Shafter’s origins trace back to 1880–81, when rancher John W. Spencer discovered silver ore in the hills along Cibolo Creek. Unsure of its value, Spencer took a sample to Colonel William R. Shafter at Fort Davis, who had it assayed and confirmed the richness of the find. This discovery quickly drew investors and prospectors to the region.
By 1883, the Presidio Mining Company was organized to manage operations, and a mining settlement soon grew around the site. In 1885, a post office was established, giving Shafter official recognition as a town.
Growth and Prosperity
For decades, Shafter was one of the most significant silver-producing centers in Texas. From 1883 to 1940, the mines yielded nearly 31 million ounces of silver, along with smaller but notable amounts of gold and lead. Some estimates place the total silver production by the time of closure in 1942 at over 35 million ounces.
As mining expanded, so did the community. By 1940, Shafter reached its peak population of about 4,000 residents. The town offered amenities uncommon in many mining camps, including:
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A mill and tramway system to transport ore
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A company store and boarding houses
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A hospital to serve miners and their families
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The Sacred Heart Catholic Church, built around 1890, which still stands today
This infrastructure gave Shafter a reputation as a more stable and permanent settlement compared to other mining towns in the region.
Decline and Closures
Despite its prosperity, Shafter’s future was tied to the mining industry. In 1942, operations ceased when the U.S. government, through the War Production Act, shifted resources away from silver toward strategic metals needed for World War II. By then, ore reserves were also becoming harder to mine profitably.
Although there were occasional attempts to revive the mines—exploration in the late 1970s, renewed interest in the 1990s, and reactivation in 2012 by Aurcana Corporation—economic challenges persisted. Aurcana reopened the Shafter Mine in 2012, but falling silver prices and high production costs led to suspension of operations by December 2013. Since then, the site has remained on care-and-maintenance, with ownership passing through several mining companies.
Shafter Today
Now designated as part of the Shafter Historic Mining District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the town is largely a ghost town. What remains are:
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Scattered adobe ruins
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The Sacred Heart Catholic Church
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A cemetery holding the graves of early settlers and miners
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A handful of occupied homes, with the current population estimated between 11 and 30 residents
Despite its decline, Shafter’s legacy continues through both its preserved landmarks and its status as one of the most productive silver districts in Texas history.
Cultural Footnotes
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Film History: Shafter’s distinctive desert landscape and ruins served as a backdrop in the 1971 science fiction film The Andromeda Strain. However, claims that There Will Be Blood filmed there are not supported by reliable evidence.
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Military Role: Some local traditions suggest Shafter had connections to border security during the Mexican Revolution, but authoritative historical sources do not confirm it as a U.S. National Guard post.
Summary
Shafter is a classic example of a boom-and-bust mining town. From its discovery in the 1880s, through its peak in the 1940s, to its closure during World War II, the town mirrored the fortunes of silver mining in the American Southwest. Today, its ruins and historic buildings offer a glimpse into a time when Shafter was the center of silver wealth in Texas.
Photos:
Shafter
