Ghost Towns in Arizona

Most ghost towns in Arizona, met their demise when the mines that supported them played out. Many people circulated through these towns in search of easy money. In their heyday, some towns boasted populations in tens of thousands. The establishment of a Post Office was the indication that a town gave promise of going down in history.

During gold rush days, towns sprang up as "tent cities". Whenever a strike was made, word spread like wildfire and all kinds of people rushed into the area. They weren't all miners. There were saloon owners, gamblers, hostelry (mostly of ill repute) and anyone with a nose for money. Some of the people lived in, and ran their businesses from tents until they could build wood or stone buildings.

There are nearly three hundred ghost towns in Arizona. Each ghost town has its own story to tell. Some of the towns have inhabitants, today, that have bought the entire town for various reasons and others have been put under the protection of a historical society.

Tombstone, Jerome and Tucson are the most famous towns from Arizona's history. Although these towns still exist today, they have so many gunfighter stories written about them that they have been included in the ghost town category. Novelists have written many stories of the Wild West. Many have elaborated beyond reality and others have researched and written true accounts. Zane Grey's true depiction of the west can be found here. The gunfight at the OK Corral, actually, did not happen at the corral.

Actual ghost towns, if you believe in ghosts, can be a real thrill to visit. The old buildings, that still stand today, with their loose boards and unlatched doors that sway in the breeze, can make the scene an eerie experience. Many of these towns are not occupied. They are so remote that it would give a good four-wheel drive a workout to reach them.

The wagon trails that lead to the old mining towns have a tale of their own to tell. The wagon trails were used to transport ore to the smelters. Hardships on these trails, caused by outlaw gangs and rough terrain, were a danger to the wagon masters. Many shipments were lost when a wagon broke down or the ore was stolen after the wagon drivers were murdered.

Some ghost towns in Arizona have gained their status in the last fifty years. Some of them are still in the making. With the construction of super highways, such as Interstate 40 and Interstate 10, many small towns lost income from tourist trade that was their sole livelihood. Towns along old Route 66 prospered before Interstate 40 was completed. Although Route 66 still exists in some areas, only a fraction of the tourists venture off the super highways. Ghost towns in Arizona leave a little sadness in the hearts of those who visit them.

Sources: personal experience

http://www.zgws.org/zggeo.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunfight_at_the_O.K._Corral