Aubrey Landing, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aubrey Landing, Arizona
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 Aubrey Landing, Arizona
Location in Arizona
Aubrey Landing, Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | Mohave |
| Founded: | circa 1860 |
| Abandoned: | circa 1886 |
| Named for | Francois Xavier Aubrey |
| Elevation | 646 ft (197 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST (no DST)) |
| Post Office Opened: | October 2, 1866 |
| Post Office Closed: | November 3, 1886 |
Aubrey Landing, also known as Aubrey City or just Aubrey, was a ghost town in Arizona, United States. It was located where the Bill Williams River meets the Colorado River in southern Mohave County. The town started before 1865 and was abandoned around 1886. Today, the area where Aubrey Landing once stood is covered by the waters of Lake Havasu.
The Story of Aubrey Landing
The place where Aubrey Landing was built was first visited by explorers. In 1854, Captain Amiel Weeks Whipple passed by during a railroad survey. Later, in 1858, 1st Lieutenant Joseph Christmas Ives explored the Colorado River with his steamboat, the Explorer. He even set up a camp there.
How the Town Started
Aubrey Landing was the first building that grew into the town of Aubrey City. This happened before 1865, during the Civil War in Arizona. The person who founded the town is not known. They named the river settlement after Francois Xavier Aubrey. He was a famous American pioneer from about ten years earlier.
The town was in a great spot. It was on the east bank of the Colorado River. It was also on the north bank of the Bill Williams River, right where the two rivers joined. This location made it easy to serve the mines in the Bill Williams Mining District. It was about 12.5 miles from the Planet Company copper mines. It was also 11.2 miles from the Mineral Hill mines. The Empire Flat mines were only 9.6 miles away.
Life in Aubrey City
In 1865, the price of copper dropped. This caused many people to leave the town. However, enough people stayed in Aubrey City and the nearby mines. Because of this, the Aubrey post office was opened in 1866.
By 1878, not much had changed. The town never grew as big as its owners had hoped. Aubrey City had the usual buildings found in a mining camp. It also had a hotel, a saloon, and a general store. The town supported a small number of people for almost ten more years. In 1886, the post office closed. The town was abandoned soon after.
What Remains Today
The place where this old river landing and mining town once stood is now underwater. It is covered by the waters of Lake Havasu.
