McMillenville, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
McMillenville, Arizona
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 McMillenville, Arizona
Location in Arizona
McMillenville, Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | Gila |
| Established | circa 1876 |
| Abandoned | circa 1886 |
| Named for | Charles McMillen |
| Elevation | 4,442 ft (1,354 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST (no DST)) |
| Post Office Opened | November 12, 1877 |
| Post Office Closed | October 12, 1882 |
McMillenville was once a busy mining town in Gila County, Arizona. It is also sometimes called McMillianville or McMillanville. The town started because of a lucky discovery of silver ore in 1876.
Contents
The Story of McMillenville
How Silver Was Discovered
In March 1876, two prospectors, Theodore H. Harris and Charles McMillen, were exploring the White Mountains. They were about 28 miles northeast of Globe. Charles McMillen decided to rest and, out of boredom, struck his pick into a rock. To his surprise, he found silver!
This amazing discovery led them to start the Stonewall Jackson mine. The town that grew around this mine was named McMillenville, after Charles McMillen.
A Booming Mining Town
McMillenville grew very quickly. Just a year later, on November 12, 1877, the town opened its own post office. At its busiest, about 1,000 people lived there.
The town had many buildings typical of a mining settlement. These included several adobe saloons, dance halls, boarding houses, and casinos. There were also hundreds of homes and important mining structures.
Challenges and Changes
By 1880, McMillenville was at its peak. The original mining equipment was upgraded to handle more ore. A new system was built to lift silver ore out of the mine shaft. Silver ingots (blocks of metal) were then transported about 100 miles to Casa Grande.
However, the town's success did not last forever. In 1882, the area faced attacks from Geronimo's warriors. By 1886, McMillenville had become a ghost town, meaning most people had left.
The Battle of McMillenville
One important event in the town's history was the Battle of McMillenville. It happened on July 7, 1882, during the Indian wars in Arizona. Geronimo's warriors, who had left the nearby San Carlos Reservation, were active in the area.
When a large group of Apache warriors approached McMillenville, the townspeople prepared to defend themselves. Women and children were taken to the mine shaft for safety. The remaining men armed themselves and set up a defense in a large two-story adobe building.
The Apache warriors attacked the town. They tried to reach the makeshift fortification where the settlers were. However, the settlers fought back with accurate fire. Only one American was injured. The number of Apache casualties is not known, as they often removed their wounded from the battlefield.
The warriors retreated when cavalry soldiers from Fort Apache started to arrive. Some buildings in McMillenville were damaged during the fighting, including some that caught fire. The Apache mainly used rifles and pistols, along with some bow and arrows. The settlers used various firearms.
The battle was a victory for the Americans, with few losses. However, despite the victory, McMillenville was abandoned within the next few years.
What Remains Today
Today, almost nothing is left of the mines and the mill. Only a few scattered ruins of the adobe buildings show where McMillenville once stood.
Where Was McMillenville?
McMillenville was located off U.S. Route 60. It was about 18 miles northeast of Globe, Arizona.
The Geology of the Mine
The Stonewall Jackson mine was one of the best mines in the area during its time. It mainly produced silver, but also copper and lead.
