Wilbur A. and Lynn F. Haak, Gila County Historical Museum Archive. Images of America: Globe, 40. Arcadia Publishing, Charleston South Carolina, 2008. Mining and Grazing Communities in the Tonto BasinThe Roads Facilitating Military Campaigns of the 1870s and Their Impact on Regional DevelopmentThe construction of roads to support military campaigns during the 1870s played a pivotal role in enhancing accessibility to previously remote areas. These thoroughfares opened new avenues for prospectors, who, beginning in 1875, were drawn to mineral claims in notable locations such as Superior, Globe, Clifton-Morenci, Richmond Basin, and McMillenville. The development of these routes significantly contributed to increased human activity and economic exploitation of mineral resources within the region. The Gold Rush to Payson, commencing in 1880, further intensified traffic along stagecoach roads, particularly the route linking Payson to Globe, which traversed past historic ruins. This surge in movement facilitated the influx of miners and prospectors eager to capitalize on newfound opportunities. Early mining enterprises bore evocative names reflective of their aspirations and local heritage, including Ramboz, Rescue, and Bluebird in the Globe district, as well as Stonewall Jackson and the Nugget of McMillen in the Richmond Basin. These concerted efforts to exploit the mineral wealth of the basin spurred population growth and economic diversification. As miners established themselves in the area, their demand for essential supplies and provisions increased. Consequently, ranchers, farmers, and merchants migrated to the region, establishing necessary support networks to sustain the burgeoning mining communities. Thus, the initial military infrastructure not only served strategic purposes but also catalyzed significant socio-economic development within the region.
Globe City, originally known simply as Globe, was established in 1876, marking the beginning of a significant chapter in Arizona's mining history. The Arizona Daily Silver Belt commenced publication two years later in 1878, serving as a vital source of news and information for the burgeoning community. In 1881, Gila County was officially formed from portions of Pinal and Maricopa counties, with Globe designated as the county seat, further solidifying its importance in the region. The discovery and exploitation of silver mines initially drove Globe's early economic growth. However, as these silver deposits began to diminish, a new wave of prosperity emerged through the discovery of world-class copper deposits in the Superior and Globe-Miami areas. This ushered in a second boom characterized by intense mining activity during the early 20th century. Between 1900 and 1910, several prominent mining enterprises operated in the region, including the Miami Copper Company, the Inspiration Consolidated Copper Company, the Warrior Development Company, the Lost Gulch United Mines Company, and the Old Dominion Mining Company. Of these, the Old Dominion Mining Company stood out as Globe's most prolific producer, contributing significantly to the local economy and the broader copper industry. The accessibility of the Tonto Basin, once a remote and isolated area, was greatly enhanced by advancements in transportation infrastructure. The completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869 followed by the Southern Pacific branch extension to Globe in 1898 facilitated the movement of goods and people, enabling the mining industry to flourish and integrating Globe more closely with national markets. Collectively, these developments underscore Globe City's transformation from a modest settlement into a pivotal mining hub, shaped by natural resource discoveries and critical transportation connections during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. 
Nancy Dallett, At the Confluence of Change 2008. News of these favorable conditions rapidly disseminated, leading to the introduction not only of cattle but also hogs and sheep into the area. A 1926 interview conducted by Fred W. Croxen with the then-oldest cattleman in the Tonto Basin provides valuable firsthand insights into the range conditions encountered by ranchers around 1870. According to these accounts, the region was aptly described as a rancher’s paradise. The natural environment offered advantageous qualities, including plentiful grasses and well-watered ranges, which were ideal for raising livestock. Additionally, infrastructural conditions contributed significantly to the thriving livestock industry. The military, motivated by its logistical needs, established usable roads, thereby enhancing access and transportation within the region. This infrastructure, coupled with the successful removal of Apache resistance by the late 1800s, paved the way for uninterrupted livestock operations. Markets for ranch products were readily available and included Phoenix, Camp McDowell, and the mining camp of Silver King near present-day Superior. While mountain lions posed certain challenges to horse raising, the overall environmental conditions favored both crop cultivation and livestock husbandry. The reputation of the Tonto Basin as a conducive setting for ranching spread widely, attracting settlers from California, Oregon, the Mormon settlements in Utah, and the states of Texas and New Mexico. These newcomers arrived equipped with extensive ranching experience from disparate environments and naturally presumed that the favorable conditions witnessed would endure. However, many were unfamiliar with the inherent precariousness of desert ecosystems and the variable nature of the environment. Cattle Ranchers lived in Homesteads scattered along Tonto Creek. Their cattle ranged in open land, unfenced, and they worked together to round up the cattle starting near the Tonto Box and proceeding down Tonto Creek to where it met the Salt River. There, each rancher would gather his steers from the collective herd and drive them to markets. These Idyllic conditions didn't last long. Hog, sheep, and cattle ranching in the Tonto Basin had immediate negative impacts on the native vegetation that supported the animals . Livestock grazing and fire suppression combined to create changes that, decreased grasses suitable for stock and increased less suitable woody plants and shrubs. Droughts in the early 1880s [eiodically curtailed grazing, but the industry revived when rainfall increased. The revival got a boost and expanded when the area became linked via the transcontiental rail routes. The wetter ranges and new transportation system enabled products to get to market more cheaply and quickly. these favorable conditions attracted yet more ranchers, and the size of the herds increased to reduce the costs of production. This industry expansion further depleted the grasses. Then the good times ended. A severe drought in 1892-1893 left the Tonto dry. Heavy rains followed, which washed away topsoil and created gullies. By 1895, the range was considered " at the ragged end of it all". A combination of overstocking and drought taxed the grasses, and by the late 1880s cattle and sheep ranchers, who had antagonistic ralationships anyway, were blaming each other. Rapid growth of grazing in the Tonto Basin created seemingly irreparable environmental degradation, and spawned negative consequences for all involved. 
NPS Images Two Perspectives on the Cliff DwellingsThe Tonto Cliff Dwellings present a complex legacy, reflecting varied meanings to the local peoples. Archaeological evidence suggests these sites held sacred significance for some, serving as spiritual or cultural landmarks. Conversely, other groups may have viewed the dwellings as unique curiosities symbolizing regional identity. Additionally, historical accounts indicate that certain individuals treated the sites as opportunities for personal acquisition, removing artifacts on a first-come, first-served basis. These differing perspectives underscore the multifaceted relationship between indigenous communities and the archaeological heritage of the Southwest.Angeline Mitchell BrownA School Teacher in Tonto Basin. On December 12, 1880, this 26 year old teacher traveled with her six students to the Cliff Dwellings. The trip proved to be "far superior" to what she had anticipated and "Worth the Trouble".Read Angeline Mitchell's account on her visit to the Lower Cliff Dwellings 
NPS Images Adolph BandelierAdolph Francis Bandelier, who was born in Switzerland, conducted the first thorough investigation of prehistoric sites in what is now Arizona. He was the first Archaeologist to map, survey, and characterize many of the archaeological parks and monuments that exist today. Tonto National Monument was established at one of the locations.Bandelier relied on his horse Chico for transportation because neither railroads nor stage routes passed through many of the locations he visited. On the trek, Chico was sometimes his lone friend. Read Adolph Bandelier's account on his visit to the Cliff Dwellings ReferencesDallett, Nancy. "One Land, Many Peoples: Mining and Grazing Communities in the Tonto Basin" in At the Confluence of Change: A History of Tonto National Monument. Western National Parks Association, 2008.Haak, Wilbur A., et al, and the Gila County Historical Museum Archive. "Mining" In Images of America: Globe. Arcadia Publishing, 2008. |
Last updated: June 1, 2026