__NOTOC__ Inspiration is a

ghost town Ghost Town(s) or Ghosttown may refer to: * Ghost town, a town that has been abandoned Film and television * Ghost Town (1936 film), ''Ghost Town'' (1936 film), an American Western film by Harry L. Fraser * Ghost Town (1956 film), ''Ghost Town'' ...

in Gila County, Arizona, in the United States. It has an estimated elevation of above sea level. Inspiration was the

company town A company town is a place where practically all stores and housing are owned by the one company that is also the main employer. Company towns are often planned with a suite of amenities such as stores, houses of worship, schools, markets and re ...

for the Inspiration 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. According to tradition, the area was so named when a local prospector dreamed of finding a mine, and his dream came true. A post office called Inspiration was established in 1917, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1983. 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. Inspiration ghost town
Accessed 6/24/2018

Inspiration mine

The rich Inspiration copper mine opened in 1911. It was promoted by

Boyce Thompson Boyce Thompson, Jr. (born October 1, 1955) is an American magazine editor and the author of five books, including ''The Forever Home'' (Schiffer 2023) and ''Lincoln’s Lost Colony'': The Black Emigration Scheme of Bernard Kock (McFarland 2023) ...

, who owned the nearby

Magma mine Superior (Western Apache: Yooʼ Łigai) is a town in Pinal County, Arizona. According to the 2020 census, the population of the town is 2,407. Superior was founded as a mining town for the Silver King and the later Magma mines; silver was mined ...

Superior, Arizona Superior (Western Apache: Yooʼ Łigai) is a town in Pinal County, Arizona. According to the 2020 census, the population of the town is 2,407. Superior was founded as a mining town for the Silver King and the later Magma mines; silver was mined ...

. 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, who renamed it the

Miami mine Miami (Western Apache: Goshtłʼish Tú) is a town in Gila County, Arizona, United States. Miami is a classic Western copper boom-town. Miami's old downtown has been partly renovated, and the Bullion Plaza Museum features the cultural, minin ...

References

Featured in the film "A Kiss Before Dying " 1956 MGM Robert Wagner Joanne Woodward. {{authority control Unincorporated communities in Gila County, Arizona Unincorporated communities in Arizona