| Jerome, Arizona | |
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| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | Yavapai |
| Area | |
| - Total | 0.7 sq mi (1.8 km²) |
| - Land | 0.7 sq mi (1.8 km²) |
| - Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²) |
| Elevation | 5,080 ft (1,548 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 343 |
| - Density | 462.1/sq mi (178.4/km²) |
| Time zone | MST (UTC-7) |
| ZIP code | 86331 |
| Area code(s) | 928 |
| FIPS code | 04-36290 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0030522 |
Jerome is a town in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town is 343.[1]
Contents |
History
The area around what is now Jerome was mined for silver and copper since the Spanish colonial era when Arizona was part of New Spain.
Mining
A mining camp named Jerome was established atop "Cleopatra Hill" in 1883. It was named for Eugene Murray Jerome, a New York investor who owned the mineral rights and financed mining there. Eugene Jerome never visited his namesake town. Jerome was incorporated as a town on 8 March, 1889. The town housed the workers in the nearby United Verde Mine, which was said to produce over 1 billion dollars in ore over the next 70 years. Jerome was reincorporated as a city in 1899 and a building code specifying brick or masonry construction instituted to end the frequent fires that had repeatedly burned up sections of the town previously. Jerome became a notorious "wild west" town, a hotbed of prostitution, gambling, and vice. On 5 February, 1903, the New York Sun proclaimed Jerome to be "the wickedest town in the West". In 1915 the population of Jerome was estimated at 2,500.
Jerome Deportation
Starting in May of 1917 there was a series of miners strikes, in part organized by the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). On 10 July of that year armed agents of the mine owners roughly rounded up all the labor union organizers and unionized miners on to railroad cattle cars, on 12 July letting them out near Kingman, Arizona after they were warned not to return to Jerome if they valued their lives. This incident is known as the Jerome Deportation. This event would ultimately serve as a prelude to the larger and more well-known Bisbee Deportation.
Great Jerome Fire
In 1918 fires spread out of control over 22 miles of underground mines. This prompted the end of underground mining in favor of open pit mining. For decades dynamite was used to open up pits in the area, frequently shaking the town and sometimes damaging or moving buildings; after one blast in the 1930s the city jail slid one block down hill intact. In the late 1920s Jerome's population was over 15,000.
Mining decline and closure
In 1953 the last of Jerome's mines closed, and much of the population left town. Jerome's population reached a low point of about 50 people in the late 1950s. In 1967 Jerome was designated a Historic District, and a National Historic Landmark in 1976.
Modern Jerome: tourism and art
Today Jerome is a tourist destination, with many abandoned and refurbished buildings from its boom town days. Jerome is the location of an extensive mining museum, presenting the town history, labor-management disputes, geological structure models, spectacular mineral samples, and equipment used in both underground and open-pit mining. The National Historic Landmark designation has assured a non-commercial atmosphere in this charming mountainous town, one mile high on Mingus Mountain. Unique shops, mostly owner operated and interesting restaurants line the streets. There are numerous bed and breakfasts in Jerome and two hotels, The Connor Hotel and The Grand Hotel. Restaurants range from the famous Haunted Hamburger to the fine dining of The Asylum, located in The Grand Hotel. Gisele's French Bakery, Belgian Jennie's Bistro and Pizzaria, Mile High Grille,Flat Iron Cafe,Sage Post, Red Rooster and Grapes all boast fresh and delicious fare.The two local bars, The Spirit Room and Paul and Jerry's Saloon, Arizona's oldest family owned bar, both regularly have live music on weekends. In 1983, California folk-singer Kate Wolf wrote the song "Old Jerome" after visiting the town. In 1987 the town council adopted it as their official town song. The community spirit in this town of 400 has created a vibrant group of events from its legendary Halloweeen Dance to the Jerome Home Tour in May. This is the oldest continual Home Tour in the state of Arizona.
Jerome is known as Arizona's Art Destination with over 30 galleries and working studios. In September of 2006, First Saturday Art Walk began and has become a favorite monthly event.In 2007, Jerome became a sponsor of The Sedona Plein Air Festival and hosted some of the finest plein air painters in the country for a day of painting. The Sedona Film Festival will be welcomed to Jerome for the Kodak Quick Shoot in February of 2008.The Old Jerome High School is home to world class artists and their studios, including Mark Hemleben, Robin Anderson and Margo Mandette. These open studios are welcoming to art lovers who enjoy seeing the creative process. Jerome is known for its one of a kind art and Great American Crafts, beautifully displayed in galleries like Raku, Pura Vida and Gallery 527. Leather artisans, potters, glass blowers, jewelers, photographers, painters all abound including an open air art park in nice weather.
Politics
In recent years Jerome has had a reputation as an enclave of liberal politics in otherwise conservative Yavapai County, giving large majorities to Democratic Party candidates in the 2000 and 2004 elections equaled only by the southern Arizona town of Bisbee — also a site of early labor organizing in Arizona (see "Jerome Deportation," above). Jerome had one of the highest vote percentages given to Ralph Nader in Arizona in 2000.
Geography
Jerome is located at (34.748311, -112.110853)GR1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 329 people, 182 households, and 84 families residing in the town. The population density was 462.1 people per square mile (178.9/km²). There were 215 housing units at an average density of 302.0/sq mi (116.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 91.79% White, 0.30% Black or African American, 2.43% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 2.13% from other races, and 3.04% from two or more races. 8.21% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 182 households out of which 17.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.1% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 53.8% were non-families. 41.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.81 and the average family size was 2.37. In the town the population was spread out with 12.8% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 41.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 103.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.9 males. The median income for a household in the town was $27,857, and the median income for a family was $27,222. Males had a median income of $23,750 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,967. About 4.2% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.3% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
- Maynard James Keenan, lead singer of the band Tool.[2]
- Katie Lee, folk singer
- John Radetich, high jump champion
- Fred Rico, major league baseball player[3]
Gallery of Images from Jerome
 A stream, stained turquoise-blue, emerges from a spoil pile of copper ore |
 A stamp mill at the mining museum |
 The Main Street of Jerome, Arizona |
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 A large "J" overlooks the town of Jerome |
 View from Cleopatra Hill |
References
- ^ Annual Estimates of the Population for All Incorporated Places in Arizona (CSV). 2005 Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division (June 21 2006). Retrieved on November 15, 2006.
- ^ http://www.avclub.com/content/node/55757/2
- ^ [1969] (1979) in Reichler, Joseph L.: The Baseball Encyclopedia, 4th edition, New York: Macmillan Publishing. ISBN 0-02-578970-8.
External links
- Jerome Arizona's Comprehensive Site
- Jerome Chamber of Commerce
- Jerome Historical Society
- Account of Jerome
- Jerome State Historic Park
- Jerome Times
- Gulch Radio: Internet radio station based in Jerome
- Jerome, Arizona is at coordinates Coordinates:
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Yavapai County, Arizona |
||
|---|---|---|
| County seat: Prescott | ||
| Cities |
Cottonwood | Peoria | Prescott | Sedona |
 |
| Towns |
Camp Verde | Chino Valley | Clarkdale | Dewey-Humboldt | Jerome | Prescott Valley |
|
| CDPs |
Ash Fork | Bagdad | Big Park | Black Canyon City | Congress | Cordes Lakes | Cornville | Cottonwood-Verde Village | Lake Montezuma | Mayer | Paulden | Peeples Valley | Seligman | Spring Valley | Wilhoit | Williamson | Yarnell |
|
| Communities |
Bumble Bee | Cherry | Cleator | Clemenceau | Cordes | Crown King | Drake | Skull Valley | Tip Top |
|
