rdfs:comment
| - Sometimes a town grows very rapidly, doubling in population or more in a very short time. In The Wild West, this often happened around gold or silver strikes, or where water was discovered in an arid area. While the rapid expansion lasts, the community is a Boom Town. Often, the growth of the town will attract undesirable elements, leading to lawlessness and the need for law enforcement to clean it up. Certainly, any boom town is likely to be an Adventure Town. Note that several works have used the title "Boom Town" to refer to communities about to blow up. Not the same thing.
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abstract
| - Sometimes a town grows very rapidly, doubling in population or more in a very short time. In The Wild West, this often happened around gold or silver strikes, or where water was discovered in an arid area. While the rapid expansion lasts, the community is a Boom Town. Boom towns tend to have a lot of new construction, much of it ramshackle, to house the new residents and businesses. In Westerns, most of the businesses will be saloons, gambling halls, and other entertainments designed to get the newfound wealth of the residents into the business owners' pocket. Churches and schools will come later, with the maturation of the town. Often, the growth of the town will attract undesirable elements, leading to lawlessness and the need for law enforcement to clean it up. Certainly, any boom town is likely to be an Adventure Town. Since a boom town often relies on a single resource or attraction, if that dries up the town will start dying, quite possibly becoming a Ghost Town. Note that several works have used the title "Boom Town" to refer to communities about to blow up. Not the same thing. Not to be confused with short-lived series Boomtown, or the Doctor Who episode. Examples of Boom Town include:
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