Columbia History
Columbia was one of the two settlements established after rich gold discoveries in the Goldfield district.
There is conflicting information regarding Columbia's early history. Nevada Ghost Towns & Mining Camps by Stanley W. Paher (1970), generally regarded as the definitive work on Nevada's mining camps, states that Columbia was established in 1902 and predated Goldfield. Several period sources, however, present a different account. Among them is an article published in the Reno Evening Gazette on November 4, 1904, which states that Columbia was settled in 1903, placing its founding after that of Goldfield.
Despite being located less than half a mile from the edge of Goldfield during Goldfield's peak years, Columbia maintained its identity as a separate community, complete with its own post office, established in 1904, and a thriving business district. By that year, the rapidly growing camp supported a variety of businesses, including stores, saloons, a bank, a weekly newspaper, and the forty-two-room Merchants Hotel, which offered guests such modern conveniences as porcelain baths and hot and cold running water.
A disastrous fire swept through Columbia in July 1905, destroying much of the town's business district. Property losses were estimated at $125,000. The Merchants Hotel was among the few commercial buildings to escape the flames. With the surrounding mines still thriving, Columbia quickly rebuilt and resumed its rapid growth.
Columbia peaked in 1907 with around 1,500 residents. As the district declined, so did the town. By 1918 Columbia was largely abandoned, and the post office was discontinued the following year.
Nevada Mining Photos
A Collection of Nevada Mining Photos contains numerous examples of Nevada's best historic mining scenes.
Nevada Gold
Nevada has a total of 368 distinct gold districts. Of the of those, just 36 are major producers with production and/or reserves of over 1,000,000 ounces, 49 have production and/or reserves of over 100,000 ounces, with the rest having less than 100,000 ounces. Read more: Gold Districts of Nevada.