One of America’s most progressive Wild West town sits abandoned in Idaho’s mountains

Warren’s Unprecedented Chinese-Majority Mining Community in Idaho

While most Western mining towns kept Chinese workers out, Warren, Idaho did the exact opposite.

In 1869, local miners voted to open their district to Chinese immigrants, letting them buy and work claims for the first time. By 1870, about 1,500 Chinese had moved in, soon outnumbering whites three to one.

Census records show this stark shift – 393 Chinese to just 73 whites by 1880. Both groups built a rare bond based on mutual need and respect.

Even Polly Bemis, smuggled into America and sold for $2,500, found freedom and acceptance here. Warren Ghost Town still holds the remarkable story of this unique cultural experiment in the American West.

Gold Rush Fever Hit Idaho’s Backcountry in 1862

James Warren and 17 miners found gold in Warren Creek in July 1862, starting one of Idaho’s first mining camps.

Hidden in the mountains of north-central Idaho, the area was still part of Washington Territory before Idaho formed. Miners pulled over $2 million in gold during the first year alone.

By 1869, thousands of gold hunters packed into this once-empty wilderness, all hoping to grab their share of the treasure.

Easy Gold Ran Out Fast in Warren’s Creeks

By the late 1860s, most of the easy-to-get gold was gone as white miners scooped up all the easy-to-reach nuggets and dust.

Some miners started digging deeper into the mountains for gold veins as surface mining slowed down. White claim owners sat on "worked over" ground that still held gold but needed much more work to get it out.

This created a perfect chance for a different mining approach that needed more patience and workers.

Warren Miners Made a Bold Vote in 1869

Warren miners voted in 1869 to let Chinese immigrants buy claims or lease mining rights. This choice broke from the tough rules that kept Chinese from owning and working claims in most Western mining areas.

The vote welcomed Chinese miners when most camps pushed them out or attacked them. White miners saw a chance to make money selling their used-up claims while Chinese workers needed jobs in America.

Chinese Miners Moved to Warren by the Hundreds

About 1,500 Chinese moved to Warren in 1870 to rework the old mining spots using careful methods. The 1870 count showed 355 Chinese and 229 whites, making Chinese the clear majority in town.

Chinese miners worked claims that whites thought were "mined out," using patient techniques to find gold others missed. This created one of the biggest groups of Chinese miners in any Western camp.

Three-to-One Ratio Made Warren Special in the West

By 1880, the Chinese population grew to 393 while the white population dropped to just 73 people. Chinese folks outnumbered whites by a 3-to-1 ratio, creating an unusual situation in the American West.

The community worked with Chinese as the majority group, flipping the usual power balance seen in Western mining towns.

Both Groups Needed Each Other to Survive

White store owners kept shops open to Chinese customers while Chinese residents offered key services like medical knowledge and fresh vegetables.

Chinese workers did laundry, provided herbal medicine, and offered other skills that white residents needed. The business setup grew into a relationship of mutual respect rather than fighting.

Both groups gained from working together, with whites making money from selling old claims and Chinese earning a living through careful mining.

Polly Came in Chains but Found a New Life

Polly Bemis got to Warren on July 8, 1872, after being smuggled from China and sold in San Francisco for $2,500. A rich Chinese saloon owner bought her, though no one knows exactly who he was.

At just 19 years old and barely over 4 feet tall, she became one of only two Chinese women in the entire town.

Her story shows how few Chinese women made it to mining camps, with most brought against their will through human trafficking.

A Tough Saloon Owner Became Polly’s Protector

How Polly broke free from her Chinese owner remains unclear, though research hints he may have helped her gain freedom.

By 1880, she was living with Charlie Bemis, a Connecticut-born saloon owner and gambler who looked after her.

Charlie’s fearless personality and shooting skills let him keep order and protect Polly from unwanted advances. Polly would call for Charlie when things got rough in the saloon, and he always came to help her.

Marriage Papers Gave Polly Legal Status in America

Polly married Charlie Bemis on August 13, 1894, helping her get legal status in the United States.

Their marriage happened despite Idaho laws against whites marrying non-whites, done by a judge who himself had a Native American wife.

The couple moved 17 miles north to a remote spot along the Salmon River they called "Polly Place" or Bemis Point. Together they filed a mining claim and became some of the first settlers along the wild Salmon River.

Holiday Celebrations Brought Everyone Together

Chinese residents joined American Fourth of July parties while white residents looked forward to Chinese New Year festivities.

Stores owned by whites stayed open to Chinese customers, creating mixed business relationships. Community events brought both groups together, showing good teamwork across cultural lines.

Warren gained a reputation as a place where Chinese were welcomed and accepted, unlike most Western mining towns of that time.

The Golden Era of Warren Slowly Faded Away

By 1900, both Chinese and white populations had shrunk to just 22 and 15 people as mining opportunities dried up.

Polly became a beloved local figure representing the successful blending possible in Warren’s unique community.

From 1870 to 1934, when the last Chinese resident died, white and Chinese populations managed to live together peacefully.

Warren’s 30-year experiment in multicultural mining life ended as jobs moved elsewhere and the once-bustling camp quieted down.

Visiting Warren Ghost Town, Idaho

Warren Ghost Town is 50 miles northeast of McCall via Warren Wagon Road – the first 30 miles are paved, then gravel.

Pick up the Warren Historic Walking Tour pamphlet from McCall Ranger District Office at 102 West Lake Street before you go. Check out the Chinese Gardens 8 miles past town and Warren Guard Station with mining artifacts.

Baum Shelter serves burgers and finger steaks daily in summer. No admission fees anywhere.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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