Georgia Has A Lost Town Most People Don’t Know About
When most people think about the Georgia Gold Rush, they picture the beautiful town of Dahlonega. Thriving and still a place for visitors to enjoy a special slice of history, Dahlonega is known as the Gold Rush capital of our great state. However, there is another town that many Georgians don’t know about—a town that was once a mecca for gold rush enthusiasts looking to strike it rich. Now considered a lost town, take a look at this one-of-a-kind place known as Auraria, Georgia.
On the southwest side of Dahlonega is the lost town of Auraria, Georgia, nicknamed after the Latin word for aurum, which means gold.
One of the very first gold boom towns in Georgia began in 1832, when a single cabin was built by William Dean between the Chestatee River and Etowah River.
Within just a few months, over one-hundred houses were built, about twenty stores, and twelve to fifteen law offices—the town of Auraria was officially booming.
There were tons of gold mines set up along the Etowah River—including the Gold Hill Mine, Hedwig-Chicago Mine, Battle Branch Mine, and Barlow Mine to name few.
A New Jersey native with over 15 years of writing experience, Marisa has studied at both New York University and Florida International University. She has lived all over the country, including a decade stint in South Florida. Marisa is well-versed in exploration as she travels a good majority of the year in her self-converted Sprinter van. Her articles have been featured in various notable publications over the years, she has a published collection of short stories, and three completed screenplays under her belt.
