Carbonate Camp, also known as Carbonate, Carbonate City, West Virginia, and Virginia, is a historic ghost town located in Lawrence County, South Dakota, within the Black Hills region. Here are some key points about Carbonate Camp:

Historical Background: Carbonate was founded in July 1881 following the discovery of carbonate ore, which is a mixture of silver and lead, by James Ridpath. This led to a rapid influx of settlers and miners, with the town initially named West Virginia, then Virginia, before settling on Carbonate Camp or Carbonate.
Peak and Decline: The town saw its peak activity around 1886, with a population estimated between 2,000 to 3,000 at its busiest. It featured numerous businesses including saloons, shops, restaurants, barber shops, laundries, an office, a drug store, and even a hotel named the Black Hills Hotel, which was the largest in Dakota Territory at the time. However, the prosperity was short-lived due to various factors including the decline in silver prices, poor road conditions, and a diphtheria epidemic that struck in 1888 and 1889, contributing to the town’s decline.
Infrastructure:
Newspaper: The town had two newspapers: “The Carbonate Reporter” established in 1881 and “The Nugget” in 1886.
Mining: Significant mining operations included the Iron Hill Mine, Seabury-Calkins Mine, among others, which were key to the town’s economy.
Education and Religion: A school was established by August 1886, and there was also a church.
Accommodation: The town had boarding houses, with one notable example operated by Mary Morton, who was listed in the 1900 census.
Cemetery: One of the few remaining structures is the Carbonate Camp Cemetery, where at least 11 graves are known, marked by wooden boards, though many are unreadable now. Notable individuals buried here include John Tripp, whose grave marker was one of the last to fade, and others like Joseph Nathaniel Ritter, a saloon owner.
Current State: Today, Carbonate is a ghost town with little left of its former self except for some foundations, the cemetery, a house, a bus, and some mining structures. It’s located about four miles west from Maitland, offering a glimpse into the mining history of the Black Hills for those interested in exploring off-the-beaten-path historical sites.
Access: To visit, one would typically follow directions from Spearfish, South Dakota, involving a combination of paved and gravel roads, leading to a two-track path up to the site.

This information reflects the historical significance of Carbonate as a mining community and its current status as a preserved piece of South Dakota’s past.