boom town

plural boom towns · alternative boomtown

1. A town that is experiencing or has experienced a period of rapid growth due to some temporary activity.

   Do you remember the good old days before the ghost town? / We danced and sang, and the music played in a de boomtown

   1981, Jerry Dammers, “Ghost Town”, performed by The Specials

   1 more example

   But, as in other boom towns, growth creates problems and doubts about how long it can be sustained. Water supplies are limited and the lack of experienced casino employees could make it easier for cheaters to bilk casinos, whether at blackjack tables or by rigging slot machines.

   1986 August 22, Nicholas D. Kristof, “Hot Spot in Sun Belt: Boom Town for Gambling”, in The New York Times, →ISSN