kids encyclopedia robot

Twin Buttes, Arizona facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Twin Buttes
The Twin Buttes Cemetery and surrounding area. The Twin Buttes formation is at the left.
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.

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

kids search engine
Twin Buttes, Arizona Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.