In 1865, U.S. soldiers discovered that the Indians on the area were using bullets made of silver. They figured that there must be a source of silver nearby. They soon found the location of the silver and pushed the Indians out. They named the location St. Louis. When word got out, people flocked to the area and a town with no name sprang up. In 1870, it was named Ophir, after the rich mines of King Solomon in the bible. By 1871, the town boasted a population of 1200. Soon after the population peaked at 6,000. A mill and two smelters were built at Ophir. By 1880, the boom was over. Most people moved away, but a few stayed behind. In 1918, Ophir staill had a population of 560. By 1990, only 25 people called Ophir home.
Today, Ophir still ahs its old city hall and numerous old houses and buildings. Ophir is located just north off Highway 73, to the southwest of Salt Lake City.
The first prospecting in the area started on february 26, 1870, after some discoveries of silver outcroppings. One of the prospector said, "Boys, she's a mammoth strike! We've got ourselves a mammoth mine!" And the settlement popping up now had a name. The early enthusaim died quickly as the ore started to run out quickly. Charles Crimsom, the leader of the mine owners, decided he wanted out. In 1873, he found an opportunity. Sam and William McIntyre were passing through, taking thier cattle to Salt Lake City. Crimson talked the brothers into trading their cattle for the biggest share in the mine. The brothers sank some more money into the mine, probably sinking Crimson's mine shafts deeper. The discovered a body of ore which produced gold, silver,copper, lead and bismuth for 75 years.
This discovery caused all the surrounding towns to swell with prospectors. By 1890, there were two mills operating in Mammoth.
Today, Mammoth still has many buildings standing. Mammoth is located just east of Highway 36, to the southwest of Salt Lake City.
