Fairbank is a well-preserved ghost town in Cochise County, Arizona, situated along the banks of the San Pedro River in the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Located approximately 10 miles west of the famous mining boomtown of Tombstone, Fairbank’s history is closely tied to the silver mining rush of the late 19th century, railroad development, and the rugged frontier life of the American Old West.
Prehistoric and Early Settlement
The site of Fairbank has evidence of human occupation dating back centuries. Archaeological findings indicate a significant Hohokam settlement during the Colonial period (AD 750–850), with pit houses, features, and artifacts suggesting a dense village. Later, in the 18th century, the area was home to a Native American village known as Santa Cruz de Gaybanipitea. The region also fell within an old Mexican land grant, the San Juan de las Boquillas y Nogales.
Founding and Boom Period (1880s)
Euro-American settlement began in the late 1870s as a simple stagecoach stop called Junction City, serving traffic to nearby Tombstone. The arrival of the railroad transformed the site:
- In 1881, the New Mexico and Arizona Railroad (later part of the El Paso and Southwestern Railroad system) extended through the area, establishing a key line connecting Benson to Sonora.
- A railroad station was constructed in 1882, prompting rapid growth.
- The town went through name changes: Junction City → Kendall → Fairbanks → officially Fairbank on May 16, 1883, the same day the post office opened. The name honored Nathaniel Kellogg Fairbank, a Chicago investor and merchant who helped finance the railroad and had interests in Tombstone-area mining (including the Grand Central Mining Company).
Fairbank’s strategic location made it the closest railhead to Tombstone, which boomed to around 14,000–15,000 residents in the early 1880s during the silver mining peak. The town served as a vital transportation hub:
- Supplies arrived by rail for Tombstone.
- Silver ore from Tombstone mines was shipped out via Fairbank to mills in nearby Contention City and Charleston.
- A stagecoach line connected Fairbank to Tombstone.
By 1886, Fairbank had a population of about 100 residents and supported a variety of businesses, including:
- A steam quartz mill
- General store
- Butcher shop
- Restaurant
- Saloon
- Wells Fargo office
- Railroad depot
- Stagecoach station
Notable Events: The Fairbank Train Robbery (1900)
Fairbank’s most famous incident occurred on the night of February 15, 1900, when the Burt Alvord Gang (including Bill Stiles, “Three Fingered Jack” Dunlop, and others) attempted to rob a Wells Fargo express car at the depot. The gang targeted the train while it was stopped in town.
The robbery was thwarted by legendary lawman Jeff Milton, who was guarding the express car. In the ensuing shootout:
- Milton was severely wounded (his arm shattered by a bullet).
- He killed Dunlop with a shotgun blast.
- One bandit was wounded.
- The gang fled without the loot.
This event highlighted the lingering lawlessness of the frontier even as the region transitioned away from its wildest days.
Decline and Abandonment (20th Century)
As Tombstone’s silver mines flooded and declined after the 1880s–1890s, Fairbank’s importance waned. The town shifted toward ranching and smaller-scale activities.
- In 1901, the Boquillas Land and Cattle Company purchased the site (on the old Mexican land grant) and maintained some operations.
- Population fluctuated: around 171 in 1900, peaking at 269 in 1920, then steadily declining.
- By mid-century, only a handful of residents remained (50 in 1950, 75 in 1960).
- The post office closed earlier, and the last residents departed in the early 1970s (town recorded as 0 population by 1970).
Modern Preservation
In 1986, the Bureau of Land Management incorporated the site into the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area to protect the river ecosystem and historic remnants. Fairbank is now recognized as one of Arizona’s best-preserved ghost towns, with surviving structures including the restored schoolhouse, a few foundations, the old cemetery, and interpretive trails.
Visitors can explore the site via hiking paths, learning about its role in Arizona’s mining and railroad history. The area’s natural setting along the San Pedro River adds to its appeal as a quiet remnant of the Old West.
Fairbank’s brief but pivotal existence encapsulates the boom-and-bust cycle of frontier Arizona: born from railroad expansion and mining wealth, it faded as those industries declined, leaving behind a haunting but protected legacy.