Diamond Utah

Map of Diamond

USGS 7.5 Minute Series Map "Eureka"

Short History of Diamond

The 1869 Sunbeam strike at Silver City was the impetus behind the start of the Tintic District. Diamond was one of the several towns that got its start in the District as people came to strike it rich. In the area which would become Diamond, prospectors discovered shiny crystals which were thought to be diamonds, hence the town's name. The crystals were in fact common quartz. Instead of diamonds, it was silver, gold, lead and copper that were discovered.

Diamond was a town of the 1870s. The population peaked around 900-1000 inhabitants. The business establishments included 5 saloons, 4 stores, 3 hotels, a post office, a small school, and two churches. The town even had its own newspaper called The Rocky Mountain Husbandman.

Diamond began to dwindle between 1875 and 1890 with many of the houses being moved to Mammoth and Eureka, the last one being moved in 1923. Diamond's population in 1900 was 264 and the Utah State Gazeteer (1903-1904) listed Diamond as having only 3 business establishments as compared to Eureka which had 90 listings for the same year.

The final demise of Diamond was water. Water encountered in the mines at the 300 foot level forced the mines to close because it wasn't economically viable to pump the water out.

Today there is hardly anything left of Diamond. The cemetery is in shambles only a few grave markers remain, and these are not original.

Sources:

Carr, Stephen L. The Historical Guide to Utah Ghost Towns

Thompson, George A. Some Dreams Die: Utah's Ghost Towns and Lost Treasures

Notarianni, Philip F. Faith, Hope, & Prosperity: The Tintic Mining District

Maps

For a map of Diamond in click below.

DIAMOND MAP

USGS Professional Paper 107 Plate 1

Surveyed 1911 map 1918

PICTURES

Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.

Utah Ghost Towns and Mining Camps

All photos and graphics (unless noted otherwise)

Created in 800X600 resolution.