Perkinsville, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Perkinsville, Arizona
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Abandoned train station
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 Perkinsville, Arizona
Location in Arizona
Perkinsville, Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | Yavapai |
| Elevation | 3,825 ft (1,166 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST) |
| Coordinates and elevation from United States Geological Survey | |
Perkinsville, Arizona, is a small place in Yavapai County, Arizona. It's a tiny settlement, like a very small village. It sits about half a mile (0.8 km) from the Perkinsville Bridge over the Verde River.
Today, the Verde Canyon Railroad brings visitors to Perkinsville. This special train takes people on fun trips between Clarkdale and Perkinsville. When the train arrives, the engines unhook. They then move to the other end of the train to pull it back to Clarkdale. The train tracks here are also used to carry goods between Clarkdale and Drake.
History of Perkinsville
Perkinsville got its name from M.A. Perkins. He started a cattle ranch here in 1900.
The Railroad Arrives
In 1912, a new railroad line opened in Perkinsville. A rich businessman named William A. Clark paid for this railroad. It helped his copper factory in Clarkdale and his copper mine in Jerome.
The railroad built several buildings in Perkinsville. These included a train station, a water tower for steam trains, and a house for the station master. Close by, there was a quarry where they dug up limestone. They used the limestone to make lime in a special oven called a kiln. This lime was important for the copper factory in Clarkdale.
Life in the Early 1900s
For a short time in the early 1900s, about 10 to 12 families lived in Perkinsville. It was a busy little community. They had a small school for the children and a general store. There was also a special house for railroad workers and a post office.
Becoming a Ghost Town
In the early 1950s, the copper factory in Clarkdale closed down. This meant they no longer needed the limestone quarry or the kiln in Perkinsville. Also, new diesel trains came along. These trains did not need water stops like the old steam trains did.
Because of these changes, Perkinsville quickly became a ghost town. Most people moved away. In the 1960s, the empty town was even used as a place to film parts of the movie How the West Was Won.
