Williamsport, Arizona facts for kids
Williamsport was once a busy place, but now it's a ghost town! This former mining town was located right on the banks of the Colorado River in La Paz County, Arizona.
It was also an important stop for big steamboats that traveled up and down the river. From 1863 into the 1870s, it was part of Yuma County, and later, the wider Arizona Territory.
A Town's Beginning: Silver and Steamboats
In the fall of 1863, something exciting happened: people found silver! This led to the creation of the Eureka Mining District in the Chocolate Mountains of Arizona.
As more silver was found, towns like Eureka Landing and Williamsport started to grow. They helped support the new mines in the area. You can even see these landings and the mining district on maps from 1865, showing the new Arizona Territory.
Eureka Landing was a small group of adobe buildings right by the river. It was about 47 miles upriver from a place called Arizona City. Just two miles upriver from Eureka Landing was Williamsport. On the other side of the Colorado River, in California, was Picacho, California and its own mining district.
What Remains Today
Today, the old landing of Williamsport has completely disappeared. The riverbank where it once stood is now empty. You can find its approximate location using these coordinates: 33°01′48″N 114°35′38″W / 33.03000°N 114.59389°W.
