De Lamar, Idaho
Encyclopedia
De Lamar is a ghost town
in Owyhee County
, Idaho
, United States
. Its elevation is 5,463 feet (1,665 m), and it is located at 43°1′28"N 116°49′53"W (43.0243249, -116.8315175), approximately six miles west of Silver City
. The community lies within an area governed by the Bureau of Land Management.
The community formed around the De Lamar Mine, which was established in 1888. Named for mining magnate and former sea captain
Joseph Raphael De Lamar
, the mine and community quickly boomed and busted, declining after 1890. Despite the community's decline, it continued to exist as a populated community for several decades; it was the location of a summer-only post office
from 1917 to 1930.
In 1976, the ghost town was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
as a historic district
. Although the district included an area of approximately 1600 acres (647.5 ha), only four of the community's buildings remained in sufficient condition to qualify as contributing properties
.
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
in Owyhee County
Owyhee County, Idaho
Owyhee County is a county located in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Idaho. In area it is the second largest county in Idaho, behind Idaho County. As of the 2000 Census, Owyhee County had a population of 10,644...
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Its elevation is 5,463 feet (1,665 m), and it is located at 43°1′28"N 116°49′53"W (43.0243249, -116.8315175), approximately six miles west of Silver City
Silver City, Idaho
Silver City is a ghost town in Owyhee County, Idaho, United States. At its height in the 1880s it was a gold and silver mining town with a population of around 2,500 and approximately 75 businesses. Silver City served as county seat of Owyhee County from 1867 to 1934. Today, the town has about 70...
. The community lies within an area governed by the Bureau of Land Management.
The community formed around the De Lamar Mine, which was established in 1888. Named for mining magnate and former sea captain
Captain (nautical)
A sea captain is a licensed mariner in ultimate command of the vessel. The captain is responsible for its safe and efficient operation, including cargo operations, navigation, crew management and ensuring that the vessel complies with local and international laws, as well as company and flag...
Joseph Raphael De Lamar
Joseph Raphael De Lamar
Joseph Raphael De Lamar was born in Amsterdam, Holland, September 2, 1843. His father, a banker in Amsterdam, died when he was six years of age, and the lad in love of adventure went aboard a Dutch vessel that plied to the West Indies...
, the mine and community quickly boomed and busted, declining after 1890. Despite the community's decline, it continued to exist as a populated community for several decades; it was the location of a summer-only post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
from 1917 to 1930.
In 1976, the ghost town was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
as a historic district
Historic district (United States)
In the United States, a historic district is a group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided...
. Although the district included an area of approximately 1600 acres (647.5 ha), only four of the community's buildings remained in sufficient condition to qualify as contributing properties
Contributing property
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing resource or contributing property is any building, structure, or object which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic district, listed locally or federally, significant...
.