Why did boomtowns develop in the west and what eventually happened to them?

Boomtowns developed in the West primarily due to the discovery of valuable resources, such as gold and silver, which attracted a surge of prospectors and settlers seeking wealth. These towns often grew rapidly, featuring makeshift infrastructure and a population boom, but they were typically short-lived. Once the resources were depleted or the mining operations became unprofitable, many residents left, leading to the decline or abandonment of these boomtowns. Some evolved into permanent settlements, while others faded into ghost towns.