New Mexico

Ghost Town

The mining town of Lake Valley, NM was founded in 1878 after silver was discovered. Almost overnight, the small frontier town blossomed into a major settlement with a population of 4,000 people. Today, silver mining has played out and all that remains is a ghost town. The last resident departed in 1994. It's currently a BLM historic site.

Boot Hill

The old Hillsboro Cemetery, Hillsboro, New Mexico.

Hillsboro Cemetery

The Hillsboro Cemetery is just outside the town of Hillsboro, NM. The towns of Hillsboro, Kingston and Lake Valley developed in 1877-1882 with the discovery of gold and silver. The towns were interconnected and the history of one cannot be discussed without the others. Mining created the towns, but cattle, sheep and goat ranching provided a more economic stable base. When the mines played out, Lake Valley became a ghost town; Hillsboro and Kingston are now quiet villages with a mix of old families, writer, artists and retirees. But the towns remain surrounded by large ranches, some still owned by the original families descendants.