Inspiration, Arizona
{{Short description|Abandoned town in Gila County, Arizona, US}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
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{{Infobox settlement
|name = Inspiration, Arizona
|official_name =
|settlement_type = Populated place
|nickname =
|motto =
|image_skyline = File:Inspiration Mine in 1916.jpg
|imagesize = 300
|image_caption = Inspiration Mine in 1916
|image_flag =
|image_seal =
|pushpin_map = USA Arizona#USA
|pushpin_label = Inspiration
|pushpin_label_position =
|pushpin_map_caption = Location within the state of Arizona
|pushpin_mapsize =
|image_map =
|map_caption = Location within Gila County
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = United States
|subdivision_type1 = State
|subdivision_name1 = Arizona
|subdivision_type2 = County
|subdivision_name2 = Gila
|government_footnotes =
|government_type =
|leader_title =
|leader_name =
|leader_title1 =
|leader_name1 =
|established_title =
|established_date =
|area_footnotes =
|area_magnitude =
|area_total_sq_mi =
|area_land_sq_mi =
|area_water_sq_mi =
|population_as_of = 2010
|population_footnotes =
|population_total =
|population_density_sq_mi = auto
|timezone = Mountain (MST)
|utc_offset = -7
|timezone_DST = MST
|utc_offset_DST = -7
|elevation_footnotes = {{Cite GNIS|30392|Feature Detail Report for: Inspiration}}
|elevation_ft = 3927
|elevation_m = 1197
|coordinates = {{coord|33|24|45|N|110|53|00|W|region:US_type:city_source:GNIS|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type = ZIP codes
|postal_code =
|area_code = 928
|blank_name = FIPS code
|blank_info = {{FIPS|04|35450}}
|blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
|blank1_info = {{GNIS4|30392}}
|website =
|footnotes =
}}
Inspiration is a ghost town in Gila County, Arizona, in the United States.{{cite web | url=http://arizona.hometownlocator.com/az/navajo/indian-pine.cfm | publisher=AZ Hometown Locator| title=Inspiration (in Gila County, AZ) Populated Place Profile | access-date=November 28, 2016}} It has an estimated elevation of {{convert|3927|ft|m}} above sea level. Inspiration was the company town for the Inspiration copper 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.{{cite book|last1=Moyer|first1=Armond|last2=Moyer|first2=Winifred|title=The origins of unusual place-names|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89058322223;view=1up;seq=73|year=1958|publisher=Keystone Pub. Associates|page=68}} According to tradition, the area was so named when a local prospector dreamed of finding a mine, and his dream came true.{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8BoyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BKIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1249%2C9959181 | title=Whimsical names mark Arizona towns | work=Reading Eagle | date=April 15, 2001 | access-date=April 23, 2015 | author=Blackwood, Alisa | pages=E11}} A post office called Inspiration was established in 1917, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1983.{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=AZ&county=Gila&searchtext=&pagenum=2 | title=Gila County | publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | access-date=October 8, 2014}}
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.[http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/az/inspiration.html Inspiration ghost town]. Accessed June 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. 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, which renamed it the Miami Mine.
References
{{Reflist}}
File:Malachite-Quartz-Chrysocolla-122758.jpg-Quartz-Chrysocolla from Inspiration Mine. The white quartz crystals are on a layer of malachite, which is in turn on a layer of chrysocolla. Size: 15.2 x 13.4 x 6.4 cm. |left|350px]]
Featured in the film "A Kiss Before Dying " 1956 MGM Robert Wagner Joanne Woodward.
{{Commons category|Inspiration Mine}}
{{Gila County, Arizona}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Ghost towns in Arizona