Ruby, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ruby, Arizona
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Ruby, Arizona in 1990
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 Ruby, Arizona
Location in Arizona
Ruby, Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | Santa Cruz |
| Elevation | 4,186 ft (1,276 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST (no DST)) |
| Post office opened: | April 11, 1912 |
| Post office closed: | May 31, 1941 |
Ruby is a famous ghost town located in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States. It started as a busy mining town in a place called Bear Valley. Miners first called it Montana Camp because they were digging for valuable metals at the base of Montana Peak.
Contents
The Story of Ruby
Mining began in Ruby around 1877. The Montana Mine was very important. It produced valuable metals like gold, silver, lead, zinc, and copper. At its busiest time in the mid-1930s, Ruby was home to about 1,200 people.
How Ruby Got Its Name
On April 11, 1912, Julius Andrews, who owned the general store in the mining camp, opened a post office. He decided to name the post office "Ruby" after his wife, Lille B. Ruby Andrews. Soon after, the entire mining camp became known as Ruby. The post office stayed open until May 31, 1941.
Important Events in Ruby's History
Between 1920 and 1922, Ruby and the areas around it were the scene of some serious events. These events led to the biggest manhunt ever seen in the Southwest. This search was so big that it even used the first airplane ever in an Arizona manhunt!
Why Ruby Became a Ghost Town
Ruby's most successful period was in the late 1920s and 1930s. During this time, the Eagle-Picher Mining Company ran the mine and improved the town. From 1934 to 1937, the Montana mine was the top producer of lead and zinc in Arizona. In 1936, it was also the third-largest producer of silver.
However, the mine closed in 1940. By the end of 1941, almost everyone had left, and Ruby became an abandoned town.
Visiting Ruby Today
Ruby is one of the two best-preserved mining ghost towns in Arizona. The other is the Vulture Mine near Wickenburg. Today, Ruby still has about 25 buildings with roofs. You can see the old jail, houses, the school, a playground, and old mine machinery.
It's important to know that Ruby is entirely on private property. This means you cannot just visit it whenever you want. However, Pima Community College sometimes offers special public tours.
