Cleator, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cleator, Arizona
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Cleator in 2012
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | Yavapai |
| Elevation | 3,501 ft (1,067 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST (no DST)) |
| GNIS feature ID | 27704 |
Cleator is a small community in Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. It's often called a "near ghost town" because not many people live there anymore. It used to be known as Turkey Creek or Turkey.
Contents
The Story of Cleator
How Cleator Began
Cleator started in 1864 as a place for finding gold. It was first called the Turkey Creek Mining District. People found "placer gold" here, which means gold found in riverbeds. A post office opened in Turkey Creek in 1869, but it closed quickly.
From Gold to Mines
By the late 1800s, most of the easy gold was gone. So, people started opening deeper mines to find more gold ore. A railroad station was built in the Bradshaw Mountains in 1902. This railroad helped connect the town to other places like Cordes and Crown King.
The Town's New Name
In 1901, a man named Lev P. Nellis opened a store and other businesses in the town. The post office reopened in 1903. In 1925, James P. Cleator bought the town from Nellis. He renamed the post office, and soon the whole town, after himself.
James Cleator had an interesting life. He was from the Isle of Man and ran away to sea as a boy. He arrived in America in 1889 and traveled across the country, looking for gold. He came to Arizona around 1900. In 1905, he became business partners with Nellis. They ran the town and a ranch together. In 1915, James Cleator took full ownership of the town.
Changes Over Time
In the 1920s, fewer people lived in Cleator as mining slowed down. The railroad was removed by 1932. In 1949, James Cleator tried to sell the town, which had about 60 residents. No one bought it.
After James Cleator passed away in 1959, his son Thomas bought the town. Thomas lived there until he passed away in 1996. He kept the small bar open for many years. After Thomas's death, his sister Eleanor and her son inherited everything.
Cleator Today
Today, the bar in Cleator is still open. It's a popular stop for people driving ATVs and tourists. Dave Rhodes manages the bar and the town.
Since the 1990s, Cleator mostly focuses on tourism. In 2020, about 8 people lived there permanently. Visitors can see original American frontier buildings. There's even an "ironic yacht club" – ironic because there's no water nearby! Many of the old buildings are still standing and used.
In 2020, James P. Cleator's family put the entire town up for sale. There is also an Arizona Historical Marker in the town.
Where is Cleator?
Cleator is located at the bottom of the Bradshaw Mountains in central Arizona. It has warm summers and mild winters. The old railroad path is now a regular road that most cars can use. The town covers about 40 acres and is about 3,501 feet (1,067 meters) above sea level.
