Cochise County
Millville
Created to support the mines of Tombstone, this milling town swelled to 400 residents before moving
Millville is a former milling town located on the banks of the San Pedro River in southern Arizona about eight miles southwest of Tombstone. The town was developed to process the ore from the mines of Tombstone before the milling operation was moved closer to the mines in 1886. Across the river, the town of Charleston popped up to support those living and working at the mills. Today, the area is part of the San Pedro Riparian Area and managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
In the most simplest terms, Millville existed because of water. Ore from the mines in Tombstone needed to be processed, and milling on site was too costly at first. After striking it rich, Ed & Al Schieffelin, alongside Richard Gird established a 10 stamp mill on the banks of the San Pedro that began operation in June 1879. Ore was hauled 9 miles by mule train from Tombstone. By 1880, another mill was opened, developed by the Corbin Mill & Mining Company. In order to support the nearly 24/7 operation, a townsite popped up across the river, and was called Charleston. Home to up to 400 people at its peak, the town featured a school, restaurants, stores, and other modern amenities. During its peak in 1881, Millville churned out $1.3 million in silver bullion that year alone.
A few rock walls & waste rock are all that remains of the once bustling operation at Millville.
Life in town was often over-exaggerated, being called ‘tougher and livelier than Tombstone’ at one point. However, in 1886, the mines of Tombstone flooded, and the water problem that necessitated the creation of Millville wasn’t an issue anymore. The Gird Mill was moved into Tombstone proper to refine ore on site, while the Corbin Mill was left to process whatever remained. By 1889, both Charleston and Millville were completely abandoned, as were many of the other mills that lined the San Pedro.
One of many large waste rock piles at the site of Millville.
Today, surprisingly little remains at Millville. Unfortunately a lot of the ruins that were left behind in town have been picked through and looted, perhaps because it sat abandoned in a busy location for so long. The most impressive thing is the several stacked rock foundations of where the two former mills sat. The outline of Girds house, which also served as the Tombstone Mill & Mining Company offices also remain. A few random scraps, old trash, and slag piles remain scattered around along with several interesting information boards with historic photos.
Plenty of well marked hiking trails are available to further explore the area on what’s called the Sky Island Traverse, a trail system connecting multiple sites up and down the river. Across the San Pedro, Charleston, which was once connected by a bridge to Millville, has all but been decimated. The area was used for training during WWII by soldiers from Fort Huachuca. Even today, the BLM advises against visiting the area.
To access Millville today, head southwest from Tombstone on Charleston Road. Follow the paved road for nine miles. Just before the San Pedro River, turn right and follow signs for the Millville Petroglyph and Discovery Trail / Sky Island Traverse. There is a large parking area and vault toilets at the trailhead. Millville can be reached via a mile and a half round trip hike. The trail is well defined and has numerous overlooks and informational signs along the way. The first half remains very easy, before descending and crossing a wash before climbing to the ruins of Millville. Numerous other hiking trails can extend your trip along the Sky Island Traverse and the old railroad bed, which connects several other historic sites.
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