Tombstone is a city located in Cochise County, Arizona, USA, founded in 1879 in what was then the Arizona Territory. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 1,504, a decline from its early years when its population was larger than San Francisco's.
Tombstone is located at 31°42'57" North, 110°3'53" West (31.715940, -110.064827).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.1 km2 (4.3 mi2). 11.1 km2 (4.3 mi2) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
As of the census of 2000, there are 1,504 people, 694 households, and 419 families residing in the city. The population density is 135.0/km2 (349.8/mi2). There are 839 housing units at an average density of 75.3/km2 (195.1/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 87.37% White, 0.60% Black or African American, 1.00% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 8.18% from other races, and 2.53% from two or more races. 24.14% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 694 households out of which 20.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% are married couples living together, 7.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% are non-families. 32.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 15.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.17 and the average family size is 2.73.
In the city the population is spread out with 19.3% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 19.9% from 25 to 44, 32.5% from 45 to 64, and 23.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 49 years. For every 100 females there are 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 91.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $26,571, and the median income for a family is $33,750. Males have a median income of $26,923 versus $18,846 for females. The per capita income for the city is $15,447. 17.4% of the population and 13.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 22.6% of those under the age of 18 and 13.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
In the summer of 1877 prospector Ed Schieffelin was working the hills east of the San Pedro River in the southeast portion of the Arizona Territory, when he came across a vein of very rich silver ore in a high plateau called Gooseneck Flats. When Schieffelin filed his mining claim, he named it the "Tombstone" in honor of the irony of the situation. Others had told him that the only thing he would find among the waterless hills and warring Apaches, would be his tombstone.
Tombstone city was founded in 1879, taking its name from the mining claim, and soon became a boomtown. Fueled by mine wealth, within three years Tombstone became one of the most sophisticated towns west of the Rockies, with a population between 5,000 and 15,000, and services including refrigeration, ice and ice cream, running water, telegraph and limited telephone service. An extensive service industry (laundry, construction, restaurants etc.) was provided by Chinese immigrants.
Unfortunately, without railroad access, during this time Tombstone was also relatively isolated in the middle of desert federal territory which remained unpopulated and wild. In these circumstances, Tombstone and its surrounding countryside also became known as one of the deadliest regions in the West. In and near Tombstone, uncivilized southern gangs from the surrounding countryside, known as "cow-boys" were at odds with the northern capitalists and immigrant miners who ran the town and mines. On October 26, 1881 this situation famously exploded in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.
After the mid 1880's when the silver mines had been tapped out and became flooded with deep groundwater, Tombstone declined.
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Tombstone, AZ
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