwood boomed into a town, with a peak (census) population of 3777 in 1880". Deadwood survived three major fires, and other economic hardships, pushing it to the verge of becoming another Old West ghost town, but in 1989 limited-wage gambling was legalized and Deadwood was reborn as a popular tourist town. (2010 population: 1270)
@Nancy Hart Was "Boom Town" the one in which Clark Gable is killed, and Tracy ambles over to the closed casket and mutters, "Well, old friend, you finally made it!" ?
No, I think Boom Town has a happy ending, except Clark Gable gets the girl (Claudette Colbert). After many ups and downs, the three become friends again and start over.
Creede, Colorado I believe Creede, Colorado, might be the most interesting boomtown in the Old West, just based on all the information, stories, and photographs available. Wouldn't know where to start. "Creede, was probably the wildest mining town in Colorado during its heyday. It lasted only three years. Nicholas Creede discovered silver in 1889, and in just one year it became a boom town. The population increased by 300 a day, growing to more than 10,000 until 1893 when the silver prices dropped drastically." Creede's population in 2017 was estimated at 312, increasing during the summer months. There Is No Night in Creede by Cy Warman Here's a land where all are equal Of high or lowly birth A land where men make millions Dug from the dreary earth Here meek and mild eyed burros On mineral mountains feed It's day all day in the day-time And there is no night in Creede The cliffs are solid silver With wondrous wealth untold And the beds of running rivers Are lined with purest gold While the world is filled with sorrow And hearts must break and bleed It's day all day in the day-time And there is no night in Creede
A couple more pictures of Creede. This one taken before the boom. Part of Creede after the fire of 1892.
Rex Trailer's Boomtown - TV series, 1956-1974 I missed this one. ..A live three-hour weekend morning broadcast, out of Boston.