Estey City - New Mexico Ghost Town

ESTEY CITY

NAME: Estey City
COUNTY: Lincoln
ROADS: 2WD
GRID #(see map): 5
CLIMATE: Mild winter, warm summer
BEST TIME TO VISIT:Spring, winter, fall

COMMENTS: Twice lived
REMAINS: Not much

Today the site of Estey City is not available to the tourist for it lies within the boundaries of the restricted White Sands Missile Range. During the turn of the century, however, there was promise that Estey City was to become an important copper mining town. David M. Estey of Michigan was the controlling force behind the Estey Mining and Milling Company that owned about three hundred claims in the district. Operations began and by 1901 the town had about 250 citizens and a rosy future. But the future was short lived. The European panic of 1901-1902 forced copper prices downward and by May of 1902 Estey City was all but gone. A short time later, copper was once again in demand and the town had a re-birth until 1910 when it finally became a ghost town for good. Courtesy Henry Chenoweth.

Today the site of Estey City is not available to the tourist for it lies within the boundaries of the restricted White Sands Missile Range. During the turn of the century, however, there was promise that Estey City was to become an important copper mining town. David M. Estey of Michigan was the controlling force behind the Estey Mining and Milling Company that owned about three hundred claims in the district. Operations began and by 1901 the town had about 250 citizens and a rosy future. But the future was short lived. The European panic of 1901-1902 forced copper prices downward and by May of 1902 Estey City was all but gone. A short time later, copper was once again in demand and the town had a re-birth until 1910 when it finally became a ghost town for good. Courtesy Henry Chenoweth.

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