Allen, Arizona facts for kids

Allen, also known as Allen City, is a ghost town in Pima County, located in southern Arizona. It was founded around 1880, about fifty miles (80.5 km) southeast of Ajo. By 1886, the town's post office closed, and Allen has been abandoned ever since.

What Was Allen?

Allen was a small settlement that grew up around a hotel in the late 1800s. It was named after its founder, John Brackett Allen. A ghost town is a place that used to be a busy town but is now empty or has very few people living there. Allen is one such place, a reminder of Arizona's past.

How Allen Started

John Brackett Allen founded the town and named it after himself. Allen was located near another town called Quijotoa. Allen was on the western side of Ben Nevis Mountain, while Quijotoa was on the east. When many American settlers started moving to Quijotoa, John Brackett Allen decided to build a hotel.

The Famous Hotel

Allen's hotel was built about six miles (9.7 km) from Quijotoa. The town of Allen grew up around this hotel. People said the hotel was one of the most luxurious places on the frontier. It was also known for serving popular refreshments. The small settlement included the hotel, a few houses, some tents, and a post office.

Allen's Post Office

The post office in Allen was first opened in 1880. This was an important part of the town, allowing people to send and receive mail. However, the post office did not stay open for long. By 1886, it was closed, which often meant a town was shrinking or being abandoned.

Allen's Population

In 1890, the population of Allen was 180 people. This shows that for a short time, Allen was a small but active community. However, after the post office closed, the town's population likely decreased quickly.