Following the discovery of extensive bauxite ore deposits in 1887, an ore drying plant was located here by The Pittsburg Reduction Co. In 1903 a small village was laid out to house the workers. This village, which included a bank, hospital, theater, and several churches and business houses, became a classic example of the company-owned town. During World War II the community reached a peak of 7000 people when ore from mines near here supplied the nation with domestic aluminum critical to the production of arms.