THE ROAD REPORT

CLARKDALE HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM Delve into Copper Mining History

- HELEN SERRAS-HERMAN

Copper mining has been a huge contributor to Arizona’s heritage and wealth, since the 19th century, along with its by-products gold, silver, and molybdenum. Copper still reigns as one of the most important natural resources and economies in Arizona, which has been the leading copper producer in the nation since 1910. Hence, Arizona’s nickname “The Copper State.”

The town of Clarkdale is located on the banks of the Verde River in north-central Arizona. It was founded in 1912, as a “company” mining town, mainly to serve the town’s company smelter, which was processing ore from the nearby United Verde copper mine in Jerome.

The mine was owned by William A. Clark, known as “America’s Copper King.” Clark purchased the mine in 1888 and turned it into the Arizona Territory’s (at the time) richest copper producer. In 1912 there was a need for a new smelter site to replace the outdated one in Jerome, and the smelter in Clarkdale was built between 1912 and 1915, just downhill from Jerome.