American Flag, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
American Flag, Arizona
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American Flag post office
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 American Flag, Arizona
Location in Arizona
American Flag, Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | Pinal |
| Founded: | circa 1870 |
| Abandoned: | circa 1890 |
| Founded by | Isaac Lorraine |
| Named for | The American flag |
| Elevation | 4,423 ft (1,348 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 0 |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST (no DST)) |
| Post Office Opened: | December 28, 1880 |
| Post Office Closed: | July 16, 1890 |
American Flag is a ghost town located in Pinal County, Arizona. It's about five miles (8.1 km) southeast of a town called Oracle. This small town was started in the late 1870s. However, it became empty and abandoned shortly after 1890.
Contents
The Story of American Flag
American Flag was founded by a prospector named Isaac Lorraine. He started it in the late 1870s as a mine and a mining camp. A mining camp is a temporary settlement built near a mine.
Early Days of the Town
In 1881, the American Flag mine and camp were sold. The new owner was the Richardson Mining Company of New York. The town was quite small. It usually had about forty people living there. Not much is known about what life was like in the mining camp during this time.
From Mining to Ranching
Eventually, Isaac Lorraine, the founder, changed his focus. He started working with cattle. He built a place called the American Flag Ranch. By 1884, the population of American Flag had shrunk to only fifteen people. Because so few people lived there, the town's post office closed a few years later. After that, the town was left empty.
The Old Post Office Building
The original post office from the town was moved in 1880. It went to the headquarters of the American Flag Ranch. This building is still standing today! It is the oldest surviving post office building from the time Arizona was a territory. The building is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Oracle Historical Society helps to keep it safe and preserved.
