Frisco, Utah

Frisco is a ghost town[2] in Beaver County, Utah, United States.[2][3] It was an active mining camp from 1879 to 1929.[3] At its peak in 1885, Frisco was a thriving town of 6,000 people.[4]

Frisco, Utah
Ghost town
Remains of Frisco. The charcoal kilns in the background are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Remains of Frisco. The charcoal kilns in the background are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Frisco is located in Utah
Frisco
Frisco
Location of Frisco in Utah
Frisco is located in the United States
Frisco
Frisco
Frisco (the United States)
Coordinates: 38°27′35″N 113°15′32″W
CountryUnited States
StateUtah
CountyBeaver
Established1879
Abandoned1929
Named forSan Francisco Mountains
Elevation
[1]
6,421 ft (1,957 m)
GNIS feature ID1437563[1]

History
Dilapidated buildings in the ghost town of Frisco in 1997.

Frisco developed as the post office and commercial center for the San Francisco Mining District, and was the terminus of the Utah Southern Railroad extension from Milford.[2][3] The Horn Silver Mine was discovered in 1875,[2][3] and had produced $20,267,078 worth of ore by 1885.[3] By 1885, over $60,000,000 worth of zinc, copper, lead, silver, and gold had been transported from Frisco from the many mines in the area.[2]

With 23 saloons, Frisco was known as the wildest town in the Great Basin. Murder was common, and drinking water had to be freighted in.[5]

Frisco's fortunes changed suddenly on February 13, 1885, when the Horn Silver Mine caved in completely. It was an unconventional mine, an open pit 900 feet (270 m) deep braced with timbers, and could have collapsed at any time.[6]

In 1905 a Mormon ward was organized, but in 1911, with the closing of many of the mines, so many church members had left that the ward was discontinued.[7] After many years of desertion, another company made an attempt to mine here in 2002.[2]

Frisco Historical Marker in 2023

Geography

Frisco is located at 38°27′35″N 113°15′32″W. Its elevation is 6,500 feet (2,000 m).[8]

Demographics

The peak population was nearly 6,000.[2]

Year Population
1880 800[3]
1900 500[2][3]
1912 150[2][3]
1918 300[3]
1922–1923 100[3]
1927–1928 100[3]

See also

References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Frisco
  2. "Frisco, Utah - Ghost town with a ten year high". legendsofamerica.com. April 2005. Retrieved August 26, 2007.
  3. Notarianni, Philip F. "Frisco". Utah history encyclopedia. University of Utah. Archived from the original on August 10, 2007. Retrieved August 26, 2007.
  4. "Frisco, Utah the Ghost Town". Friscoutah.com. Archived from the original on July 31, 2015. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  5. Carr, Stephen L. (1986) [June 1972]. The Historical Guide to Utah Ghost Towns (3rd ed.). Salt Lake City: Western Epics. pp. 110–111. ISBN 0-914740-30-X.
  6. Thompson, George A. (November 1982). Some Dreams Die: Utah's Ghost Towns and Lost Treasures. Salt Lake City: Dream Garden Press. pp. 128–129. ISBN 0-942688-01-5.
  7. Jenson, Andrew (1941). Encyclopedic History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Salt Lake City: Deseret news Press. p. 270.
  8. Buchanan, Joseph F. (June 6, 1996). "Utah Almanac D-H". Utah Almanac. Retrieved October 9, 2010.
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