Antioch, located in Sheridan County, Nebraska, United States, was established after the discovery of potash. The town developed as the population increased within a very short period. It was later abandoned after the closure of Potash distilling industries in the town.

Early years of the Antioch

Scientists from the University of Nebraska came up with a distillation method of mining potash from the alkali lakes in the area. In the early years before the discovery of potash in Antioch, the mineral was imported from Germany especially during World War I. The discovery reduced the scarcity of potash in the United States as well as reduced the high prices that they were sold at initially (prices fell from 150 to 10 US dollars per ton).  Due to its prime location and several alkali lakes that surrounded the town, Antioch was flooded by potash distilling factories within a very short period. Some of the potash distilling factories in the area included the American, Nebraska, Alliance, National, and West potash companies. The companies became the main suppliers of potash during and after World War I. The industries also offered employment opportunities to most of the residents of the town.  This led to more residents going to the town thus an increase in the population of the town. By 1918, the town’s population had increased to over 5000 people. To avoid conflict, the state-owned land was leased by the government to private investors who showed interest in exploiting its riches. The potash produced in the industries was used in the production of fertilizer, salt, soda, and other products.

End of an era

The effects of World War I slowed potash trading between Germans, France, and the United States; however the trade resumed in 1921. There was price variation as potash from the US was sold at a higher price than those from the two European countries. Cheaper prices made European potash preferred by many in the United States, reducing the market for locally produced potash.  To avoid much loss, the industries in the US closed their operations and from that day potash was imported from Germany and France. The industry’s owners sold their machinery for scrap and the buildings were demolished. Concrete ruins were used as building materials by the residents in the town. Some of the people working in the industries relocated to other places resulting in the desertion of the town but as usual, some residents were left in the area.

Antioch Today

Some of the residents left residing in the town died and only less than 30 residents are in the town today. The foundations of the plants and other larger houses still exist. The ruins of the potash plant were added to the National Register of Historic Places and a historical marker was enacted in the townsite. Visitation to the townsite is allowed and one can visit any day.