Twin Buttes, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Twin Buttes
|
|
|---|---|
The Twin Buttes Cemetery and surrounding area. The Twin Buttes formation is at the left.
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | Pima |
| Population | |
| • Total | ~300 |
| Time zone | MST (no DST) |
| Post Office opened | December 29, 1906 |
| Post Office closed | August 15, 1930 |
Twin Buttes was once a small town where people dug for minerals. It was located in Arizona, near the Sierrita Mountains, about 20 miles south of Tucson. The town got its name from two hills nearby. It started around 1903 and was left empty by 1930. Today, much of the old town is covered by mining waste. Only the Twin Buttes Cemetery remains.
Contents
The Story of Twin Buttes
Finding Copper
People first found copper in the Twin Buttes area thanks to three explorers. They were called "The Three Nations." John G. Baxter was from Wisconsin. Michael Irish came from Ireland. And John Ellis was from Scotland.
These explorers worked hard for years to start small mining projects. They then convinced David Stuart Rose, who was a Mayor from Wisconsin, and other investors to help. This led to the creation of the Twin Buttes Mining & Smelting Company in 1903.
Life in the Mining Town
The Twin Buttes Mining & Smelting Company ran several mines nearby. These included the Senator Morgan Mine, the Copper Glance Mine, and the Copper Queen and Copper King Mines. The company sent the mined rock, called ore, to a place called a smelter. A smelter is a factory that melts ore to get the metal out. They sent ore to a smelter in Sasco and other places until 1914.
At its busiest, about 300 people lived in Twin Buttes. The town had a bunkhouse, which was a building with beds for workers. It also had an assay office, where they tested the ore. There was a company store, a butcher shop, and a boarding house for people to stay. The town even had a school, along with many houses and tents.
Important Years for Twin Buttes
The year 1906 was very important for Twin Buttes. That year, the Twin Buttes Railroad was finished. This railroad connected the town to the main Southern Pacific line. This main line ran between Tucson and Nogales, near a town called Sahuarita.
The Twin Buttes Railroad Station officially opened on July 4, 1906. Later that year, on December 29, the Twin Buttes Post Office also opened.
The Town Becomes a Ghost Town
According to James E. Sherman, who wrote a book about "Ghost Towns of Arizona," Twin Buttes had many ups and downs. The railroad operated from 1906 until the late 1920s. This was when mining in the Pima District started to slow down. The post office in Twin Buttes closed on August 15, 1930. After this, the town became a ghost town.
Even though the town itself disappeared, mining continued at the Twin Buttes Mine for many years. It finally closed in 1994. However, in 2009, a company called Freeport McMoRan bought the property. They have started mining operations there again.
Gallery
-
Miners at the Twin Buttes Mine waiting to be transferred underground, c.1905.
-
The Senator Morgan Mine in 1920. White Hill and Helmet Peak can be seen in the background.
-
The entrance to the Twin Buttes Cemetery.
-
Old graves at the Twin Buttes Cemetery.
-
An abandoned section of railroad near Twin Buttes.
-
An abandoned railroad rail near Twin Buttes from 1933.
-
Rail with the 1933 date.
-
Street sign along Twin Buttes Road.
