Douglas Residential Historic District
Roughly bounded by Twelfth St., Carmelita Ave., Seventh St., and East Ave., Douglas, AZThe architectural significance of the Douglas Historic Residential District lies in its great consistency of architectural styles and scale. Uninterrupted streetscapes provide this center-city residential area with a strong sense of place. Bungalow building forms are predominant. Most buildings are one-and-a-half stories. The extensive use of locally produced cast stone also gives this district and community a distinct character. The major growth period of Douglas was between 1901 and the mid-1930s. The period of significance for this district during which the majority of structures were built is 1900 to 1935. This was the principal middle and upper-class residential area and was occupied by the Douglas "Four Hundred." Most of these citizens lived in that portion of the neighborhood bounded by 8th and 15th Streets, and D and Carmelita Avenues. This district served the upper-class Mexican as well as the Anglo population. This accounts for the concentration of large mansions in the district. A sizable Mexican population lived immediately to the south, toward the International Boundary.
Inasmuch as the principal period of community growth corresponds to the development of this area, the prevalent architectural styles of the time are evident in the district. Late Queen Anne and Bungalow forms constitute the majority of structures. The Bungalow expression was popular for a longer period and therefore is more greatly represented.
The Douglas Historic Residential District is similar to several other Southern Arizona center-city residential areas of the early twentieth century. It is unusual, however, in the number of resources built of the locally produced gypsum cast-stone building units.
While other sizable communities reveal cohesive neighborhoods from these same years, they frequently have identifiable sub-zones where particular styles dominate. Smaller communities may have the mix exhibited in this district but they are correspondingly smaller in size. Thus, Douglas exhibits one of the larger known inner-city concentrations of a full range of architectural expressions of the first four decades of this century: Queen Anne Revival, Bungalow, and Period Revivals. The collection of buildings includes all major building materials employed during the period: brick, adobe, frame, stone, and cast stone.
Local significance of the district:
Inasmuch as the principal period of community growth corresponds to the development of this area, the prevalent architectural styles of the time are evident in the district. Late Queen Anne and Bungalow forms constitute the majority of structures. The Bungalow expression was popular for a longer period and therefore is more greatly represented.
The Douglas Historic Residential District is similar to several other Southern Arizona center-city residential areas of the early twentieth century. It is unusual, however, in the number of resources built of the locally produced gypsum cast-stone building units.
While other sizable communities reveal cohesive neighborhoods from these same years, they frequently have identifiable sub-zones where particular styles dominate. Smaller communities may have the mix exhibited in this district but they are correspondingly smaller in size. Thus, Douglas exhibits one of the larger known inner-city concentrations of a full range of architectural expressions of the first four decades of this century: Queen Anne Revival, Bungalow, and Period Revivals. The collection of buildings includes all major building materials employed during the period: brick, adobe, frame, stone, and cast stone.
Architecture; Social History
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
About National Register Listings
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
The Bisbee Deportation was a dark period in Arizona's labor history: In 1917, the town of Bisbee was the site of a large-scale labor strike by copper miners. The strike was broken up by vigilantes who rounded up more than a thousand strikers, put them on trains, and sent them out of town. Many of the strikers were forced to walk back to Bisbee, and some were beaten and abused along the way.
About Cochise County
Cochise County Timeline
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.
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.
Cochise County Timeline
This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history 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.