The Globe/Miami area has been an important mining center for more than a century. Silver started the population boom, but copper proved more abundant and led to the growth of the community, as infrastructure and commerce were added to support mining activities. Mining in the Globe District proper ceased when the Old Dominion Mine flooded in the late 1920s and industry evolved into support businesses for the mines and the major housing center in the area. Most recently, the concentration has been small business and tourism, which capitalizes on the historic nature of the community. Located in the foothills just north of the Pinal Mountains, Globe is the seat of government for Gila County.

Miami was founded by Black Jack Newman as a camp near his copper mine. Many claim the camp was named after his fiancée, Mima Tune. Others say the name originated with a number of miners who hailed from the Miami Valley of Ohio. Today, Miami is a quiet town with antique stores that feature many artifacts of the early history of the area. Many of the buildings in the downtown area are on the National Register of Historic Places and are in the process of renovation. However, the mining sector remains robust with five mining companies continuing operations in the immediate area.

Principal Economic Activities

More than 20 percent of the employment in the area is related to mining and production of copper. More than half of Gila County’s manufacturing sector employment is in copper smelting, refining or rod production. Five copper mines are in the area. The local tourism industry has been enhanced by the Globe Downtown Association, the Globe/Miami Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Forest Service, which added $50 million in campground amenities at Roosevelt Lake.

Scenic Attractions

Globe’s downtown has rich historic structures, including the 1906 Gila County Courthouse, now the Cobre Valley Center for the Arts. The U.S. 60 from Superior to Miami is one of the most scenic highways in Arizona. The highway winds through incredible rock formations, overlooks the Capstone Pinto Valley Operations and passes alongside the Freeport-McMoRan Oxhide and Bluebird Leach dumps before entering Miami proper. In Miami proper, the Bullion Plaza Museum and Cultural Center welcomes visitors. From the west, Miami is the gateway to Roosevelt Lake, the Tonto National Monument, the Globe Historic District and Community Center, the Gila Historical Museum and the San Carlos Apache Nation. Visitors also may travel to the Globe/Miami area via a loop that includes State Route 88, the “Apache Trail,” which passes the four dams and lakes on the Salt River through rugged mountains and imposing saguaros. The Tonto National Monument introduces the area’s prehistory.

Community Facilities

The communities combine to offer a broad range of facilities including an art gallery, several museums, two libraries, two golf courses, a four-plex theater, two swimming pools, six parks and several baseball fields. The Community Concert Series and community theater also are popular. Gila Community College is associated with Eastern Arizona College and offers a full range of programs.