Hartville has been a mineral treasure trove for nearly 11,000 years. Native Americans came to the area because of its rich stores of jasper, moss agate, onyx, chalcedony and flint for arrowheads.

The town of Hartville, WY was named for Major Verling K. Hart, who was an officer at Ft. Laramie. Hart opened the first copper mine in Hartville, which became the first incorporated town in Wyoming in 1884.

Italian and Greek immigrants ran the copper mines, and brought their culture, tastes, and families to Hartville and neighboring Sunset. By 1887, the copper mines were nearly depleted, but gold and silver were being mined. At this time, miners found huge deposits of pure iron. 

The Hartville and Sunset area became the first open pit mine in the world. It was called the Chicago Mine, or the Glory Hole. The Chicago Mine was 650 feet deep and is still one of the largest open pit mines in history.

 Iron production in Hartville reached its peak in 1942, with a million tons, before tapering off and officially closing 1984. 

Hartville gave its name to a geological formation. A Hartville Uplift is one that is rich in ores and semi-precious stones.