Most towns lose population slowly, gradually, over time. Jerome lost virtually everyone within a matter of decades, and the reason comes down to a single mineral. The small mountain town practically disappeared because of the mineral mined in the mountain it was built on. According to the Arizona Memory Project, Jerome's population peaked at nearly 15,000 and dropped to roughly 400 today. That single statistic captures the arc of this little mining town built into the side of Cleopatra Hill.
A copper discovery that turned a hillside into a city
Jerome could not have developed gradually. It happened suddenly when a mining company discovered one of the largest copper deposits in the United States and hired thousands of workers to extract it right away. The United Verde Mine laid the groundwork for future development when it opened in Jerome in the 1880s. According to the Arizona Geological Survey, the mine’s ore came from a huge sulfide deposit on the ancient ocean floor, and it produced copper, gold, silver, and manganese. Hardworking people traveled from across the country to Jerome for jobs as copper prices rose rapidly to meet demand for electrical wiring and equipment. By the end of the 1920s, Jerome had become a fully functional city with hotels, a hospital, saloons, and a business district at the foot of the slope where the mine was located. Therefore, housing and business developed there because the mine was necessary for the city’s existence.
