Social Effects

The town of Mineral was shaped by the arrival of the mines in many ways that stretched far beyond the economic benefits they brought. The mines drew hundreds of people from diverse backgrounds to the town, and their arrival in Mineral left a legacy that still lasts over a century later. The town of Mineral responded to the arrival of the miners in a unique manner. The emergence of roughs, taerns, and drinking motivated Mineral's citizens to build churches. Churches became important social and religious institutions in the town and with these newfound morals the citizens of Mineral transformed the town into a more law-abiding place. Together, they battled the changes that had been thrust upond them, banning the sale of liquor and ending the negative influences the mines had brought upon the town.