Fairbank (Fairbanks), Cochise County, Arizona, USAi

Regional Level Types
Fairbank (Fairbanks)	- not defined -
Cochise County	County
Arizona	State
USA	Country

An occurrence near Fairbanks.

Fairbank, Cochise County Arizona Description
By Rolf Luetcke

Fairbank, also known as Fairbanks, is a railroad town that was first settled in 1881. The settlement was built at the same location as an early Native American village named Santa Cruz, dating back to the 1700’s. The other road from Tombstone to the San Pedro River went to Charleston and was hilly so they looked for a more level area to build the rail line to Tombstone.
Fairbank got the railroad station in 1882 and a stage depot in 1885. A post office was established in 1883. The population of Fairbank grew from a handfull at its beginnings to about 100 residents in the 1880’s and at its peak in 1890 to 478 residents.
The rail line between Fairbank and Tombstone is about 12 miles long and went along side Walnut Gulch. The rail line was begun in 1887 since the freight costs to Charleston and Contention were so high. Bisbee was at its peak mining copper ores at the Copper Queen and nearby mines and since the canyon at Bisbee was narrow, they needed something to get rid of the mine overburden. The new line at Fairbank was an ideal place to take the mine tailings and clear space in Bisbee. The rise and fall of silver prices delayed the completion of the rail line with track until 1902.
Fairbank remained a town until the 1970’s, when the last residents left and the post office closed. The few buildings of Fairbank lay in ruin until the San Pedro Riparian conservation area was established and buildings were fixed up and it became a hub for nature activities.
There is a highway, State route 82, which runs from near Tombstone west toward Sonoita and passes right through Fairbank.

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