Ruth, Nevada
Encyclopedia
Ruth is a small town in White Pine County
, Nevada
, that was founded in 1903. It is a census-designated place
, with a population in 2010 of 440.
With the opening Nevada Northern Railway
in the year 1906 copper production began to boom. By 1910 the settlement was already established a small distance from the first site. Ruth was a company town
for the Nevada Consolidated Copper Company: the houses belonged to the mine and the city and were administered by them. Saloon
s and bordellos were not permitted in the company town but were plentiful in the neighboring community of Riepetown.
A mine explosion in Ruth on July 12, 1912 killed ten people.
In 1919 Ruth was the site of a labor dispute when 150 copper miners walked out demanding higher wages. Although some claimed the strike was instigated by the Industrial Workers of the World
the leaders were actually from the Western Federation of Miners
.
At the beginning of the Great Depression
, Ruth had almost 2,300 inhabitants.
Nevada Consolidated Copper Co. was taken over by Kennecott Copper Corporation in 1933.
Ruth ceased being a company town in 1955 when the houses were sold to the John W. Galbreath Company. Occupants were given the opportunity to purchase the homes they had been renting. Around this time the town was moved two miles north to make way for expansion of the Deep Ruth mine.
In 1978 Kennecott closed the mines in Ruth and the town went into decline. The elementary school closed in 1986 and remains boarded up as of June 2011.
From 1996 to 1999, the BHP Nevada Railroad
was based here.
The Nevada Northern Railway Museum
maintains some track in the area.
Ruth is the inspiration for the Stephen King
novel Desperation.
, 20th governor of Nevada, worked briefly in Ruth ca. 1927.
Former U.S. Congresswoman Helen Delich Bentley
, who represented the state of Maryland
, was born in Ruth.
White Pine County, Nevada
White Pine County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. Its population at the 2010 census was 10,030. Its county seat is Ely. It is the home of Great Basin National Park...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, that was founded in 1903. It is a census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
, with a population in 2010 of 440.
History
Ruth began as a settlement for workers of the White Pine Copper Company in 1903. It derived its name from the Ruth mining claim which was named for Ruth McDonald, daughter of the original owner of the mining claim.With the opening Nevada Northern Railway
Nevada Northern Railway
The Nevada Northern Railway was a railroad in the U.S. state of Nevada, built primarily to provide rail access to a major copper producing area in White Pine County, Nevada...
in the year 1906 copper production began to boom. By 1910 the settlement was already established a small distance from the first site. Ruth was a company town
Company town
A company town is a town or city in which much or all real estate, buildings , utilities, hospitals, small businesses such as grocery stores and gas stations, and other necessities or luxuries of life within its borders are owned by a single company...
for the Nevada Consolidated Copper Company: the houses belonged to the mine and the city and were administered by them. Saloon
Bar (establishment)
A bar is a business establishment that serves alcoholic drinks — beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails — for consumption on the premises.Bars provide stools or chairs that are placed at tables or counters for their patrons. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go...
s and bordellos were not permitted in the company town but were plentiful in the neighboring community of Riepetown.
A mine explosion in Ruth on July 12, 1912 killed ten people.
In 1919 Ruth was the site of a labor dispute when 150 copper miners walked out demanding higher wages. Although some claimed the strike was instigated by the Industrial Workers of the World
Industrial Workers of the World
The Industrial Workers of the World is an international union. At its peak in 1923, the organization claimed some 100,000 members in good standing, and could marshal the support of perhaps 300,000 workers. Its membership declined dramatically after a 1924 split brought on by internal conflict...
the leaders were actually from the Western Federation of Miners
Western Federation of Miners
The Western Federation of Miners was a radical labor union that gained a reputation for militancy in the mines of the western United States and British Columbia. Its efforts to organize both hard rock miners and smelter workers brought it into sharp conflicts – and often pitched battles...
.
At the beginning of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, Ruth had almost 2,300 inhabitants.
Nevada Consolidated Copper Co. was taken over by Kennecott Copper Corporation in 1933.
Ruth ceased being a company town in 1955 when the houses were sold to the John W. Galbreath Company. Occupants were given the opportunity to purchase the homes they had been renting. Around this time the town was moved two miles north to make way for expansion of the Deep Ruth mine.
In 1978 Kennecott closed the mines in Ruth and the town went into decline. The elementary school closed in 1986 and remains boarded up as of June 2011.
From 1996 to 1999, the BHP Nevada Railroad
BHP Nevada Railroad
The BHP Nevada Railroad was a shortline railroad that operated in Nevada from 1996 to 1999. BHP acquired the line from the Nevada Northern Railway. The railroad hauled copper ore concentrate from BHP's concentrator at Riepetown to Shafter, Nevada. At Shafter the railroad interchanged with the...
was based here.
The Nevada Northern Railway Museum
Nevada Northern Railway Museum
The Nevada Northern Railway Museum is a railroad museum located in Ely, Nevada and operated by a historic foundation dedicate to the preservation of the railroad....
maintains some track in the area.
Ruth is the inspiration for the Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
novel Desperation.
Notable Persons
Charles H. RussellCharles H. Russell
Charles Hinton Russell was an American politician. He was the 20th Governor of Nevada. He was a member of the Republican Party.-Biography:...
, 20th governor of Nevada, worked briefly in Ruth ca. 1927.
Former U.S. Congresswoman Helen Delich Bentley
Helen Delich Bentley
Helen Delich Bentley is an American politician and a former Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the State of Maryland .-Life and career:...
, who represented the state of Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, was born in Ruth.