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Cochise County
Cochise
County
was
named for the renowned Apache chief in 1881,when it
was established during the 11th Territorial Assembly. Archeological
finds date civilization along the San Pedro River to 9000-6000 B.C..,
when members of the Clovis civilization inhabited the area.
Tombstone,
one
of
the largest cities in the western United States in
1881, was designated the first county seat. Tombstone s silver mines
flooded in 1887, devastating the community, but the county seat stayed
in Tombstone, the town too tough to die, until 1929 when Bisbee became
the county seat.
Like
Tombstone,
Bisbee
was a mining town site of the Copper Queen Mine
and famous Lavender Pit, discovered in 1877. Mining continued there
through much of the 20th century. Today Bisbee is a popular artist
community and tourist destination.
Benson,
founded
in
1880, is on 1-10 at the gateway to Kartchner Caverns
State Park. Some 30 miles south are the thriving communities of Sierra
Vista, by far the largest city in the county, and Huachuca City. Both
are economic neighbors of Fort Huachuca, one of the largest civilian
employers in southern Arizona. Fort Bowie, Coronado National Memorial
and the Chiricahua National Monument are national park facilities.
Cochise
County
also
is an important agricultural area. With 6,219
square miles, Cochise is as big as Rhode Island and Connecticut
combined. Once known as the Cattle Capital of the nation, Wilcox is the
home of the largest weekly caftle auction in Arizona. Specialty crops
and livestock, including exotic animals, play an important role in the
local economy. Douglas, once dependent upon mining and agriculture, has
developed a manufacturing base because of its location on the
U.S-Mexico border. All of Cochise County has been designated as an
Enterprise Zone, except the northeast section of the county.
Cochise
is
one
of only three counties in Arizona without an Indian
reservation. Individual and corporate ownership account for 40 percent
of the land; the state of Arizona, 35 percent; the U.S. Forest Service
and Bureau of Land Management, 22 percent; and other public lands
comprise the remaining 4 percent.
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