Elkhorn is a
census-designated place
A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only.
CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the count ...
(CDP) in
Jefferson County,
Montana
Montana () is a state in the Mountain West division of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North Dakota and South Dakota to the east, Wyoming to the south, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columb ...
, United States, in the
Elkhorn Mountains
The Elkhorn Mountains are a mountain range in southwestern Montana, part of the Rocky Mountains and are roughly 300,000 acres (1200 km²) in size. It is an inactive volcanic mountain range with the highest point being Crow Peak at , right n ...
of the southwestern part of the state. As of the
2010 census it had a population of 10.
The community is considered a
ghost town
Ghost Town(s) or Ghosttown may refer to:
* Ghost town, a town that has been abandoned
Film and television
* ''Ghost Town'' (1936 film), an American Western film by Harry L. Fraser
* ''Ghost Town'' (1956 film), an American Western film by All ...
,
and two of its buildings are preserved as Elkhorn State Park.
History
Lodes of silver
Silver is a chemical element with the symbol Ag (from the Latin ', derived from the Proto-Indo-European ''h₂erǵ'': "shiny" or "white") and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it exhibits the highest electrical ...
, described by geologists as supergene enrichments, were initially discovered in the Elkhorn Mountains by Peter Wys, a Swiss immigrant.[ Six years later, Anton Holter, a pioneer capitalist from Helena, began developing the mine. Over $14 million in silver was carried from the mine. In 1890, the ]Sherman Silver Purchase Act
The Sherman Silver Purchase Act was a United States federal law
enacted on July 14, 1890.Charles Ramsdell Lingley, ''Since the Civil War'', first edition: New York, The Century Co., 1920, ix–635 p., . Re-issued: Plain Label Books, unknown date, ...
passed, creating a high demand for Elkhorn's silver.
During this peak period, Elkhorn had 2,500 inhabitants, a school, a hotel, a church, stores, saloons, and brothels. Unlike most mining towns, Elkhorn was populated mostly by families of married European immigrants.[ In 1893, the Fraternity Hall was constructed for social gatherings, and still remains as one of the most well-preserved buildings in modern Elkhorn.
In the years following, the silver boom and Elkhorn's prosperity began to lessen as the desire for silver decreased. A ]diphtheria
Diphtheria is an infection caused by the bacterium '' Corynebacterium diphtheriae''. Most infections are asymptomatic or have a mild clinical course, but in some outbreaks more than 10% of those diagnosed with the disease may die. Signs and s ...
epidemic struck Elkhorn in the winter of 1888–1889, resulting in many deaths, particularly of children.[ Soon after, railroad service to Elkhorn was halted and only a fraction of the original inhabitants remained.
The state of Montana designated Fraternity Hall and Gillian Hall as Elkhorn State Park in 1980.][
]
Geography
Elkhorn is in eastern Jefferson County on the south side of the Elkhorn Mountains, in the valley of Elkhorn Creek. It can only be reached through its neighboring town, Boulder, by taking the I-15 exit for Boulder, continuing southeast on Montana Highway 69, then north on graveled county roads.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the Elkhorn CDP has an area of , all land.
Demographics
While very few standing buildings remain of the original Elkhorn, a number of cabins have been reoccupied and refurbished. In 2010, there were 10 inhabitants.
See also
* List of ghost towns in Montana
This is an incomplete List of ghost towns in Montana.
A ghost town is a town or city which has lost all of its businesses and population. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to n ...
* Montana Ghost Town Preservation Society
The Montana Ghost Town Preservation Society, founded in 1969 by then-professor of architectural history at Montana State University John N. Dehaas Jr., is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public to the benefits of preserving ...
References
External links
Elkhorn State Park
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
Elkhorn, Montana
at Western Mining History
Profile for Elkhorn, Montana
ePodunk
{{authority control
Ghost towns in Montana
Census-designated places in Jefferson County, Montana
Census-designated places in Montana
Geography of Jefferson County, Montana