Picher, Oklahoma, once a bustling mining town in the early 20th century, was established primarily due to the discovery of zinc and lead in the area. Founded in 1913, it quickly grew as miners flocked to the town, which became a hub for extraction and processing of these valuable minerals. At its peak in the 1920s, Picher boasted a population of around 5,000 residents, along with various businesses and community amenities. However, as mining operations dwindled and environmental degradation took its toll, the town began to decline. By the 1980s, Picher faced significant challenges, including pollution and the migration of its residents, ultimately leading to its official dissolution in 2009. Today, Picher stands as a reminder of the boom-and-bust cycle characteristic of many mining towns in the United States.

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