Christmas, AZ

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Christmas, Gila CoUNTY, Arizona is, or I should say, WAS a wonderful little copper mining town that catered to folks that desired a CHRISTMAS postmark on their mail. From 1905-1935 the Christmas Post Office would be inundated by cards and letters of folks looking for a special postmark to add to their collection

The copper mines here were discovered around 1880, but the miners who initially staked claims here quickly sold out to the Phelps Dodge Corporation. However, in 1884, they were booted as those claims were discovered to be within the boundaries of the San Carlos Apache Reservation

In December 1902 the boundaries of the reservation were “adjusted” and claims were re-staked on Christmas day. As the miners came, so did a town, and by 1925 about 1000 folks called Christmas home

The boom lasted until 1932, and in 1935 the post office finally shut its doors, ending 30 years of special postmarks

Today, Christmas is not available for a visit, as it sits on private property about a mile west of State Highway 77 eight miles northeast of Winkelman and south of Globe. It is slightly visible from the main highway, but one has to try to see it in the greenery off to the west. GNIS aerial photos show numerous buildings and what appear to be large water tanks remaining.

· Corner of Secs 21, 22, 29, 31, T4S, R16E, Gila & Salt River Meridian

· Latitude: 33.0622863 / 33° 03' 44" N

· Longitude: -110.7426052 / 110° 44' 33" W

This was our GHOST TOWN OF THE MONTH for December 2003.

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FIRST POSTED: December 01, 2003

LAST UPDATED: September 19, 2009

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