Boomtowns Shape Western Society

Mining boomtowns sprang up quickly and were filled mostly with men hoping to strike it rich. With few laws or police, these towns were often rough and dangerous places. Life was unstable, and violence was common.

This environment also created new economic opportunities for women. Women could earn their own money by running boarding houses, restaurants, and laundries to serve the mining population. For some, life in the West offered more independence than they had in the East.