Globe and Miami, which have been important copper mining centers for more than a century, are colorful communities about four miles apart in east-central Arizona. Both are located in a steep canyon, at 3,500 feet, in the Pinal Mountains of southern Gila County. Globe is the county seat. U.S. 60 connects them.

Globe was founded as a mining town in 1876 because of ample water and its attractive location for distribution of mining products, The city was incorporated twice prior to its present incorporation in 1907. 

Miami was founded by Black Jack Newman as a camp near his copper mine. He named the camp, Mima, after his fiancée, Mima Tune. The name was distorted, however, and the town incorporated in 1918 as Miami.

More than 20 percent of the employment in Globe and Miami is related to mining and production of copper. Over half of Gila County's sizable manufacturing sector employment is in copper smelting, refining or rod production, In the area, there are three copper mines, several concentrators, a smelter and a rod mill. All of Gila County is a designated Enterprise Zone.

  The local tourism industry has been enhanced by a $50 million investment by the federal government to provide recreational campgrounds and amenities at nearby Roosevelt Lake.  

Meandering westerly from Globe-Miami is the famous Apache Trail. This 98-mile trek on state Highway 88 provides more insight into the character of Arizona than possibly any other section of road in the state. Along the roadway, imposing saguaros, rugged mountains jutting out of the desert, and four lakes created by dams on the Salt River give the traveler a glimpse of Arizona's beauty and diversity. The newly designed "Old West Highway" continues eastward to Lordsburg New Mexico.

The Besh-ba-Gowah Indian Ruin is adjacent to the Globe Community Center. The partially restored ruin and the adjacent museum and visitor center provide a glimpse of the lifestyle of people who occupied the region more than two centuries before Columbus discovered the New World. A botanical garden has been developed with native flora. The downtown areas of Globe and Miami are rich in historic buildings and a self-guided walking tour is available. In downtown Globe, the historic Gila County Courthouse, built in 1906, is being restored and houses the Cobre Valley Center for the Arts.

The Boyce Thompson Southwest Arboretum with its collection of more than 10,000 desert cacti, flowers and trees is about 25 miles southwest of Miami. The Gila County Museum has a fine collection of artifacts dating from 1125 to 1400 A D from the Salado Indians.

Fishing, hunting, white water rafting and sightseeing are popular with residents and visitors, Roosevelt Lake, 25 miles from Globe via state Highway 88, is one of the Southwest's finest bass lakes. Tonto National Monument is also nearby.  

Located five miles east of Globe is the San Carlos Apache Nation. San Carlos is the home of the Apache Gold Casino, Apache Stronghold 18-hole golf course, San Carlos Lake and the San Carlos Apache Cultural Center.

Contact Information

Telephone

800-804-5623

520-425-4495

FAX

520-425-3410

Physical address

1360 N Broad Street

Mailing address

        P O Box 2539

Globe AZ 85502

Electronic mail

sheldon@cybertrails.com

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Copyright © 2000 Globe/Miami Chamber of Commerce
Last modified: May 21, 2001