Name: Bonanza

 

County: Big Horn

 

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Feature Type: Locale

 

Origin of Name:

Frontier town, now a ghost town. Bonanza is a Spanish name meaning “prosperity.”  Settlers found seeps of crude oil here, and it was the first spot in the Basin to be drilled for oil. Thinking they had made a profitable find, the settlers called their town Bonanza. Experts, however in the course of time, found the seepage was of shallow origin, and the great brave hopes died, but not before these hopes built a town. It was a town which again ran true to pattern with saloons, a hotel, a blacksmith shop, drug store, grocery store, homes, and a newspaper owned by Thomas Daggett and called The Big Horn Rustler. 

Source: WPA

 

The site was thought by early prospectors to carry rich mineral values, especially oil.

Source: Annals 14(3)

 

Bonanza was started as a community in the early 1880's and for a time was the center of much activity. It was so named because of an oil spring near by, which the ranchers used in their lanterns, and to lubricate machinery with.

Source: Wasden  

 

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History:

Bonanza Post Office was established on June 14, 1887 in Johnson County prior to the formation of Big Horn County. Its first postmaster was Alonzo H. Taylor. It was discontinued on June 10, 1918 after which the mail was handled by the Hyattville Post Office.

Source: Wyoming Post Offices

 

Small town and postoffice in Big Horn County, 20 miles southeast from Basin. Stock raising the leading industry.

Source: Wyoming State Business Directory, 1910-11 

 

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Newspapers:

 Fremont Clipper

 October 24, 1890

 

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