Eureka, Juab County

Eureka was originally known as Ruby Hollow in 1870. The first houses were built the next year. Incorporated as a city in 1892 as the financial center for the Tintic Mining District, Eureka became the 9th largest city in Utah with a population over 3000 in 1910. A JCPenny (supposedly the second store ever built) was here, but was called the Golden Rule Store then.

The census of 2000 counts 766 people in the old mining town. 

We were driving through, so there are not many pictures. Porter Rockwell's house certainly piqued our interest, so that was our first stop. I intend to go back and see the cemetery and explore the town a little more. Maybe I'll find a JCPenny. Take a moment to check out pictures from Utah Division of State History's photos of Eureka in it's heyday.

Porter Rockwell's house and ... the Star Theatre...

Can you really call this a theatre?

People were shorter then

Across the street from Rockwell's house... abandoned on Main Street

 The Tintic Mining District was the largest and most productive mining district of Juab County, credited with more than $180 million in production from 1869 to 1917. The "Big Four" of Eureka were the Gemini, Bullion-Beck, Eureka Hill and Centennial Eureka. Most of the mines closed in the 1930's, the last closing in 1957.