Jerome, Arizona: A History of Mining and Art
Jerome, Arizona is a town with a rich and varied history. It was founded in 1876 as a mining camp, and quickly grew into a thriving community thanks to the discovery of rich copper deposits. The town’s population peaked at around 5,000 in the early 1900s, but it began to decline as the copper mines began to play out. By the 1950s, Jerome was a ghost town.
However, in the 1960s, Jerome began to experience a revival. Artists and other creative people were drawn to the town’s unique charm, and it soon became a popular destination for tourists. Today, Jerome is a thriving arts community, with a population of around 4,000 people.
The Mining Years
The first people to live in the area around Jerome were the Hohokam people, who arrived around 700 AD. They were farmers and lived in small villages. In the 16th century, Spanish explorers arrived in the area, but they did not stay long. They were not interested in the copper deposits, which they considered to be “poor copper.”
It wasn’t until the 1870s that the copper deposits in the Jerome area were discovered. Three prospectors staked claims on the land, and soon a mining camp sprang up. The camp was named Jerome after Eugene Jerome, a wealthy financier who was a major investor in the United Verde Copper Company.
The United Verde Copper Company was one of the largest copper producers in the world. The company’s mines produced millions of tons of copper, gold, silver, lead, and zinc. The mines also employed thousands of people, and Jerome became a boomtown.
The Decline of Mining
The copper mines in Jerome began to play out in the 1950s. The United Verde Copper Company closed its mines in 1953, and many people left the town. By the end of the decade, Jerome was a ghost town.
The Revival of Jerome
In the 1960s, Jerome began to experience a revival. Artists and other creative people were drawn to the town’s unique charm. They began to renovate the old buildings, and soon Jerome became a popular destination for tourists.
Today, Jerome is a thriving arts community. The town is home to a number of art galleries, studios, and museums. There are also a number of restaurants, shops, and other businesses. Jerome is a popular destination for tourists, who come to enjoy the town’s unique charm and its many attractions.
Jerome State Historic Park
Jerome State Historic Park is located in the heart of Jerome. The park preserves the town’s mining history, and it includes a number of historic buildings, including the Douglas Mansion, the United Verde Hospital, and the Jerome Grand Hotel. The park also offers a variety of educational programs and activities.
Jerome is a town with a rich and varied history. It is a place where the past and the present come together in a unique and special way. Jerome is a town that is worth visiting, and it is a place that you will never forget.
Add Comment