National Register Listings in
Cochise County, Arizona

Apache Powder Historic Residential District Barfoot Lookout Complex Bear Spring House, Guardhouse, and Spring Benson Historic Barrio Benson Railroad Historic District Bisbee Historic District Bisbee Residential Historic District (Additional Documentation) Bisbee Woman's Club Clubhouse Bowie School District No. 14 Briscoe, Benjamin E., House Camp Naco Historic District Chiricahua National Monument Historic Designed Landscape Cima Park Fire Guard Station Cochise Hotel Coronado National Memorial Crowley House Douglas Historic District Douglas Municipal Airport Douglas Residential Historic District Douglas Sonoran Historic District Douglas Underpass Douglas, Walter, House El Paso and Southwestern Railroad Passenger Depot-Douglas El Paso and Southwestern Railroad YMCA Evergreen Cemetery Faraway Ranch Historic District Fort Bowie National Historic Site Fort Huachuca Fry Pioneer Cemetery Gadsden Hotel Geronimo Surrender Site Grand Theatre Gung'l, John, House Hereford Bridge Hi Wo Company Grocery Hooker Town House Johnson-Tillotson House Kinjockity Ranch Martinez, W. D., General Merchadise Store Mee, Joe, House Monte Vista Lookout Cabin Morgan House Mountain View Officers' Club Muheim House Murray Springs Clovis Site Naco Border Station Norton, John H., and Company Store Oasis Court Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church Pearce General Store Phelps Dodge General Office Building Portal Ranger Station Railroad Avenue Historic District Redfield-Romine House Rustler Park Fire Guard Station Sacred Heart Church San Bernardino Ranch Saxon, Harry, House Schilling Ranch Historic District Schwertner House Silver Peak Lookout Complex Smith, J.H., Grocery Store and Filling Station Smith-Beck House Soto, Pablo, House St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church St. Paul's Episcopal Church Stafford Cabin Tombstone City Hall Tombstone Courthouse Tombstone Historic District Treu, John, House Treu, Max, Territorial Meat Company U.S. Inspection Station-Douglas, Arizona US Post Office and Customs House-Douglas Main Willcox Women's Club Wilson, J. C., House
Before becoming a US territory in 1848, Arizona was part of Mexico. The Mexican government established the region as part of the state of Sonora, but it later became its own separate territory.
Arizona random facts
Cochise County, located in southeastern Arizona, has a rich and diverse history that spans thousands of years. The area was originally home to various indigenous populations, including the Apache, Hohokam, and Sobaipuri people. These native groups lived off the land, hunting and practicing agricultural techniques, leaving behind remarkable artifacts and heritage sites.

The arrival of European settlers in the late 17th century brought significant changes to the region. The Spanish established missions and presidios, seeking to convert the native people to Christianity and assert control over the area. However, conflicts between the Apache and Spanish colonizers were frequent, as the Apache fiercely defended their territory and resisted colonization.

In the mid-19th century, tensions escalated in Cochise County as white settlers encroached upon Apache lands. One of the most notable figures of this time was Cochise, a prominent Apache chief who resisted the encroachment and fought against the US Army. Notorious conflicts such as the Battle of Apache Pass and the Apache Wars became synonymous with the region's history.

The establishment of mining towns in the late 19th century greatly influenced the development of Cochise County. Silver, gold, and copper mines attracted a wave of immigrants, creating bustling towns like Tombstone and Bisbee. These towns prospered for several decades, but by the early 20th century, the mining industry declined, leading to economic hardships for the county.

Today, Cochise County is known for its stunning landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and vibrant communities. It continues to attract visitors with its historical sites, including Tombstone's historic district and the Chiricahua National Monument, while embracing its Native American roots and celebrating the diverse cultural influences that have shaped the region.

This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Cochise County, Arizona.

  • 1850: Cochise County lands become part of the United States through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
  • 1860: The Butterfield Overland Mail establishes a stagecoach route through present-day Cochise County.
  • 1861: Cochise County is officially established as a county in the Arizona Territory.
  • 1877: Tombstone is founded and becomes one of the most prosperous mining towns in the region.
  • 1881: The infamous gunfight at the O.K. Corral takes place in Tombstone.
  • 1886: Cochise County witnesses the surrender of Geronimo, marking the end of the Apache Wars.
  • 1915: The Cochise County Courthouse in Bisbee is completed, reflecting the wealth and importance of the mining industry.
  • 1961: The closure of the Bisbee copper mines leads to a decline in the county's economy.
  • 2003: The border town of Douglas becomes a key entry point for drug smuggling from Mexico.