Morenci Arizona

Morenci is in Eastern Arizona . It is in Greenlee County. The town is located on U.S. Highway 191. This mining town clings precariously to the steep mountainsides above the town of Clifton only six miles away. Morenci is approximately 30 miles east of New Mexico and 169 miles northeast of Tucson. 

Overview:
Morenci’s reason for existence is copper, and its famed open pit mine. It is a town owned and operated by Phelps Dodge. Today Morenci has a population of 2,500. The town sits at an elevation of 4,838 feet. The climate is mild all year round with a winter low temperature of 31 degrees and a summer high temperature of 100 degrees. Morenci is both old and new, and it has much to offer to resident and tourist.

Community Features:
Morenci has several attractions. The Greenlee County Historical Museum is located at the west end of Chase Creek in Clifton. The museum is packed full of interesting memorabilia from the surrounding area. Visitors will discover Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Apache warrior Geronimo and Ted De Grazia were born nearby. The museum has artifacts, which make the west come alive. It is a stop worth taking. The Morenci Open Mine Pit Tour gives visitors an up close look at the mining process. The equipment is monstrous and the sheer size of the operation is hard to comprehend. The tour takes about three and a half hours. Make sure you call ahead to find out the days and times. 

Visitors will find many outdoor attractions. The Coronado Trail Scenic Byway travels between the towns of Morenci and Springerville, along U.S. Highway 180 or 191. Francisco Vasques de Coronado first used the trail in 1540, during his search for the Seven Cities of Cibola. The drive passes by gorgeous landscapes and through dangerous switchbacks. Another scenic drive located just outside of town is the Black Hills Back Country Byway. This rough 21-mile road between Clifton and Safford begins just south of Clifton and passes over the Old Safford Bridge. The road was once a wagon trail and travels through spectacular scenery and sweeping views. It is a must see, as long as you are prepared for the bumpy path.

History:
Members of the Colonel Carleton’s Regiment of California Volunteers discovered the first indication of copper ore in 1865. Unfortunately, the Indians in the area made it difficult to get to the copper. Then in 1870, the Apache Indians signed a treaty. This treaty allowed access to the area and a mining camp was established. The original mining camp was called Joy’s Camp. It was named after Captain Miles Joy, a mineral surveyor. 

In 1872, capital was acquired to expand operations. The Detroit Copper Company was created and the camp was renamed Morenci after a town in Michigan. During the late 1800’s, the mine was continuing to grow. The mine was using a mini gauge railroad with mules to pull the carts down the hill to Clifton for smelting. 

Later, Detroit Copper Company asked for capital from Phelps-Dodge Company and soon Phelps-Dodge had a share in the company. Then in 1885, William Church, the president of Detroit Copper Company, sold his operation to Phelps-Dodge. Morenci soon became one of the biggest copper mines. The mules were replaced in 1888, when a locomotive arrived in town. 

Mining continued to be done underground, until the mine closed during the Depression. Then in 1937, the mine reopened and began mining as an open pit. In the mid-1960’s, Phelps Dodge was forced to move the town of Morenci. The town was in the way of mining. The new town was relocated two miles from the historic Morenci. 
Today Phelps Dodge continues to operate the open pit copper mine in Morenci. The mine is the second largest in the United States and is one of the oldest copper mines in Arizona . Mining and mineral processing are dominant factors in Morenci’s economy, which employs about two-thirds of the workforce. Morenci is unincorporated and is owned by Phelps Dodge.