Uncovering Basin’s days as a bustling mine town A RIP-ROARING ADVENTURE WITH A HOT AIR BALLOON AND FIREWORKS PART OF ITS PAST

Editor’s note: The following essay on the Jefferson County community of Basin was written by Leah Hartman, 8th grader and Basin resident. Her research was reviewed with assistance from the Heritage Center. 

Basin started as a mining camp in the 1860s. After a few years a settlement was established. In the 1870s the Bullion, Hope and Katy gold mines were opened. The Katy and Hope mines brought success to the little town. 

But 1894 Basin had four grocery stores, a drug store, ten bars, a bakery, three butcher shops, a few restaurants, two hotels, a bank, and a weekly newspaper. The population was 800. In 1895 the Katy was closed from fire damage, and in 1896 the Hope closed from fire as well.