Kimberly, Arkansas
Encyclopedia
The incorporated
town of Kimberly, a sparsely inhabited area on the south side of Murfreesboro, Arkansas
, began in late 1908 as an ill-fated land-development project spanning almost 240 acre (0.9712464 km²). At the time, the recently discovered Arkansas diamond field was still generating a speculative heyday, and the enterprising property owner, Millard M. (M. M.) Mauney, envisioned a dynamic settlement based upon a future mining industry. His location was perfect. The diamond field lay only a half-mile away. The planned extension of a railroad into Murfreesboro from the southwest would cut through Kimberly, facilitating investments and development.
, a compact three-story hotel
, and a little general store
. There were also plans for a large business center featuring a club "for the entertainment and accommodation of those interested in the diamond lands, and [for] prospectors
who may visit that section." Meanwhile, speculative investors bought a considerable number of residential lots.
field and at similar volcanic deposits nearby, and failure was assured as commercial yields constantly proved elusive. In February 1910, local investors abandoned the idea of building the club and adjacent business complex. As activity continued dwindling, the venture formally ended in July 1911.
. Contrary to a recurring description, there is no "ghost town
".
Municipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
town of Kimberly, a sparsely inhabited area on the south side of Murfreesboro, Arkansas
Murfreesboro, Arkansas
Murfreesboro is a city in Pike County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,764 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Pike County....
, began in late 1908 as an ill-fated land-development project spanning almost 240 acre (0.9712464 km²). At the time, the recently discovered Arkansas diamond field was still generating a speculative heyday, and the enterprising property owner, Millard M. (M. M.) Mauney, envisioned a dynamic settlement based upon a future mining industry. His location was perfect. The diamond field lay only a half-mile away. The planned extension of a railroad into Murfreesboro from the southwest would cut through Kimberly, facilitating investments and development.
Opening ceremony
On the weekend of January 22-23, 1909, Mauney and associates staged the opening ceremony for the grand venture. Helping stir publicity, the discoverer of the diamond field, "Diamond John" Huddleston, was on hand to buy Lot No. 1 for a token $70.Buildings
In 1909-1910, the promoters secured a few wood-frame businesses, including a small bankBank
A bank is a financial institution that serves as a financial intermediary. The term "bank" may refer to one of several related types of entities:...
, a compact three-story hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
, and a little general store
General store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
. There were also plans for a large business center featuring a club "for the entertainment and accommodation of those interested in the diamond lands, and [for] prospectors
Prospecting
Prospecting is the physical search for minerals, fossils, precious metals or mineral specimens, and is also known as fossicking.Prospecting is a small-scale form of mineral exploration which is an organised, large scale effort undertaken by mineral resource companies to find commercially viable ore...
who may visit that section." Meanwhile, speculative investors bought a considerable number of residential lots.
End of the venture
Mauney's success, however, depended upon commercial testing at the main diamondDiamond
In mineralogy, diamond is an allotrope of carbon, where the carbon atoms are arranged in a variation of the face-centered cubic crystal structure called a diamond lattice. Diamond is less stable than graphite, but the conversion rate from diamond to graphite is negligible at ambient conditions...
field and at similar volcanic deposits nearby, and failure was assured as commercial yields constantly proved elusive. In February 1910, local investors abandoned the idea of building the club and adjacent business complex. As activity continued dwindling, the venture formally ended in July 1911.
Return to agriculture
Eventually, Mauney's heirs recovered full ownership of almost all the property he had dedicated to the project. The few buildings were removed, and almost all the platted Kimberley township reverted to agricultural landAgricultural land
Agricultural land denotes the land suitable for agricultural production, both crops and livestock. It is one of the main resources in agriculture...
. Contrary to a recurring description, there is no "ghost town
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...
".