Gila

Gila County was created in 1881 from portions of Maricopa and Pinal counties, and later included part of Yavapai County.  The county covers 4,752 square miles and is a source of great mineral wealth.  The Globe Mining District, originally located on the San Carlos Indian Reservation, was reallocated to Gila County.  Silver first attracted people to this area in the late 19th century.  When the silver resources were depleted, copper emerged and has kept mining alive to this day.  Globe is the county seat.

Gila County is the home of the legendary Graham-Tewksbury feud, which began in the 1870s and lasted 15 years.  It claimed dozens of lives and ignited tempers between cattle ranchers and sheep ranchers for years to come.

The U.S. Forest Service owns 55.5 percent of the land in Gila County.  Approximately 37 percent belongs to the Apache Tribe.  Individuals and corporations own 3.7 percent of the land; the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, 1.9 percent; and the state of Arizona, 1 percent of the land.

Gila County Libertarian Party