County: Pima
Zip Code:
Latitude / Longitude: 31°51′28″N 110°47′19″W / 31.85778°N 110.78861°W / 31.85778
Elevation: 4,324 ft (1,318 m)
Time Zone: Mountain (NO DST) (UTC-7)
Established: 1891
Disestablished: 1921
Comments: Helvetia is a populated place in Pima County, Arizona, that was settled in 1891 and abandoned in the early 1920s. Helvetia is an ancient name for Switzerland.
Remains: Helvetia was founded in 1891 for the settlement of workers from the surrounding copper mines. At its peak the city had 300 inhabitants, of which most were Mexicans. In 1911, the mines closed, due to low commodity prices. The post office, which had opened on December 12, 1899, closed on December 31, 1921, marking the end of the town.
Current Status: There is not much left of Helvetia to see, simply a pair of foundation walls rising above a floor, the ruins of the smelter, and the cemetery. In the vicinity there are slag heaps and shafts from the mines. Although the town is gone, there are several homes in the immediate area that are still in use, including the Helvetia Ranch.
Remarks: The 1967 western film Hombre was shot in Helvetia.
