Bisbee, Arizona: A Golden Triangle or Bermuda Triangle? SWAAG Fall Meeting – Fayetteville, Arkansas November 11, 2005 Presented By: Bryant Evans, Houston Community College Focus Area: Bisbee, Arizona • Location: Approximately 100 miles southeast of Tucson, Arizona • Founded: 1880 • Year 2000 Population: 6,090 (Source: Census) • Est. 2004 Population: 6,390 (Source: AZ DES) Bisbee: Then and Now • “During almost a century of mining, 8 billion pounds of copper” were produced out of Bisbee. – Source: City of Bisbee Source: Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum • Bisbee is “now home to an eclectic mix of painters, poets, entrepreneurs, and retirees.” – Source: Modern Maturity The Bisbee Triangle • Bisbee’s three major districts – Old Bisbee, Warren, and San Jose – are geographically separated from one another, forming a roughly triangular shape around Lavender Pit in the Mule Mountains of Arizona. • Does Bisbee and its three primary districts have a past and future course that more closely resembles… • A Golden Triangle? – Full of promise, prosperity and optimism – A cohesive, smoothly functioning whole OR • The Bermuda Triangle? – A place of mystery, uncertainty, and loss – Disrupted and at risk of disappearance Source: www.goldenpalace.co.uk Primary Questions • How has Bisbee’s community-identity shifted since the mine closures of the 1970’s? – How have the three main districts of Bisbee transformed since the mine closures? • What unites and divides Bisbee? – What are the attitudes of residents of Bisbee’s three primary districts regarding preservation and growth? – How do attitudes on different issues play out in the community’s overall dynamic? Framework/Themes of Research • Place Identity (Milligan, Cuba & Hummon) • Place History (Massey) • Perspectives on Bisbee (Schwantes, Price) • Mining Landscapes (Francaviglia) • Place Perception (Tuan, Meinig) Old Bisbee • Original town site: 1880 • Heart of local Phelps Dodge operations in mining days • Home to the county courthouse • After mine closures, drew in many “hippies” • Today: the primary focus of tourism within Bisbee Warren • Development began in 1907 to accommodate Bisbee’s growth • Planned community • City Beautiful movement • Home to Warren Ball Park • Today: quiet, residential orientation; home to many city services today San Jose • The “youngest” of the three districts • Developed rapidly in 1950’s to accommodate open-pit miners and their families • Residential orientation during the mining years • Since mine closures, has become a focal point of local commerce Historic Character and Growth • MEAN RANK VALUE • Statement Old Bisbee San Jose Warren • “I want for Bisbee to • preserve its historic 4.71 4.44 4.55 • character.” • “I want for Bisbee to • promote growth and 2.85 3.68 3.56 development.” • ___________________________________________________________ • *Note - Figures are mean values on a five point scale, ranging from • 1 =not at all to 5=very much Source: 2000 Bisbee Survey Perceived Degree of Change • Yes, changed Yes, changed • District a lot somewhat No Total • Old Bisbee 46.2% 38.5% 15.4% 100% (N=52) • San Jose 26.8% 56.3% 16.9% 100% (N=71) • Warren 37.3% 56.7% 6.0% 100% (N=150) _______________________________________________________ • Total 36.3% 53.1% 10.6% 100% (N=273) Source: 2000 Bisbee Survey Conclusions • Community-Identity: More multidimensional, complex than in the past • Unity and Division: Different issues facing the three districts, but common desire to maintain Bisbee’s uniqueness/character • Golden Triangle or Bermuda Triangle? To be determined, but Bisbee appears poised to remain a viable community for many years to come.