Alexandra, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alexandra, Arizona
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Alexandra in the 1880s
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 Alexandra, Arizona
Location in Arizona
Alexandra, Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | Yavapai |
| Founded | June 1875 |
| Abandoned | circa 1903 |
| Founded by | E.G. Peck |
| Named for | T.M. Alexander |
| Population | |
| • Total | 0 |
| Time zone | MST (no DST) |
| Post office opened | August 6, 1878 |
| Post office closed | March 25, 1896 |
Alexandra is a ghost town located in Yavapai County, Arizona, in the United States. It was once a busy mining camp. People started living there in 1875. But by 1896, it was mostly empty. Today, it's a quiet place, about ten miles (16.1 km) east of Mayer.
Contents
History of Alexandra
How Alexandra Was Founded
Alexandra was started by a group of people. These included E.G. Peck, who owned the famous Peck Mine. Other founders were T.M. Alexander, William Cole, and Curtis Coe Bean. In June 1875, Peck was exploring the Bradshaw Mountains. He found a strange rock sticking out of the ground. When he checked it, he discovered it was pure silver! This discovery led to the founding of Alexandra.
The town was built in Peck Canyon. It was named Alexandra after Mrs. T.M. Alexander. She was one of the founders and the first woman to live in the new town. A long mountain road connected Alexandra to the town of Mayer.
Life in the Mining Town
At first, the silver ore from the mine had to be carried far away. It was taken by pack train through the Bradshaw Mountains. The ore went to a place called Aztlan Mill, which was thirty miles (48.3 km) away. This was a lot of work. So, in 1877, E.G. Peck built his own mill right in Alexandra.
A year later, in 1878, a post office opened in the town. Alexandra quickly grew and became a lively place. It had between seventy-five and 100 buildings. There were general stores, places to eat, and even a brewery. The town also had boarding houses, stables for horses, and a blacksmith shop.
Why Alexandra Became a Ghost Town
Alexandra was busy and full of life for a while. But then, problems started with legal issues over the mine. By 1879, many people had left the town. It stayed mostly empty for several years. The post office closed in 1896.
In 1903, a new part of the Peck Mine was found. But this new discovery did not help the town. Alexandra never became busy again. It slowly turned into the ghost town it is today. In 1890, Alexandra had a population of 190 people.
