Many people came to find gold in Deadwood. Some left family farms. Others left paying jobs in other goldfields. Still others were drifters. All wanted a big find.

Each had his own notion of morality and pleasure. The farmer wanted to work hard and go home. He had no time for fun but liked seeing a preacher every Sunday. The experienced miner knew rough towns and how to pocket extra dollars at the card table. The drifter enjoyed the saloon. All found in Deadwood what they wanted—except for gold. All tired of failure and being alone. Then they might run into each other at the "badlands."

What went on in Deadwood occurred in other cities too. But here it was writ large, with little disguise. There was no "moral" middle class.