Rag Town and Boulder City
Rag Town
The economic collapse that began in 1929 drove desperate men, women, and children to Black Canyon in the hopes of getting a job building the Hoover Dam. Outside of Las Vegas, Nevada, people put up tents and shacks, and endured very harsh elements waiting for construction to begin. This location came to be known as "Rag Town". Some compassionate Las Vegas residents took it upon themselves to help the people of Rag Town with food, but life did not improve much until work on the dam started, and Boulder City was constructed. |
Boulder City
Boulder City was built on federal land near the dam location. It was completed in 1932, and continued to expand as construction went on and more workers were needed. It had large dormitories for single men, and cottages for families. A huge mess hall served 6,000 meals a day to hungry workers and their families. For $1.50 a day, a worker received three all-you-can-eat meals a day. Boulder City was not ideal though. There was no formal educational system, and a lack of health care. The federal government provided no funds to build schools, so Six Companies donated some money to build makeshift schoolhouses. Six Companies also built a hospital, but health care was only provided to workers. Their spouses and children had to fend for themselves. |