Constellation - Yavapai County

Updated: 11/12/2016

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Where: Yavapai County near Wickenburg

 

Operation Dates:  1920’s to 1930’s

 

Noted Aspects of Town:  Supported the Black Rock mining district

 

History:  The Post Office was established April 29, 1901 and closed January 31, 1939.  The Post Master at Constellation was Wm. F. Roberts.

 

The town was located near the Monte Cristo Mine and optimistically named for the island where Edmond Dante’s found the riches in Dumas’s famous novel.  The nearby Monte Cristo Mine went through many owners with many attempts to profit on the presumed riches of the location.

 

There are three mines in the area that were active around the same time including the Monte Cristo, Black Rock, and Gold Bar mines.  This area was part of the Black Rock mining district which the town of Constellation would support.  The Black Rock mining district was established in 1901.  At its height, the town of Constellation included a two-story saloon, gambling den, dance hall, store, and saloon.  The town of Constellation dwindled and returned to the desert landscape over time and nothing remains.  Some old structures and mining evidence at the three mines is still present.

 

People:  

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Mine(s) supporting town:  Black Rock, Monte Cristo, and Gold Bar

 

What you will see today:  There is little to see of the town today that supported the Black Rock mining district.  Each of the mines contain a couple buildings and headframes.

 

Acknowledgement:  Arizona Place Names – Will C. Barnes, Arizona Best Ghost Towns – Philip Varney, Ghosttowns.com