The Strange History Of Bisbee, Arizona’s Name

Located in the Southeastern corner of Arizona, nestled in the heart of the Old West, lies the small, quaint town of Bisbee, Arizona.

Nowadays, Bisbee is an artist's hippie haven, full of unique architecture, stunning murals, and a vibrant culture, but its origins were the furthest thing from that...

Why Was Bisbee Founded?

Bisbee's origins are well known. In 1877, just three years before Tombstone popped up just a few miles east, a prospector made a massive discovery: Copper. There wasn't just some copper here, the earth below the Mule Mountains was full of the stuff.

The Copper Queen Mine that Made Bisbee, AZ World Famous

As such, a massive camp was established with the sole purpose of mining the earth to bring out as much copper as possible. As such, the camp exploded into a full blown city, the largest between Houston and Los Angeles. Not long after, the issue of a name for the settlement arose...

Want More Cochise County History? Check Out The Origins and Growth of Douglas, Arizona!

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Why is Bisbee Named Bisbee?

As the mining operations grew, it officially became the Copper Queen Mine, owned by Phelps Dodge and Company. A part owner of them? Judge DeWitt Bisbee of San Francisco. He brought mining operations to the Mule Mountains in 1880, and folks loved him for it.

No Photos or Portraits Exist of the Elusive Judge DeWitt Bisbee

When the town was incorporated in 1902, the city lovingly named themselves after the Judge, and thus, Bisbee, Arizona was born. Despite how much the residents loved him, the Judge never actually stepped foot in the city, or anywhere near it, instead acting as a silent benefactor to keep the city (and his own pockets) growing.