Bradshaw City, Arizona
Encyclopedia
Bradshaw City was a mining camp in Yavapai County, Arizona
, it is now a ghost town. Originally established in the 1860s, Bradshaw City was a haven for many of the early pioneer
s of Arizona. The town died out in the mid to late 1880s.
, dozens of mining towns sprung up around and on top of the mountains over time. The City was named after William Bradshaw
who first discovered gold around the area in 1863. The Bradshaw Mining District was also named after him. Bradshaw City was founded on the northwest side of Mount Wasson. At first the settlement was literally a camp but due to the vast pine forrests all over the Bradshaw Mountains, stone and lumber was quickly used to build permanent structures. Multiple saloons, stores, restaurants, a barber shop, a stage and a meat market along with two hotels accommodated the large population of around 5,000. Bradshaw City's nearest major settlement was Prescott
, thirty miles away. Settlers could travel for free on the only wagon-accessible road.
A man named Simpson operated a wagon train and apparently did not mind the company for over two days, which is how long it took to travel between Prescott and Bradshaw City during the frontier era. The only other route known to have been that leads to Bradshaw City was through Minnehaha Flat and then through a five mile steep mountain trail, rendering a wagon or anything on wheel too large to make the trip. In 1871 the mine was complete at nearby Tiger
and the city flourished for a few years. A post office was constructed in 1874. The town officials suspected 10,000 to 20,000 people would eventually settle there but unfortunately the 1880s were just ahead, a time when many Arizona towns became ghosts, just as Bradshaw City did. The post office was closed in 1884.
Little of the city can be found today. One of Bradshaw City's saloons can be visited in Crown King
, as it was moved there, a post office was taken from the city also and can still be found.
"We learn from Mr. Grant that William Bradshaw, of Bradshaw route notoriety, well known to miners and mountaineers, committed suicide at La Paz on the 2nd instant, by cutting his throat. Bradshaw had been on one of his "Big Benders," was probably under the influence of liquor at the time; he was pursued by ghosts, etc. He walked deliberately into a carpenter's shop, took up a drawing knife, and with one stroke nearly severed his head from his shoulders."
He probably never did this because he is a non-alcoholic as he clearly states in the journal his wife wrote about him.His wife states that he never touched a drop of liquor.
Yavapai County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*89.3% White*0.6% Black*1.7% Native American*0.8% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.5% Two or more races*5.0% Other races*13.6% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, it is now a ghost town. Originally established in the 1860s, Bradshaw City was a haven for many of the early pioneer
American pioneer
American pioneers are any of the people in American history who migrated west to join in settling and developing new areas. The term especially refers to those who were going to settle any territory which had previously not been settled or developed by European or American society, although the...
s of Arizona. The town died out in the mid to late 1880s.
History
When gold was discovered in the Bradshaw MountainsBradshaw Mountains
The Bradshaw Mountains are a mountain range in the Sonoran Desert of central Arizona, USA, named for brothers Isaac and William Bradshaw after their death, having been formerly known in English as the Silver Mountain Range.-History:...
, dozens of mining towns sprung up around and on top of the mountains over time. The City was named after William Bradshaw
William Bradshaw
William Bradshaw VC , born in Thurles, County Tipperary, was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for valour in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:He served during the Crimean War in the 50th Regiment of...
who first discovered gold around the area in 1863. The Bradshaw Mining District was also named after him. Bradshaw City was founded on the northwest side of Mount Wasson. At first the settlement was literally a camp but due to the vast pine forrests all over the Bradshaw Mountains, stone and lumber was quickly used to build permanent structures. Multiple saloons, stores, restaurants, a barber shop, a stage and a meat market along with two hotels accommodated the large population of around 5,000. Bradshaw City's nearest major settlement was Prescott
Prescott, Arizona
Prescott is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. It was designated "Arizona's Christmas City" by Arizona Governor Rose Mofford in the late 1980s....
, thirty miles away. Settlers could travel for free on the only wagon-accessible road.
A man named Simpson operated a wagon train and apparently did not mind the company for over two days, which is how long it took to travel between Prescott and Bradshaw City during the frontier era. The only other route known to have been that leads to Bradshaw City was through Minnehaha Flat and then through a five mile steep mountain trail, rendering a wagon or anything on wheel too large to make the trip. In 1871 the mine was complete at nearby Tiger
Tiger, Arizona
Tiger is a ghost town in Pinal County in the U.S. state of Arizona. The town was settled as Schultz around 1881 in what was then the Arizona Territory, then later reestablished as Tiger after World War I.-History:...
and the city flourished for a few years. A post office was constructed in 1874. The town officials suspected 10,000 to 20,000 people would eventually settle there but unfortunately the 1880s were just ahead, a time when many Arizona towns became ghosts, just as Bradshaw City did. The post office was closed in 1884.
Little of the city can be found today. One of Bradshaw City's saloons can be visited in Crown King
Crown King, Arizona
Crown King is an unincorporated community in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States, located at an elevation of 5,771 feet . Crown King has a ZIP Code of 86343; in 2000, the population of the 86343 ZCTA was 133. The site of a former gold mining town, Crown King is 28 miles west of Interstate...
, as it was moved there, a post office was taken from the city also and can still be found.
Trivia
On December 17, 1864, the Los Angeles News published this startling announcement:"We learn from Mr. Grant that William Bradshaw, of Bradshaw route notoriety, well known to miners and mountaineers, committed suicide at La Paz on the 2nd instant, by cutting his throat. Bradshaw had been on one of his "Big Benders," was probably under the influence of liquor at the time; he was pursued by ghosts, etc. He walked deliberately into a carpenter's shop, took up a drawing knife, and with one stroke nearly severed his head from his shoulders."
He probably never did this because he is a non-alcoholic as he clearly states in the journal his wife wrote about him.His wife states that he never touched a drop of liquor.