Clarkdale, AZ progressivism (# 0500)

One interesting thing about Clarkdale that isn’t widely known is that the founder of United Verdes Copper Company, William Andrews Clark, was quite progressive. He envisioned a company town (Clarkdale) with housing for all levels of worker, good schools and hospitals, and entertainment facilities (including this auditorium) accessible to all. Construction of the town started in about 1913 and development of it continued until the Depression. Unfortunately, the Depression was the demise of UVCC and the takeover of mining/smelting operation by Phelps Dodge. The town itself remained a company town until the early 1950’s, but changes in its culture with the end of UVCC increased distrust and the town was incorporated as a separate town in 1957.

See: www.clarkdale.az.gov/history.html