People first came to Boulder to take advantage of nearby mining, to use it as a stop on the way to the mines or to get the economic advantages of living in a mining supply town. Gold was first discovered in the Boulder area in 1859. David Horsfal and J.D. Scott are the names attributed to making the first claims. After their discoveries, the mountain area west of Boulder became known as “Gold Hill” through for years, many referred to it as “Horsfal Hill.” As news of the area spread, hundreds of claims were recorded and the population boomed.
Gold Hill residents were comprised mostly of miners. Initially, people lived at the very top of the hill, but exposure to harsh weather and a fire in 1860 caused people to move lower and establish the town closer to Left Hand Canyon. In 1873, a road was built connecting Boulder to Gold Hill followed by the construction of schoolhouses and lodging for workers.
It is estimated that the Gold Hill mines produced $300,000 worth of minerals in forty years.
To learn more about Gold Hill, visit the town's website.
References: Boulder in Perspective by J.B. Schoolland and the Carnegie Branch Library for Local History.
