Miami

Miami is in Eastern Arizona . It is in Gila County. Miami sits at the bottom of a valley and ripples up the hills on both sides and through its center cuts U.S. Highway 60. It is in the heart of the Tonto National Forest and is four miles west of the town of Globe. On the north side of town, there is a huge manmade mesa of bleached out dirt. It is a reminder of the old Miami Copper Company and the Inspiration Mine. These mines made Miami a popular western settlement. The town is located where U.S. Highway 60 and U.S. Highway 70 intersect.

Globe is a great place to explore the Apache Mountains and learn about the mining history of the area. Miami’s glory years were in the early 1900’s when huge copper reduction plants were built. Today Miami’s population is 2,018. The town sits at an elevation of 3,411 feet. The climate is mild year round with a winter low temperature of 32 degrees and a summer high temperature of 97 degrees. The tumbling slopes of the Pinal Mountains create an impressive setting for this copper mining town and the man made hills of copper tailing that jut above the highway are amazing. These and other mementos of the past sometimes lead those to think that the town’s days are over, but this hardy community is looking ahead. The mild climate and numerous outdoor activities lure tourists and retirees.

There are several attractions that you must see when you are in town. The Besh-ba-Gowah Archaeological Park Pueblo and Museum is an interesting stop. The ruin, museum and visitor center give you a look back in time to a people living in this area before the time of Christopher Columbus. A historic walking tour of Miami retraces the town’s mining boom and shows what life was like when copper was king. A free brochure outlining the tour can be picked up at the Town Hall. The Cobre Valley Center of the Arts is located in the historic Gila County Courthouse. The center uses the first floor as a gallery for the Arts Guild. The second floor has studios and a small theater holds the Copper Cities Community Players. 

The Gila County Museum has an outstanding collection from the Salado Indians dating back to 1400 A.D and exhibits showing mining equipment. The museum is inside the original rescue and first aid station of the Old Dominion Mine. If gaming is what you want, then the Apache Gold Hotel Casino and Resort is just five minutes east of Globe. The casino has bingo, poker, keno and slots. There is a pool, spa and restaurant that is always serving up delicious southwestern food.

Miami has so many outdoor activities that making a decision on where to begin is sometimes difficult. Roosevelt Lake is Arizona ’s largest lake covering 17,300 acres. The lake is known for its great bass fishing. However, if fishing is not your thing, don’t worry. The lake has camping facilities, hiking trails, boat and jet ski rentals. Roosevelt Lake is only 25 miles from Globe on State Highway 88. The Tonto National Monument offers two hikes out to see the prehistoric Salado cliff dwellings. The self-guided hike of the Lower Cliff Dwelling is open year round and the Upper Cliff Dwelling hike is only open during the cooler months. The monument has an 18-minute video program and exhibits that explain this advanced culture.

History
The Salado Indians came to this area in 1100 A.D. and built their cliff dwellings. These cliff dwellings can be seen today at the Tonto National Monument and at the Besh-ba-Gowah ruins. They were an advanced group of hunters and gathers, who farmed along the banks of the Pinal Creek. The Salado Indians disappeared mysteriously in 1450 A.D. 

It wasn’t until many years later, when the Apache Indians arrived that the land was used again. The Apaches called the area Besh-ba-Gowah meaning “place of metal” or “metal camp”. The Indians still live here today at the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation.

Black Jack Newman, a Polish immigrant is recognized for being the one to help create the town of Miami. He named his camp near his copper mine in the Big Johnny Gulch after his fiancée Mima Tune. The mine was called Mima. However, trouble started when another group staked their claim near the Bloody Tanks Wash. This group was from Miami, Ohio and they named their mine Inspiration. When it came time to name the tiny community, there was an argument. Finally, a compromise was struck. They agreed to spell it “Miami,” yet say the name “Mima.”

Later on, Newman sold his mine to the Lewisohn brothers of New York. Newman made a sweet deal with the brothers by receiving a commission on every pound of copper sold. The Lewisohn brothers named the mine the Miami Copper Company. 

The town of Miami was founded in 1907 with both the Inspiration Mine and the Miami Copper Company in operation. The business section was laid on the floor of the valley and was named Miami Flat. However, the town still had rough waters ahead. The Miami Flat businesses wanted to set up shop in the new town site but there were problems. The two mines in town wanted to create a company town and the businesses in nearby Globe felt that the Miami Flat businesses would hurt their business. A feud erupted between all three parties. The feud caused the owners of the land in town to leave. Soon Cleve Van Dyke, a developer came onto the scene. He bought the town and the newspaper for $25,000.

Dyke promoted Miami as a new town, which encouraged home building, relaxation and the exercise of personal choice in dealing with independent trade concerns. He venture boomed.
Both the Inspiration and the Miami Copper Company began the construction of huge reduction plants in the early 1900’s. The large copper-ore reduction plants earned the town the name “Concentrator City”. Miami was a flushed mining capital. It was spreading out into the suburbs with a population growing larger than it rival, Globe. The town was incorporated in 1918.

During the 1920’s, Miami and Globe started their feud again. The argument began over how much mining property should be subject to city taxes. Dyke took sides against the mining companies and the two towns became divided on the issue. Then Dyke refused to publish the advertisements of any Globe business in his Miami newspaper. This led to the creation of a daily newspaper in Globe. The feud even reared its ugly head in the governor’s election.

Then in 1931, the mines fell into a slump. The Miami Copper Company curtailed its production and the Inspiration Mine closed down.
Mining played a big part of the history of the town from 1870 to 1920. This time period is known as the Golden Age. Miami became the home to many rich miners and mine owners. Ranching also became an important piece of the economy. The rich land surrounding town, along with its ample water supply made it prime grazing land. 

Today about 20 percent of the town’s employment is related to either mining or to the production of copper. The town also has a strong tourist trade with so many outdoor activities located nearby.