Goldfield is a ghost town located in Teller County, Colorado, approximately 8 miles west of Colorado Springs. The town was founded in 1895 after the discovery of gold in the area. It was at one time the third largest town in the Cripple Creek mining district.
Goldfield was founded in 1895 by the owners of the Portland Mine, a significant gold producer in the Cripple Creek Mining District. It was initially named “Independence.” The townsite was platted in January 1895, and the name was changed to the more appealing “Goldfield.” It was intended to be a more stable and family-oriented community compared to some of the wilder mining camps in the area. It quickly gained amenities like wooden sidewalks, churches, and schools, earning it the nickname “City of Homes.”
Like many of the mining towns in Colorado, as the fortunes of the mines declined, the towns began to die. Goldfield was no exception. By the early 1920’s, the population had dropped to below 35 residents.
Today, there are still several abandoned and partially restored historical structures in the town. There are also a few residents still living in the town and I have read that it has a population of 63 people. Still, the town is more of a remnant of the past and another mining ghost town on the long list of ghost towns in Colorado. It’s very easy to get to, located right off the highway.
