The town was founded in 1876 following gold and silver discoveries in neighboring Mineral Creek canyon by Sgt. James Cooney. The largest mines were the Little Fannie, Deadwood, Deep Down, Eberle, and Emperial. Mogollon became a ghost town in 1942 with the collapse of silver and gold prices during the war. The Cooney mining district was the richest in New Mexico and was one of the most prolific in financial terms in the United States. An estimated 18 million ounces of silver and $20 billion in gold (by today's standards) were mined in Mogollon and the surrounding areas between 1880-1942. Read more...

The Mimbres, the Apache, and the Hispanic population have all left their unique marks on the people and the land. Victorio, a Warm Springs Apache warrior chief, and Geronimo, t he great Chiracahua Warm Springs Apache warrior and shaman, are among the many well-known names that figured prominently in the history of the area. More people who played a part in our history...