Stargo, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stargo, Arizona
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 Stargo, Arizona
Location in Arizona
Stargo, Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | Greenlee |
| Elevation | 4,685 ft (1,428 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST (no DST)) |
| FIPS code | 04-20750 |
| GNIS feature ID | 34800 |
Stargo was a small community, or "housing development," located in Greenlee County, Arizona, in the United States. It was built for people who worked in the nearby mines. Today, Stargo is no longer visible, as the land has become part of modern mining operations.
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Stargo: A Mining Town's Story
Stargo was a place where miners and their families lived. It was not a big city but a collection of homes. This community was important because it supported the large mining industry in the area.
Where Was Stargo Located?
Stargo was in eastern Arizona. It was about two miles northwest of a town called Morenci. This area is known for its rich mineral deposits, especially copper.
Why Was Stargo Built?
Houses in Stargo began to be built in the 1930s. This was a time when many miners came to work at the Morenci mines. A company called Phelps Dodge started a new way of mining there. They began "open-pit" operations, which means digging a very large hole in the ground to get minerals.
The miners needed places to live close to their jobs. So, homes were built in an area known as Apache Gulch. The name "Stargo" came from a silver mining company. This company, called Stargo Silverbelt Mining Company, used to operate in the same area.
What Happened to Stargo?
Families lived in Stargo for many years. They stayed there until the early 2000s. Over time, the mining operations expanded. The land where Stargo once stood was needed for these operations.
Today, most of Stargo is gone. Only small parts of old streets, like Cedar Loop and Cedar Street, can still be seen. The area is now covered up and used for a process called "leaching." This is a part of mining where liquids are used to separate valuable metals from rock. The company Freeport-McMoRan Inc now manages these mining activities.
