In the early 1900s, it was the largest city between St. Louis and San Francisco, bustling with the raw material of Wild West legends. Bisbee, s infamous Brewery Gulch once supported 47 saloons and was considered the , liveliest spot between El Paso and San Francisco. , By the 1970s, opportunists had relieved Bisbee, s Mule Mountains of billions of pounds of copper, 102 million ounces of silver, 2. 8 million ounces of gold, and millions of pounds of zinc, lead, and manganese. The ore reserves were depleted, and when the last pickaxe struck plain old dirt, a mass exodus of miners collapsed the real estate market. But the lure of cheap land was a magnet for retirees, hippies, and artists. Boarding houses were converted into charming bed and breakfasts. Antique stores, galleries, cafes, and restaurants replaced the saloons. These days, a vibrant and eclectic community of ranchers, politicians, and free spirits; a well-preserved architectural and historic heritage; and , the most perfect year-round climate, make Bisbee, the county seat, a one-of-a-kind gem.
