AURARIA, Lumpkin
Co., Georgia
By
AURARIA, GEORGIA HOLDS A
UNIQUE position in
American history. It predates the
California Gold Rush by nearly 20 years, and was the center of America’s first
true gold rush northeast of Atlanta.
Because of the discoveries near here, a branch mint was established and
gold mining became a big business in the United States. Gold was found here in 1828 at what became
known as the Calhoun Mine. It was one of
the mines that helped ignite the Georgia Gold Rush. The Calhoun was also one of the town’s
longest worked mines, finally closing in 1939.
It was located midway between Auraria and
Dahlonega, which is located about seven miles northeast of Auraria.
Shortly after gold was discovered in the Auraria/Dahlonega
area, there was an influx of white settlers to the mines. However, as this was Cherokee Indians land,
the mining operations and settlement were not legal. As a result there was such an outcry from the
settlers, that the federal government passed the Indian Removal Act in May
1830. The Cherokee were evicted and forced
to relocate to what is now Oklahoma. As
a result of this covetous action, Auraria and
Dahlonega grew. Auraria
was also known as Dean, Deans, Knucklesville, Nuckollsville and Scuffle Town and in 1830 counted around
1000 citizens and had enough hotels, stores, saloons and other businesses to
keep them supplied. There was even a weekly
newspaper, The Western Herald.
When Lumpkin County was formed on December 3, 1832, Auraria
put in a bid for the county seat, but Dahlonega snagged that honor. This issue and the establishment of a branch
United States Mint in Dahlonega in 1838 pretty much sealed the fate of this
pioneering gold mining town, which then began to fade.
When gold was discovered in California in 1848, nearly the entire
Georgia mining area headed west, leaving a few folks behind.
Auraria also has ties to what is now
Denver, Colorado. In 1858 a group of men
from Auraria, headed by William Greeneberry
Russell, traveled west to Kansas Territory and settled south of the
confluence of Cherry Creek and the South Platte River east of the
base of the Rocky Mountains. They called
their little settlement Auraria. Across Cherry Creek a rival settlement called
Denver City was established. When the
Civil War began, the settlers returned to Georgia to fight for the Confederacy
and the western town of Auraria died and was absorbed
by Denver.
Today, Auraria, Georgia is a quiet rural area,
while Dahlonega is a lively little town.
Both relish their gold rush past.
In Auraria, that past is fading more each
year, and only a few old buildings remain.
The Graham Hotel is nearly collapsed, Woody's Store on Castleberry
Bridge Road is now closed and an old house that once housed a bank sits
vacant. A few other houses remain.
Some of the mines in the area included: placer mines along Camp Creek,
Cane Creek and the Etowah River.
Other mines included the Barlow Mine, Battle Branch Mine, Etowah Mine,
Gold Hill Mine, Hedwig-Chicago Mine, Ralston Mine and Whim Hill Mine, among
others.
Please remember that land here is privately
owned, and to view all remaining buildings from the roads (public
right-of-way.)
This was our June/July 2010 Ghost Town of the Month.
This is one
of the towns featured in my newest book, GHOST
TOWNS: Yesterday & TodayTM.
SITE NAME |
ELEV. |
LATITUDE |
LONGITUDE |
TOWNSHIP/RANGE |
Auraria |
1401’ |
34.4745389 / 34° 28' 28" N |
-84.0232437 / 84° 01’ 24” W |
NOT USED IN GEORGIA |
Calhoun Mine |
1339’ |
34.4920390 / 34° 29' 31" N |
-83.9821315 / 83° 58’ 56” W |
NOT USED IN GEORGIA |
Dahlonega |
1450’ |
34.5325938 / 34° 31' 57" N |
-83.9849100 / 83° 59’ 06” W |
NOT USED IN GEORGIA |
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FIRST POSTED: June 02, 2010
LAST UPDATED: July 31, 2010
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