Goldfield, Nevada, was the scene of one of the greatest gold rushes in the history of the United States. Goldfield lies on a plateau about 26 miles (42 kilometers) south of Tonopah. It is the seat of Esmeralda County.
The gold rush began after rich gold deposits were discovered in 1902 and 1903. By 1907, Goldfield had a population of about 15,000 and was the largest city in the state. The Goldfield mines yielded 11 million U.S. dollars in gold and other metals in 1910, their peak year of production. But intensive operations soon exhausted the richest ore. Some mining activity resumed in the area in the 1930’s. Since that time, there has been only occasional mining activity. Only a few hundred people now live in the Goldfield area.
See also Gold rush .
