Which term describes a town that emerges rapidly due to mining?

The term that describes a town that emerges rapidly due to mining is boomtown. A boomtown is characterized by a sudden influx of people who arrive in search of wealth, typically following the discovery of valuable resources like gold or silver. These towns often experience rapid growth in population and economic activity as miners and their families set up homes, businesses, and services to support the mining operations. The bustling nature of these towns can lead to the establishment of schools, shops, and entertainment, fueled by the expectation of continued prosperity.

In contrast, the other terms do not capture the same essence of rapid urban growth linked explicitly to mining activities. A ghost town refers to a deserted town, often a former boomtown that has declined after the mining activity ceased. A mining camp usually refers to a temporary or informal settlement where miners gather, which does not imply the same level of structured community seen in a boomtown. A prospector's settlement suggests a smaller, more scattered group of individuals engaged in searching for minerals rather than the cohesive town atmosphere that a boomtown entails. Hence, boomtown is the most accurate term for this context.