Kearny Arizona
Kearny is located in Pinal County, southern Arizona. It is situated along the Gila River almost in between Tucson and Phoenix. The town of Kearny was named after General Stephen W. Kearny who was the leader of the “Army of the West.” He set up a base camp that would later bear his name. Kearny’s group explored the area along the Gila River in 1849-1850 on their way to California. Ironically, the region that was named after Gen. Kearny where he brought his army was the same area where he made sure that no growth would occur. His advice to the government was to clear away from the area since he discovered it to be too rugged and unsuitable for passage.
The present town of Kearny was created in 1958 when the Kennecott Copper Company began its open-pit mine and reduction plant. After the mine was established, the company needed housing for its workers and for those who were displaced from other mining towns. Kearny was a planned community that was incorporated in 1959.
Today, the town has a total population of 2,195 as of 2004 U.S. Census. The American Smelting and Refining Company operate the large open-pit copper mine, reduction plant and smelter near Kearny. It provides much of the employment in the area.
