Ghost Towns: Jerome, AZ
Jerome, AZ Quick Facts
- Founded: 1876
- Abandoned: Never, current population below 500
- Drive Time from Phoenix: 1 hour, 57 minutes
- Get Directions
- Related Website: https://jeromechamber.com/
Why should I visit Jerome, AZ?
Jerome makes for a perfect day trip from Phoenix. The main attractions in Jerome are tours and museums featuring antiques from the town's glory days as a copper mining community.
The town's vibrant artisan community also puts on several events throughout the year displaying artwork and live performance.
What is the history of Jerome, AZ?
Jerome does not fit the technical definition of a "ghost town" -- it was never completely abandoned. Like many other short-lived Western communitities, Jerome was founded in the latter half of the 19th Century by prospectors looking to capitalize on the rich deposits in the rock. For Jerome, that was copper.
By the 1920's, the population had peaked to 15,000. However, when the mines closed in 1953, the population steeply declined to around 50 people just a decade later.
What is Jerome, AZ like today?
Due to local preservation efforts, Jerome was never completely abandoned, and much of the infrastructure from the town's heyday remains. The mansion overlooking the mine became Jerome State Park in 1965, comprising a renovated museum property outlining the local history.
Today, more than 500 people live in Jerome thanks to a small influx of artisans during the '60s and '70s. There are restaraurants, shops, and even a Chamber of Commerce promoting tourism to the ghost town.
Why is Jerome considered a ghost town?
In a looser sense, Jerome is a ghost town because it ceased to become economically viable. Without early preservation efforts, it likely would have died off completely.
Throughout the years, stories and rumors of actual ghosts and hauntings in Jerome have contributed to its appeal, including hauntings in the Jerome Grand Hotel.