City & Town Throwback

What were cities and towns celebrating this time last year? Five years ago? 50 years ago? Take a look into the past at some of our city and town stories from years gone by in the City & Town Throwback!

100 Years Ago:

In 1918, the Town of Miami was incorporated!

The Town of Miami began as a mining town.

Folklore has it that the town site was named by a Polish Immigrant for his fiancée, "Mima." At around the same time, a group of entrepreneurs came from the town of Miami, Ohio and staked a claim in the area. The group agreed to name the town "Miami," but call it "Mima."

The true origin of the name likely began in 1908 when a land developer named Cleve Van Dyke who established the town site near the mines. Mr. Van Dyke was a driving force behind the town's growth, purchasing and developing many town buildings and utilities, including a new copper mine. He also ran the town newspaper, the Arizona Silver Belt.

As mining operations grew, mining companies began recruiting workers and many immigrated with their families. To meet the needs of the entire family, the Bullion Plaza School was constructed in the early 1920s for children.

In its early days, Miami began growing, seeing a town jail and buildings begin popping up. The first building, the Fitzpatrick Building, was a restaurant, saloon and bank. It now serves as a senior center.

Flooding of Miami Wash occurred regularly. To protect businesses from the floods, a concrete wall was built in 1910 and other sections were added to the wall as the town grew.

The Plaza dance pavilion was created in the 1920s and played an important role in the social and cultural lives in the citizens in Miami and Globe. The Boomtown Spree, an annual festival, along with dances and other activities, took place at the Plaza for more than 50 years.

The citizens of Miami and its sister city Globe have a strong sense of community and they have organized the Bullion Plaza Cultural and Museum Committee to continue collecting, preserving and documenting their shared history.

As Miami and Globe developed as boomtowns, many cultures converged together to contribute to the cultural diversity. Segregation was first practiced between ethnic groups in churches, theatres, swimming pools and social activities; however, integration eventually came, first in the medical field; the company hospital on the hill provided the best medical care for all.

Today, the town is facing a renaissance. Antique shops and art galleries have sprung up in the town center. A new wastewater plant was built, designed to carry Miami through the coming decades and the town council is committed to meeting the future needs of residents.

Happy 100th Birthday, Miami!