__NOTOC__ Inspiration is a

ghost town Ghost Town(s) or Ghosttown may refer to: * Ghost town, a town that has been abandoned Film and television * ''Ghost Town'' (1936 film), an American Western film by Harry L. Fraser * ''Ghost Town'' (1956 film), an American Western film by All ...

Gila County, Arizona Gila County ( ) is in the central part of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2020 census, the population was 53,272. The county seat is Globe. Gila County comprises the Payson, Arizona Micropolitan Statistical Area. Gila County contains ...

, in the United States. It has an estimated elevation of above sea level. Inspiration was the company town for the Inspiration mine. The old Inspiration townsite is on company property, and is not accessible to the general public.

History

Inspiration had its start as a copper-mining settlement. According to tradition, the area was so named when a local prospector dreamed of finding a mine, and his dream came true. A post office called Inspiration was established in 1917, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1983. At its peak population, Inspiration had between 350 and 400 people. There were 89 houses, three duplex apartment houses, the Benjamin Franklin School, the Warrior Store and service station, the Inspiration Post Office, and the telephone office. As of 2013, only the school building, the gas station, and some walls and foundations remain. Inspiration ghost town
Accessed 6/24/2018

Inspiration mine

The rich Inspiration copper mine opened in 1911. It was promoted by Boyce Thompson, who owned the nearby Magma mine in

Superior, Arizona Superior ( Western Apache: Yooʼ Łigai) is a town in Pinal County, Arizona. According to the 2020 census, the population of the town is 2,407. Superior was founded as a mining town for the Silver King and the later Magma mines; silver was min ...

. He retained a 15% interest in the Inspiration Consolidated Copper Company when that was founded in 1915. The mine is currently operated by

Freeport-McMoran Freeport-McMoRan Inc., often called Freeport, is an American mining company based in the Freeport-McMoRan Center, in Phoenix, Arizona. The company is the world's largest producer of molybdenum, is a major copper producer and operates the world's ...

, who renamed it the Miami mine.

References

Featured in the film "A Kiss Before Dying " 1956 MGM Robert Wagner Joanne Woodward. {{authority control Unincorporated communities in Gila County, Arizona Unincorporated communities in Arizona