In Greenlee County, mining remains one of the most important industries. Copper was discovered in the county in the 1860s and by the early 20th century the Arizona Copper Company ran several mines.
Phelps Dodge eventually purchased the Arizona Copper Company and, in 2007, Phelps Dodge was acquired by Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold, making Freeport the largest publically traded copper producer in the world.
Other important industries are agriculture and tourism, along with services that support the existing population (government, educational services, retail trade, and health care and social assistance). According to Greenlee County’s comprehensive plan prepared in 2003, “Economic development in Greenlee County has been focused on the Morenci mine. Mining and mineral processing are the cornerstones and main economic forces in the county. Farming remains the second economic force in the county.”
In Greenlee County, only 8.1 percent of land is privately owned and 77.1 percent of land is controlled by the U.S. government (U.S Forest Service and U.S. Bureau of Land Management).
Check Us Out Here