Soon, veins of copper, zinc, and lead were uncovered, and by the turn of the century, Ruby was southwestern ArizonaвЂ™s largest mining camp.

However, by the 1860s and 70s, new prospectors claimed additional sites, eventually forming a settlement called вЂњMontana CampвЂќ just below Montana Peak. Miners discovered rich veins of gold and silver in 1854, but mining was limited as the area was Apache territory. While the lack of rain and rough terrain made it a poor choice for agricultural development, the high mineral content drew many prospectors to pursue their dreams of wealth. Today, itвЂ™s just north of the U.S-Mexico border, which made it a lively spot during the time of newly drawn territories and western land grabs. Very close to Tucson (as far as ghost towns ago, anyway), Ruby provides a look at what life in the Wild West was like more than a century ago. Related: 9 of the Best Airbnbs in Lake Havasu City, Arizona 8 Arizona Ghost Towns 1. Here are eight amazing Arizona ghost towns to add to your road trip plans. The one thing that ties them all together is that they provide a glimpse of the past, a fascinating look at history without actually going back in time. A few support full-time residents, but significantly fewer than what they had at their peak. Some traces of civilization remain in some ghost towns, while others are populated only by buildings in various states of disrepair. Arizona is home to hundreds of ghost towns, with estimates suggesting as many as 300 throughout the state - depending on how you define вЂњghost.вЂќ Most are former mining boom towns that were abandoned when the mines shut down, though others were supply points for mining operations nearby.

Ruby mine arizona