La Laguna, Arizona facts for kids
La Laguna was a small gold mining town that existed for a short time in what is now Yuma County, Arizona. It was active from 1860 to 1862. This town was important because it was a steamboat stop on the Colorado River.
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What Was La Laguna?
La Laguna was a gold mining town located in the New Mexico Territory. Today, this area is part of Yuma County, Arizona. It was a busy place for a very short time, only from 1860 to 1862.
A River Town
The town of La Laguna was built right on the Colorado River. It was about 20 miles north of where Yuma, Arizona is today. Being on the river made it a perfect spot for steamboats to stop. This was called a steamboat landing.
Services for Miners
Even though it was small, La Laguna had a few important services. There were some merchants who sold supplies. It also had a ferry that crossed the Colorado River. This ferry helped gold miners get across the river. These miners were looking for gold in the nearby areas.
Why Did La Laguna Disappear?
La Laguna's time as a busy town was very short. Its decline started when a new gold rush began. This new rush was at a place called La Paz. Many miners moved to La Paz to find gold there.
Replaced by New Discoveries
Soon after, more gold was found in the Castle Dome Mountains. This led to the creation of a new town called Castle Dome Landing. This new town was about 15 miles north of La Laguna. As these new places grew, La Laguna became less important.
What Remained
After the town declined, La Laguna was no longer a busy place. For a while, it was still home to a store and a ranch. This ranch belonged to Jose Redondo. He was one of the first people to mine for gold at La Paz.
Where is La Laguna Today?
Today, you cannot visit the original site of La Laguna. The area where the town once stood is now covered by water. It lies beneath Mittry Lake.
