Central City

State: Colorado County: Gilpin County Founded: 1859 Peak Population: 15,000+

Central City was called the 'Richest Square Mile on Earth' after the 1859 gold strike that helped launch Colorado's mining era. The 1878 Central City Opera House is the state's oldest. Like Cripple Creek, gambling legalization in 1991 revived the near-ghost town.

Quick Facts

  • Called 'Richest Square Mile on Earth'
  • 1878 Opera House is Colorado's oldest
  • John Gregory's 1859 strike launched Colorado's mining era
  • One of three Colorado gambling towns

Location

Address: Central City, Gilpin County, Colorado

Coordinates: 39.8017, -105.5144