Chloride Arizona
Named after the silver chloride found in the surrounding hills, the town is the oldest continuously inhabited mining towns in the state. Among the silver chloride, prospectors found silver, gold, lead, zinc and turquoise at a site known as Silver Hill in the 1840’s.
Chloride was founded in about 1863, but turmoil between the local Hualapai Indians slowed mining down until a treaty was signed in 1870. The mines were closed until 1944 due to the low prices of the ores being extracted. From a population of about 5,000 in 1870, Chloride is now home to approximately 150 locals and reaches a high of about 250 in the winter months when “snow birds” come in from the cold.
About 20,000 tourists visit Chloride each year with many stopping at the Mine Shaft Market or taking in the “Chloride Murals” painted by hippy Roy Purcell in the 1960’s. Ancient petroglyphs are also in this same area.
