Boom town is a town that has grown up suddenly. As the American frontier moved westward, promoters often chose a townsite where trails crossed or rivers joined. They would lay out a town plan, sell lots, and try to boom (promote) the town. A sudden influx of people seeking easy riches produced the typical boom town. It often grew up at the end of the rails as the railroads pushed across the country. Gold and silver strikes attracted miners, merchants, saloonkeepers, and others to a boom town.
Many present-day cities began as boom towns. But some of the townsites never became more than “paper” towns. Others quickly declined into “ghost” towns. Today, a boom town may result from various causes, including the discovery of a vital resource, such as uranium; the rise of a new industry; or, in wartime, the location of a defense project.
