List of ghost towns in Arizona

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This is a partial list of ghost towns in Arizona in the United States. Most ghost towns in Arizona are former mining boomtowns that were abandoned when the mines closed. Those not set up as mining camps often became mills or supply points supporting nearby mining operations. [1]

Contents

Conditions

1881 Assay Office of Vulture City Wickenburg Vulture Mine-Assay office-1884-1.jpg
1881 Assay Office of Vulture City

Ghost towns can include sites in various states of disrepair and abandonment. Some sites no longer have any trace of buildings or civilization and have reverted to empty land. Other sites are unpopulated but still have standing buildings. Still others may support full-time residents, though usually far less than at their historical peak, while others may now be museums or historical sites. [1]

For ease of reference, the sites listed here are placed into one of the following general categories.

Barren site
Neglected site
Abandoned site
Semi-abandoned site
Historic site

Ghost towns

Town name  Other name(s)  LocationCounty  Settled  Abandoned  Current status  Remarks  
Adamana Apache 1896Semi-abandoned siteOriginally the place was known as Adam Hanna's, as time passed and more people came to visit, the elision of a few letters gave us the name Adamana.
Adamsville Sanford Pinal 18661920sNeglected siteOriginal farming town mostly destroyed in a flood, now farmland. The remnant abandoned by the 1920s. Only its cemetery and some ruins remain.
Agua Caliente Maricopa 1858Neglected site Hotel, ruins of a stone house and a swimming pool.
Alamo Crossing [2] Alimo Mohave 18991918SubmergedSubmerged in Alamo Lake.
Alexandra [2] Yavapai 1875c.1903Barren siteThe town is located in Peck Canyon and was named Alexandra after Mrs. T.M. Alexander, a founder and the first lady to be at the town.
Algert Coconino 18831921Neglected siteWalls of some of the school buildings, and some of the walls of the trading post are still standing.
Allen [2] Gunsight, Allen City [3] Pima c.1880c.1886Barren siteAllen was founded by John Brackett Allen, he named his town after himself.
Alma Stringtown Maricopa 1880Historic siteMormon settlement now part of Mesa, Arizona. [4]
Alma Pinal 18911898Abandoned siteWooden water tanks, concrete ore chute, and metal ore buckets, etc. as well as a small slag heap remain on the site within private property. A settlement with a post office, 6 miles above Old Camp Grant on the west side of the San Pedro River. [4] :16
Alto Santa Cruz 19071933Neglected siteAdobe Walls of old Post office and Sign for "Alto Camp". Historic Mining district back to the 18th Century.
American Flag [2] Pinal c.1879c.1884The post office was moved to the American Flag Ranch in 1880. The building still stands, and is the oldest surviving territorial post office building in Arizona.
American Ranch Lee's Ranch Yavapai 1863c.1883Barren siteA stage stop on Mint Wash in Little Chino Valley on the Hardyville–Prescott Road with a large hotel for travelers. [5] [6]

[7]

Angel Camp Maricopa
Apron Crossing Yavapai
Aravaipa Dunlap Graham Originally named Dunlap after Burt Dunlap, the local rancher who established it in 1882.
Aubrey Landing [2] Aubrey Mohave c.1860c.1886Barren siteA steamboat landing, later inundated when Lake Havasu was formed
Aura Graham 1899
Aztec Yuma 1880sSemi-abandoned siteFormer railroad station
Barcelona Pinal 1880sSite completely devoured by mineSegregated town near Kelvin
Bellevue Gila 19061927Abandoned siteTown was built to harbor the Gibson Cooper Mine
Big Bug [2] Bigbug, Red Rock Yavapai 1862c.1910Barren siteTown was founded by Theodore Boggs during the American Civil War. Boggs' father was the former governor of Missouri, Lilburn Boggs, who helped drive the Mormons out during the Missouri Mormon War.
Black Diamond Cochise
Bonita [8] Graham c.18851950Abandoned siteCatered to Fort Grant
Boyles Carpenter Greenlee 19041908Barren siteFarming and ranching community at the mouth of the Blue River (Arizona) [9]
Bradshaw City Yavapai c.1860c.1880Barren siteTown supported the Tiger Mine. Namesake of its founder, William D. Bradshaw.
Brigham City [10] Navajo 18761881Historic siteFounded by member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints near the present city of Winslow in 1876, it was one and one-half miles north of Winslow's current city center, along the Little Colorado River. It was organized as a Latter-Day Saints ward in 1878, but by 1881 it had been abandoned.
Bumble Bee [1] [2] Yavapai 1863Semi-abandoned sitePrivately owned, few residents. [1]
Calabasas [2] Calabazas Santa Cruz 18661913Abandoned siteWas a Tohono O'odham Village, Mexican Garrison, Military Base, mining town. Town was known as the gateway to Mexico and had the finest hotel from San Francisco to Denver. [11]
Camp Crittenden Santa Cruz 18671873Semi-abandoned sitePrivate property, named Camp Crittenden by Generals Orders No. 57 Department of California, September 30, 1867, in honor of Thomas S. Crittenden, Col. 32nd U.S. Infantry Major General U.S. Volunteers. Established to protect settlements of Babocomari.
Camp Reno Gila 18671870Neglected siteArea was once occupied by the United States Army to keep surveillance on the Apache. [12]
Canelo Santa Cruz c.1904Semi-abandoned siteSeveral historic buildings remain, including a one-room schoolhouse and a United States Forest Service ranger station complex.
Canyon Diablo Exit 230 off Interstate 40 Coconino 1882Before 1947NeglectedOnly existed because of an error in constructing a railway bridge, died out shortly after the bridge was completed
Cascabel Cochise 19161936Semi-abandoned siteSeveral occupied adobes and ruined adobe walls, adjacent to Cascabel Rd.
Castle Dome [13] Yuma 18691876Historic siteSite of the Castle Dome Mines Museum.
Castle Dome Landing [1] [2] Castle Dome City Yuma 18691884SubmergedA steamboat landing, submerged in Martinez Lake.
Chaparral Yavapai c.1895c.1918Barren site
Charleston [2] Cochise 18791888Neglected siteMaintained by the Bureau of Land Management. [14]
Catoctin Yavapai c.1902c.1920Barren siteA small mining town
Cedar Mohave c.1875c.1911Neglected sitegold, silver and copper mining town
Cerbat Campbell Mohave c.1869c.1912Neglected siteFrom June 25, 1890, to October 24, 1902, the town was known as Campbell. [2]
Cerro Colorado Pima c.1856c.1911Neglected siteThe subject of a lost treasure story
Cherry [2] Yavapai 18841943Semi-abandoned siteOnce a mining town, now the site of a retirement community.
Chloride Mohave 1863
Cleator Yavapai
Clemenceau Yavapai 1917Historic siteNow part of Cottonwood, Arizona
Cochise Cochise
Cochran [2] Pinal 19051915
Colorado City Yuma 18531862Barren siteColorado River ferry crossing, destroyed by Great Flood of 1862
Congress [1] Yavapai
Contention City [2] Contention Cochise 18801888Neglected siteMaintained by the Bureau of Land Management. [14]
Copper Creek [2] Pinal 1880s1942Neglected siteIn recent years, several companies have proposed opening a mine here.
Cordes Antelope Junction Yavapai 18831950sSemi-abandoned site
Courtland [2] Cochise 19081942Abandoned siteRemains of old Jail and Cemetery
Crown King [2] Yavapai 18941954Historic siteOld Saloon and Many occupied buildings including general store
Curtis Arizona City Yavapai 18891907Former mining town. Currently the site of a mining operation, just north of Mayer on Big Bug Creek.
Dome Yuma 18921904Neglected site Ruins of an adobe building, cemetery
Duquesne Santa Cruz 1880s1920sSemi-abandoned siteSeveral wood buildings including Westinghouse home
Ehrenberg Mineral City La Paz 18631915Neglected siteA steamboat landing, Colorado River ferry, junction of the Bradshaw Trail and La Paz–Wikenburg Road
Fairbank [2] Junction City, Kendall, Fairbanks [15] Cochise 18831970sAbandoned siteMaintained by the Bureau of Land Management. [15]
Fortuna Fortuna Mine Yuma 18961924Neglected siteFoundation of General Store, Mill and Reservoir. Interpretive hiking trail maintained with signs by USMC–Yuma Marines. Mine shaft, Sign in log.
Fort Buchanan Battle site Santa Cruz 18571865Barren siteCivil War era Frontier Post, The post was officially abandoned in 1861 but during the American Civil War troops of the California Column occasionally manned the post. In February 1865 Apaches attacked and forced the small garrison to retreat.
Galeyville [2] Cochise 18811882Barren site
Geronimo Graham
Gillett Gillette [16] Yavapai 18781880Neglected siteGillett Cemetery and nearby Burfind Hotel foundations.
Gila City Ligurta [17] Yuma 18581863Barren siteDestroyed by the Great Flood of 1862
Gleeson [2] Turquoise Cochise 1870s1940Semi-abandoned siteTown was first settled as Turquoise in the 1870s in what was then the Arizona Territory, then later re-established as Gleeson in 1900.
Goldfield Youngsburg Pinal 1892,19201898,1926Historic siteGoldfield revived as Youngsburg in 1920, is now a tourist attraction.
Goldroad [2] [18] Acme Mohave 19021942Died out due to railroad closure
Guthrie Greenlee 1880s1922Neglected siteAn important railroad stop along the Arizona & New Mexico Railway. Transfer point of the Morenci Southern Railway. [19]
Hardyville Mohave 18641883Historic siteHardyville Pioneer Cemetery, a historic landmark and an unofficial historical marker for nearby Bullhead City, Arizona. A steamboat landing, Colorado River ferry, mining town, junction of the Mojave Road and Hardyville–Prescott Road
Harshaw [1] [2] Durazno Santa Cruz 18801960Semi-abandoned siteCemetery, several adobe walls, flat townsite pads still visible
Helvetia Pima 18911921Neglected sitesmall cemetery on approach with period graves, road to gunsite pass, small adobe wall and smelter stone wall still visible
Hilltop Cochise 1880s1940sNeglected site
House Rock Coconino Semi-abandoned site
Hyder Yuma
Jerome Junction [20] Yavapai 18941920
Johnson Cochise
Kentucky Camp Pima 18741912Historic siteMaintained by US Forest Service
Klondyke Graham c.1900Historic siteMaintained by US Forest Service
Kofa Yuma
La Laguna Laguna Yuma 18601862SubmergedMining camp. Site under Mittry Lake
La Paz La Paz 18621875Neglected siteSite of the first major gold strike along the Colorado River. Steamboat landing to 1866, Yuma County seat until 1871.
Lochiel Santa Cruz c.18801986Neglected site
Metcalf Greenlee 18891936Neglected siteA copper mining town, died after the ore ran out in 1918. [21] Its post office lasted from 1899 to 1936. [22]
Millville Cochise
Marinette [23] Maricopa Barren site Sun City was built on the site of Marinette in the 1960s
McMillenville [2] McMillianville, McMillanville Gila 1876c.1886Neglected site
Mohave City [2] Mojave City Mohave 18631938Barren siteA steamboat landing, mining and garrison town, absorbed into Fort Mojave Indian Reservation. [24]
Mowry [25] The Patagonia Mine Santa Cruz 18581880AbandonedOriginally a lead and silver mine called "The Patagonia Mine" which was renamed after Lieutenant Sylvester Mowry purchased the mine from the local Mexicans in 1860. Mowry was later arrested by General H. Carleton in 1862 and charged with selling lead to the confederate army. After his release Mowry returned to England where he hoped to get money so that he could resume his mining operations, but died before this was possible. [2]
Mt. Trumbull [26] Bundyville Mohave 1916c.1970Abandoned site, historic site

The site is mostly abandoned, but remains home to a reconstruction of a historic schoolhouse. [27] Town was sometimes called Bundyville, after the family that settled the area. As of 2006 one member of the Bundy family still lived alone on a 320-acre ranch near the abandoned town site. [28]

Nothing Mohave 19772005Abandoned siteAn attempted revival occurred sometime after August 2008, but by April 2011, Nothing was marked as abandoned again.
Oatman Mohave 1902Historic site
Obed Navajo 18761877Barren site
Octave Yavapai Neglected site
Oro Blanco Santa Cruz 18731915Neglected site
Oroville Oro Greenlee 18801882Neglected siteA farm community supporting Clifton. [29]
Pantano Pima 1858c.1956Barren site
Paradise [2] Cochise 19011943Barren site
Pedrick's Yuma 18541879 ?Steamboat landing on the east bank of the Colorado River, just above the Sonora – Arizona border.
Piedmont Yavapai
Pearce Cochise 18961942Semi-abandonedMine Gold/silver workings, general store, cemetery and several occupied dwellings, Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church.
Pinal City Pinal
Ray Pinal 1958
Reymert Pinal
Rosemont Pima Semi-abandonedAdobe walls at junction, old house now owned by Rosemont Mine. Soon to be destroyed by pit mine. Rosemont Mine
Ruby Montana Camp Santa Cruz 1870s1941Historic site25 buildings under roof, including the old jail and houses, the old school, the playground, old mine machinery, buildings and mine workings. Ruby is entirely on private property.
San Rafael Pima Barren site
Salero Santa Cruz 18841890Neglected siteOld Bunkhouse and Assay Office, now off limits on private property (Gated)
Santa Claus Santa Claus Acres Mohave 1937
Sacaton (village) Pinal 18571880sBarren siteOne of the 19th century Maricopa villages among the Pima Villages
Sasco Pinal 19071920sNeglected site
Signal Mohave 18771932
Silver Bell Silverbell23 Miles West of I-10 Exit 242 Pima 19521984Barren site4 Miles south of original town of Silverbell. Abandoned due to Asarco Silver Bell mine temporary closure in 1984. Mine was reopened in 1998 and is currently in operation
Simmons Wilson, Williamson's Valley Yavapai 18711934Barren siteA stop on the Hardyville–Prescott Road, and a local post office.
Socatoon Station Pinal 18581870sBarren siteStagecoach station
Spenazuma Graham 18981899Barren site
Stanton Antelope Station Yavapai 18631905Historic siteOwned and maintained by the Lost Dutchman Mining Association
Stanwix Station Flap Jack Ranch, Grinnell's Station Yuma 18581880sBarren siteStagecoach station. Site of the Skirmish at Stanwix Station, often considered the westernmost engagement of the American Civil War.
Stoddard [30] [31] [2] :147 Yavapai 18821830sNeglected siteSupported by several nearby copper mines, the town had a smelter, school, stores, and up to 300 people until it was abandoned when the price of copper fell.
Sunset Navajo 18761887Abandoned siteOnly the cemetery remains today
Swansea [1] [2] Signal La Paz 19081937Abandoned siteMaintained by the Bureau of Land Management.
Tiger [2] Schultz Pinal 18811954Barren siteAll structures demolished
Tip Top Yavapai 1876
Total Wreck Pima 1879c.1890Neglected siteSmelter walls and mine still remain, small rock cabin foundation to south, filming location for movie Hombre
Tres Alamos Cochise 18741886
Twin Buttes Pima c.1903c.1930Barren siteBuried under the Twin Buttes Mine. All that remains is the cemetery.
Vulture City Maricopa 18631942Historic sitePrivately owned and operated as a tourist attraction
Washington Camp Santa Cruz 1880s1920sSemi-abandoned site
Weaver Weaverville Yavapai 18631900Neglected site
Webb Maricopa
White Hills Mohave
Wilford [32] Navajo 18831926Barren siteLoose rock foundations.
Wolf Hole Mohave
Zeniff [32] Navajo 19091940sBarren siteFew walls precariously standing amid piles of wood and adobe rubble.

Images of ghost towns

See also

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References

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  17. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Ligurta
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  19. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Guthrie
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  22. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Metcalf Post Office (historical)
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  24. "Area Information: Our Past". Mohave Valley Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on March 3, 2009. Retrieved September 12, 2009.
  25. Mowry – Ghost Town of the Month at azghosttowns.com
  26. George H. Billingsley and Helen C. Dyer, prepared in cooperation with the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management (2003). "Geologic Map of the Upper Hurricane Wash and Vicinity, Mohave County, Northwestern Arizona: Pamphlet to accompany Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-2410". US Geological Survey. Hurricane Wash begins near the abandoned village of Mt. Trumbull (Bundyville), Arizona.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
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Further reading