Name: Fairbanks
County: Platte
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Feature Type: Locale
Origin of Name:
Fairbanks, the smelter site on the Laramie River, was named for N.K. Fairbanks of Chicago, an organizer of the Wyoming Copper Company. The copper smelter operated parts of the years 1883 and 1885, and then closed permanently for lack of ore. Approximately $200,000 was realized from the ore smelted.
Source: Guernsey
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Alternative Spellings: Fairbank
History:
Fairbank Post Office was established in February, 1883 and discontinued in October 1900. Mail was then handled by Guernsey Post Office.
Source: Wyoming Post Offices
Location of first smelter operated in Wyoming. Established in 1882 for purpose of smelting copper ores mined in Hartville area.
Source: WPA
In 1881 H. T. Miller discovered copper deposits in the immediate vicinity of the town and in the surrounding canyons. The Wyoming Copper Co. was formed and for several years mined the small but high-grade copper deposits. A copper smelter was built at a location called Fairbanks, four miles southwest of the town site and on the Platte River. It operated for approximately three years.
Source: Diocese
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