Mammoth, in the broad San Pedro River Valley, is in
southeastern Pinal County. The town is approximately 140 miles
southeast of Phoenix and 40 miles northeast of Tucson at an elevation
of 2,353 feet. Two other communities, Oracle and San Manuel,
are located within a 10-mile radius of Mammoth and make up the
tri-community area.
In 1883, the first mine in the Mammoth district was located by Frank
Schultz. It was not possible to work the ores at the mine site, so a
stamp mill for this purpose was built on the San Pedro River. The
place was called Mammoth. In 1895, the Mammoth Mine changed
hands, and work stopped while a new system of milling was introduced.
This was the beginning of the last gold mining revival in
Arizona, except for a brief period during the Depression when individuals
mined for gold. Mammoth enjoyed renewed importance in
1936 when molybdenum production began. The post office in
Mammoth was established in 1887, and the town incorporated in
1958.
Metal production is the most significant economic activity in Pinal
County and is a major influence in Mammoth. Magma Copper
Company operates an underground copper mine, concentrator,
smelter, refinery and rod manufacturing plant at San Manuel, six
miles south. The refinery, the largest such facility in Arizona, was
completed in 1971 and has an annual capacity of 300,000 tons. The
smelter processes 1,200,000 tons of copper concentrates per year,
25% of the entire U.S. copper smelting capacity. Much of the production
is continuous cast copper re-draw rod, while the remainder is
in the form of cathode copper. An important by-product is sulfuric
acid, which is produced at a rate of approximately 3,000 tons per
day. These facilities, in addition to the administrative offices, employ
3,500 persons. Several smaller mines and quarries and approximately
12 working cattle ranches are located in the area and provide additional
employment and income to Mammoth.
The community of Mammoth enjoys a mountainous setting near
the many scenic attractions of the Sonoran Desert of Southern
Arizona. One of the more popular areas is Mount Lemmon in the
Coronado National Forest just south of Mammoth. The spectacular
Galiuro and Catalina Mountains and rolling desert have attracted
various TV and movie companies to film on location in the
Mammoth area. In September, Mammoth celebrates Mexico's
Independence Day with a traditional fiesta and in October, there is
a chili/salsa cook-off.
Scenic drives in the area include Pinal Pioneer Parkway, which
extends northwest to Florence, traversing a unique natural garden.
Virtually all kinds of desert flora are displayed along the main route
and easily accessible side roads. Mining and ranching activities in
the area also provide diversions for visitors. The region is a classic
example of the range-and-basin ecological system and is noted for
its geological features.