Nearly all of the dead were once proud residents of San Francisco, both during their lifetime and after.
For the better part of the century, Colmas residents were mainly gravediggers, flower growers and monument makers.
Today, the little town has many thriving businesses, including car dealerships and shopping centers.
In recent years, Colma has held many boxing events.
Tens of thousands ended up in San Francisco.
But gold seeking was not an easy business.
More than two dozen cemeteries were established and they were nearly filled to their capacity.
The first cemetery, the Holy Cross, was established in 1887.
Workers remove bodies from a San Francisco graveyard.
The large number of under-the-ground population have earned the town the somber moniker the City of the Silent.
Colmas residents, however, take their situation with humor.
The towns official slogan is Its great to be alive in Colma.
Workers remove bodies from the Odd Fellows Cemetery.
Photo credit:Mike/Flickr
Photo credit:Chris Christian/Flickr
Photo credit:Michael Fraley/Flickr
Sources:NY Times/www.colmahistory.org/Wikipedia
