Fortuna, Arizona facts for kids

Fortuna is what we call a ghost town in Yuma County, Arizona. A ghost town is a place where people used to live and work, but now it's mostly empty. Fortuna was once located along a famous train line called the Southern Pacific's Sunset Route.

What Was Fortuna?

Fortuna was a busy mining town. This means its main purpose was to support the nearby mines. The town got its name from the Fortuna Mine, sometimes called La Fortuna Mine. This mine was found in the Gila Mountains.

Discovery of the Mine

The Fortuna Mine was discovered around 1893. A group of people, including Charles Thomas and William Holbert, found the mine. At that time, Arizona was known as the Arizona Territory, which was a different way the area was organized before it became a state.

Fortuna's Post Office

Like many towns, Fortuna had its own post office. It opened in September 1896. This was important for people to send and receive mail. However, the post office didn't stay open for long. It closed on November 30, 1904. After that, people in the area had to use the post office in a nearby town called Blaisdell, Arizona.