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In 1862, when gold was discovered north of Yuma, the town of La Paz took root; by year’s end, it was Arizona’s most populous settlement – and the gold rush, no longer unique to California, was on.
The following year, a scant 100 miles to the east, California prospector Henry Wickenburg discovered gold in what became Vulture City’s eponymous mine. Located in Maricopa County, this was the most productive mining locale in the Grand Canyon State’s history – yielding 340,000 ounces of gold and 260,000 ounces of silver between 1863-1942.
Once home to 5,000 folks, it’s now a “ghost town.” So, visit.
– Hannah Van Sickle, The Arizona 100