This town is rarely spoken of in the archives of this state, although it ranks up front among other historic mining camps in the area. Its mines, some of which produced impressive amounts of high grade ore, but few records of their production have survived today.

Danville is located just south of the Canadian border and was the first town in Ferry County. Originally known as "Nelson," and was established in 1889 by the Nelson brothers. In 1896 it became a congregating place for prospectors anxiously awaiting for the "North Half" of the Colville Indian Reservation to open up for mineral entry. By 1897 Danville had a half dozen businesses, post office, and one of the first newspapers in the county.

In 1901, when the Washington and Great Northern Railroad, built a railroad through Nelson their officials had the name changed to "Danville" to avoid confusion with Nelson in British Columbia.

While the mines were giving up the ore Danville thrived, but by the end the mines petered out and Danville, hard hit, slipped in importance as activity slowed. In the 1920s during the prohibition, Danville, like Nighthawk, Chesaw, and Molson, became a smugglers rendezvous. Much whiskey was smuggled across the border and into the surrounding areas.

Today Danville still occupies that large flat where "Nelson" was first established so many years ago. There are only a couple of the original buildings left today from the boom town days of Danville.