Origins of The Tar Creek Superfund Site
The area now known as Tar Creek is part of the Tri-State mining district, an area of 1,188 square miles located in Ottawa County, Southwestern Missouri and Southeastern Kansas. The first mining activities took place in Missouri around 1850. By 1908, sites had been started in Miami, Picher, and Commerce. Railroads being built in the area greatly increased production. Mining quickly had a high economic impact, and by 1924 most of the young, American born whites in the district were employed by the mining industry.
When mining began in the area, most of the land was owned by the Quapaw tribe. An 1897 ruling and subsequent lawsuits determined mining was allowed to commence in the area, but only about one sixth of Quapaw landowners were allowed to collect royalties. Between 1915 and 1930, decreasing demand and production caused companies to buy the land rather than lease it, which encouraged high consolidation of mining companies.
1926 was the highest year of production in the area, and Ottawa county became the world's largest source of lead and zinc. During World War I, the region supplied 45 percent of the lead and 50 percent of the zinc used by the U.S. Further advances in technology also increased production. Between 1908 and 1950, the entire Tri-State Mining Region generated over an estimated 1 billion U.S. dollars. After 1950, many of the mines were shut down largely due to environmental impacts.
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