Charleston, Arizona, Cochise County is a ghost town steeped in the history of the American West, once bustling during the silver mining boom. Below is detailed information about the town.
County: Cochise County
Zip Code: Not available
Latitude / Longitude: 31.6431° N, 110.1787° W
Elevation: Approximately 4,000 feet (1,219 meters)
Time Zone: Mountain Standard Time (MST)
Established: 1879
Disestablished: 1889
Comments: Charleston was established to serve the nearby silver mines of Tombstone. It thrived as a milling town, processing ore from the mines and supporting a population of around 400-500 residents at its peak. Known for its rough and rowdy atmosphere, Charleston was home to saloons, dance halls, and a notorious reputation for lawlessness typical of frontier towns.
Charleston is a ghost town in Cochise County in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Arizona. It was occupied from the late-1870s through the late-1880s, and was located in what was then known as the Arizona Territory. Located on the west bank of the San Pedro River, Charleston’s economy was based on milling silver ore mined from nearby Tombstone in the community of Millville, located directly across the river.
Remains: Today, the remains of Charleston are sparse, with only a few stone foundations and scattered ruins marking its existence. The site has been largely reclaimed by nature, obscuring much of its past beneath the desert landscape.
Current Status: The town was quickly abandoned as none of the structures remained habitable. The Charleston Post Office shut down on October 24, 1888, and by 1889, both Charleston and Millville were already ghost towns.
Remarks: The story of Charleston is intertwined with that of Tombstone, Arizona, as it played a pivotal role in the economic activities of the region. While it enjoyed a brief period of prosperity, the decline of silver mining and a devastating flood in 1889 led to its rapid abandonment. Today, Charleston’s legacy lives on through historical accounts and the intrigue it holds for those interested in the tale of the Wild West.
