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SMOR Tri-Community Chamber of Commerce | P.O. Box 416 San Manuel, AZ 85631 | Phone: (520) 385-9322
Site Production and Web Design by Ralph L. Perry © 2007-2008
All photos and graphics © 2007-2008 SMOR Chamber and Ralph L. Perry and their licensors. All rights reserved.
Site Production and Web Design by Ralph L. Perry © 2007-2008
All photos and graphics © 2007-2008 SMOR Chamber and Ralph L. Perry and their licensors. All rights reserved.
Copper mining has been contributing to the economy of what we now call Arizona before the arrival of Europeans in the early 1500's.
Beginning in the late 19th century, copper mining and processing became one of the primary means by which first the Arizona territory and then the state of Arizona were transformed from a wilderness to a modern industrial economy. Copper mining, smelting, refining and fabricating remain an important part of the modern economy even today, although this is fast disappearing.
As you might gather, San Manuel was a copper mining town since 1953. Back in 1937 a man by the name of Laguna had some mining claims near the town of Tiger. Mr. Laguna thought they looked promising and took them to Superior to have them assayed. Jack Nichols, Jim Douglas and Burns Griffin agreed with Mr. Laguna and decided to go down and take a look a the claim. They decided that it was more than promising and asked Mr. Laguna to sell his claim to them. During the negotiations they found out that Mr. Laguna’s patron saint was San Manuel, ergo San Manuel division of Magma Copper Co. was founded.
In 1953 Del Webb - yes the same one who has built Sun City and Rancho Vistoso - was hired to build the town of San Manuel. They built a house a day of slump block, all the houses looked the same. They were painted white with yellow or green trim. Don’t come home drunk or you would go to the wrong house.
After 100 houses were built, the lower arcade was constructed as a business center. At that time this housed the Post Office, Bank, Furniture store, and Variety store, It also had a bar that was the longest bar in the state of Arizona. Had to have a bar. Have your ever heard of a mining town without one? The company owned the houses and the shopping arcade, therefore had complete control over who lived where and who would have a business in town. At this writing some of those original business people and mining families still live in town.
The mine prospered so more houses where built and a second shopping center was built to meet the need of the townspeople . The trip into Tucson in those days was not as easy as it is today. There was a dirt road that took you through Oracle then down a two lane road to Tucson. Copper mining was thriving in the 1970's so more houses were built. Of course this meant an increase in population. The population then was over five thousand. Along with the new houses a mobile home park was built, this was also owned by Magma
Copper Co.
Along with the progress in the area the state decided that a better road into to Tucson was needed. This was hard for the small businesses in town. Now instead to two grocery stores there is only one. Other businesses started closing as people found it easier to go to Tucson to shop. Tucson was growing in leaps and bounds which brought more business to the north west side. This brought more variety for the people in the Copper Corridor but hurt the business in all the small towns.
In the mid 1990's Magma decided it no longer wanted to be in the realty business so they put all the houses and stores up for sale. Many of the long time residents bought the house they have lived in for years. Others left to go elsewhere. In this town that never had a gray haired person in it, we started seeing our neighbors grow old and many seniors move into town. We still have families with children, so you cannot call us a retirement community. The population is mixed Hispanic and Anglo. Many of the young people who were born here are still here raising their families .
BHP Copper Co. who bought out Magma Copper Co. decided in the 1990 that with the decline in copper prices it would be wise to shut down the company in San Manuel. Now most of the buildings connected with mining are gone. BHP Copper Co. is doing a fantastic job of reclaiming the land. Within the next five years I foresee a tremendous growth in this area, it will be primarily a rural, urban community, with some light industry.
by Janice Rapp
Beginning in the late 19th century, copper mining and processing became one of the primary means by which first the Arizona territory and then the state of Arizona were transformed from a wilderness to a modern industrial economy. Copper mining, smelting, refining and fabricating remain an important part of the modern economy even today, although this is fast disappearing.
As you might gather, San Manuel was a copper mining town since 1953. Back in 1937 a man by the name of Laguna had some mining claims near the town of Tiger. Mr. Laguna thought they looked promising and took them to Superior to have them assayed. Jack Nichols, Jim Douglas and Burns Griffin agreed with Mr. Laguna and decided to go down and take a look a the claim. They decided that it was more than promising and asked Mr. Laguna to sell his claim to them. During the negotiations they found out that Mr. Laguna’s patron saint was San Manuel, ergo San Manuel division of Magma Copper Co. was founded.
In 1953 Del Webb - yes the same one who has built Sun City and Rancho Vistoso - was hired to build the town of San Manuel. They built a house a day of slump block, all the houses looked the same. They were painted white with yellow or green trim. Don’t come home drunk or you would go to the wrong house.
After 100 houses were built, the lower arcade was constructed as a business center. At that time this housed the Post Office, Bank, Furniture store, and Variety store, It also had a bar that was the longest bar in the state of Arizona. Had to have a bar. Have your ever heard of a mining town without one? The company owned the houses and the shopping arcade, therefore had complete control over who lived where and who would have a business in town. At this writing some of those original business people and mining families still live in town.
The mine prospered so more houses where built and a second shopping center was built to meet the need of the townspeople . The trip into Tucson in those days was not as easy as it is today. There was a dirt road that took you through Oracle then down a two lane road to Tucson. Copper mining was thriving in the 1970's so more houses were built. Of course this meant an increase in population. The population then was over five thousand. Along with the new houses a mobile home park was built, this was also owned by Magma
Copper Co.
Along with the progress in the area the state decided that a better road into to Tucson was needed. This was hard for the small businesses in town. Now instead to two grocery stores there is only one. Other businesses started closing as people found it easier to go to Tucson to shop. Tucson was growing in leaps and bounds which brought more business to the north west side. This brought more variety for the people in the Copper Corridor but hurt the business in all the small towns.
In the mid 1990's Magma decided it no longer wanted to be in the realty business so they put all the houses and stores up for sale. Many of the long time residents bought the house they have lived in for years. Others left to go elsewhere. In this town that never had a gray haired person in it, we started seeing our neighbors grow old and many seniors move into town. We still have families with children, so you cannot call us a retirement community. The population is mixed Hispanic and Anglo. Many of the young people who were born here are still here raising their families .
BHP Copper Co. who bought out Magma Copper Co. decided in the 1990 that with the decline in copper prices it would be wise to shut down the company in San Manuel. Now most of the buildings connected with mining are gone. BHP Copper Co. is doing a fantastic job of reclaiming the land. Within the next five years I foresee a tremendous growth in this area, it will be primarily a rural, urban community, with some light industry.
by Janice Rapp
