Tiger, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tiger, Arizona
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 Tiger, Arizona
Location in Arizona
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | Pinal |
| Founded | 1881 |
| Abandoned | 1954 |
| Named for | Princeton Tigers |
| Elevation | 3,081 ft (939 m) |
| Population
(2009)
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| • Total | 0 |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST (no DST)) |
| - Opened | July 12, 1894 |
| - Closed | May 1, 1902 |
| - Opened | March 15, 1939 |
| - Closed | November 26, 1954 |
Tiger was once a small town in Pinal County, Arizona. It's not there anymore, but it used to be a busy place! The town started around 1881 and was first called Schultz. Later, after World War I, it was renamed Tiger.
Contents
The Story of Tiger: A Mining Town
How Tiger Began as Schultz
The area that became Tiger was first settled in 1881. A man named Frank Schultz found gold ore there. This discovery led to the opening of the Mammoth Mine. A small community grew around the mine. People called this new camp Schultz. A post office was even set up there on July 12, 1894.
Moving Ore to Mammoth
To get the gold out of the ore, water was needed. But there wasn't enough water near the mine. So, a mill was built about 4 miles (6.4 km) away. This mill was located on the west bank of the San Pedro River. A new town grew around the mill, and it was named Mammoth.
Miners used mule teams to carry the heavy ore from the Mammoth Mine to the Mammoth Mill. Later, an amazing aerial tram was built. This tram was like a cable car system that moved the ore through the air. As the tram was finished, the town of Schultz became less important. The Schultz post office closed on May 1, 1902.
Tiger's Comeback and Final Days
The mines reopened in 1915. This was because World War I created a high demand for metals. The area had valuable molybdenum and vanadium. After the war ended in 1919, prices for these metals dropped. The mines closed down again.
Soon after, a man named Sam Houghton bought the Mammoth Mine. He decided to rename both the mine and the town. He chose "Tiger" after his college mascot, the Princeton Tiger. In 1933, the price of gold went up. This brought new life and prosperity to the town. The new Tiger post office opened on March 1, 1939.
Tiger was at its busiest in the early 1950s. But like many mining towns, its time eventually ran out. The local mines closed for good. The Tiger post office was shut down on November 26, 1954.
What's Left of Tiger Today?
After the mines closed, the San Manuel Copper Company bought the land. They tore down all the buildings that were left. Their plan was to mine the silica in the area. They hoped to find more gold and use the silica for their smelter. However, the material had too much lead, and the plan didn't work out.
Today, there is almost nothing left of the town of Tiger. You can only find the filled-in shaft of the old Mammoth mine. It's a quiet reminder of a once-busy place.
Amazing Minerals from Tiger Mines
The Tiger, or Mammoth, mine is famous for its special minerals. It's especially known for matlockite and wulfenite. Another unique mineral found here is yedlinite. This mineral is a mix of lead and chromium. It was first found on existing specimens in 1967 and is only known from Tiger.
How Much Did the Mines Produce?
The mines at Mammoth and Tiger produced a lot of valuable materials over the years. Here's a look at some of their recorded production:
- 400,000 ounces of gold
- 1,000,000 ounces of silver
- 3.5 million pounds of copper
- 75 million pounds of lead
- 50 million pounds of zinc
- 6 million pounds of molybdenum
- 2.5 million pounds of vanadium
In 1991, all these minerals would have been worth about $300 million!
Where Was Tiger Located?
The site of Tiger is about 4 miles (6.4 km) west of the town of Mammoth. Its coordinates are 32°42′28″N 110°40′56″W / 32.70778°N 110.68222°W. The town was located at an elevation of about 3,081 feet (939 meters) above sea level. The Mammoth Mine (later called the Tiger Mine) was at 32°42′23″N 110°41′05″W / 32.70639°N 110.68472°W.
How Many People Lived in Tiger?
US Census records show how Tiger's population changed over time:
- In 1940, after it was renamed Tiger, about 500 people lived there.
- By 1950, the population grew to 783 residents.
It's believed that the town reached its highest population of about 1,800 people shortly after 1950. After that, the town began to decline and was eventually abandoned.
