Greaterville, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Greaterville, Arizona
|
|
|---|---|
 Greaterville, Arizona
Location in Arizona
Greaterville, Arizona
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | Pima |
| Elevation | 5,203 ft (1,586 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (MST) |
| Area code(s) | 520 |
| FIPS code | 04-29570 |
| GNIS feature ID | 29567 |
Greaterville is a historic place in Pima County, Arizona, United States. It is known as a ghost town. This means it was once a busy place but is now mostly empty. It sits high up, about 5,203 feet (1,586 meters) above sea level.
Contents
What is Greaterville?
Greaterville is not a city or town with a local government. It is called a populated place because it once had people living there. Today, it is mostly a quiet area. It is a reminder of Arizona's mining past.
A Look at Ghost Towns
A ghost town is a place that was once active but is now abandoned. People leave for many reasons. Mines might run out of gold. Businesses might close down. Sometimes, a new road bypasses the town. Ghost towns are like time capsules. They show us how people lived long ago.
Greaterville's Mining History
Greaterville became famous for its gold. In the late 1870s, people found gold here. This discovery brought many miners to the area. They hoped to get rich quickly.
The Gold Rush Era
The gold rush made Greaterville a busy place. Miners set up camps. Soon, stores and saloons opened. People needed supplies and places to relax. The town grew quickly. It was a lively community.
Life in a Mining Town
Life in a mining town was hard. Miners worked long hours. They dug for gold in tough conditions. But there was also excitement. Everyone dreamed of finding a big gold nugget. The town had a unique energy.
Why Greaterville Became a Ghost Town
Like many mining towns, Greaterville's boom did not last forever. The gold became harder to find. It cost more to dig for it. Miners started to leave. They looked for gold in other places.
The Decline of Gold Mining
As the gold ran out, businesses closed. People moved away to find work. The population slowly shrank. By the early 1900s, Greaterville was mostly empty. It became a ghost town.
Exploring Greaterville Today
Today, Greaterville is a quiet area. You can still see signs of its past. There are old mining sites. You might find remnants of buildings. It is a place for history lovers.
The Greaterville Cemetery
One important spot is the cemetery. It reminds us of the people who lived there. The graves tell stories of the past. Visiting the cemetery is a way to connect with history. It shows who built this old mining town.
