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Jerome,
Arizona
"America's Most Vertical City" and "Largest Ghost Town in
America".
 Located high on
top of Cleopatra Hill (5,200 feet) between Prescott and Flagstaff is
the historic copper mining town of Jerome, Arizona. Once known as the wickedest
town in the west, Jerome was a copper mining camp, growing from a settlement of
tents to a roaring mining community. Four disastrous fires destroyed large
sections of the town during its early history, resulting in the incorporation
of the City of Jerome in 1899.
Founded
in 1876, Jerome was once the fourth largest city in the Arizona
Territory. The population peaked at 15,000 in the 1920's. The
Depression of the 1930's slowed the mining operation and the claim went to
Phelps Dodge, who holds the claim today. World War II brought increased demand
for copper, but after the war, demand slowed. Dependant on the copper market,
Phelps Dodge Mine closed in 1953. The remaining 50 to 100 hardy souls promoted
the town as a historic ghost town. In 1967 Jerome was designated a National
Historic District by the federal government. Today Jerome is a thriving tourist
and artist community with a population of about 450.
Jerome
sits above what was the largest copper mine in Arizona and produced an
astonishing 3 million pounds of copper per month. Men and women from all over
the world made their way to Arizona to find work and maybe a new way of life.
Today the mines are silent, and Jerome has become the largest ghost town in
America.
Jerome's personality has changed dramatically in the past
30 years. Once a thriving mining camp between the late-1880s and early
1950s, Jerome is now a bustling tourist magnet and artistic community with a
population of about 450. It includes a modicum of artists, craft people,
musicians, writers, hermits, bed and breakfast owners, museum caretakers, gift
shop proprietors and fallen-down-building landlords.
What is
the Town of Jerome like today? Is it worth your time to visit? The answer is a
resounding yes! Jerome is an enchanting town, and a photographer's paradise.
From its external appearances it hasn't changed much in nearly 100 years. Many
of the buildings used by present-day business folks are those built after the
fires of 1894 and1899. A number of the buildings have been restored and more
are planned for restoration. Due to the 30-degree incline of the mountainside,
gravity has pulled a number of buildings down the slope. To the delight of
some, one of those buildings was the town's jail. Those buildings still
standing make for interesting visiting and with a little research you can find
their historical significance. One notable section is the "Cribs District." You
will find this area across the street from the English Kitchen, in a back alley
where all the buildings were are part of Jerome's ill-famed "prostitution
row."
Make
Jerome your destination for your next trip to Arizona. Being centrally located,
a stay at one of Jerome's bed and breakfasts, inns or hotels is perfect for a
home base to explore the entire northern Arizona region from. Drive from Jerome
to Cottonwood, Clarkdale, Sedona, Prescott, Flagstaff and even the Grand Canyon
and then return to Jerome to relax for the evening and dine at one of the fine
restaurants in Jerome. Then just relax to the peaceful surroundings that no
other city in Arizona can offer.
Jerome is
located in the heart of northern Arizona only 90 miles from Phoenix, 60 miles
from Flagstaff, 20 miles from Sedona, 30
miles from Prescott, 20 miles from
Camp Verde, 10 miles from
Cottonwood
and about 6 miles from Clarkdale.
You can even make a day trip to the Grand
Canyon from here.
Once in
Jerome, there are many things to see and do. Why not check out the many unique
shops in Jerome, or relax and have a bit
to eat at one of our many restaurants,
listen to some great music at one of our saloons or sit and relax with a glass
of wine at Jerome's own Jerome
Winery.
Once you
have spent enough time shopping and relaxing in Jerome, why not check out one
of the communities close to us to see what they have to offer. There is just
about everything one could desire in the vicinity of Jerome, Arizona.
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