Swansea

Swansea is an abandoned mining town in La Paz County, Arizona, built around copper and silver extraction. The site contains old buildings, a large smelter foundation, railroad remnants, and two cemeteries scattered across the open desert landscape.

Mining activity began around 1862, but the settlement grew after 1904 when the railroad arrived. The town thrived between 1908 and 1914 as headquarters for the Clara Consolidated Gold and Copper Mining Company before copper price declines after World War I led to its abandonment.

The town was named after Swansea in Wales because ore from the mines was shipped there across oceans. You can see today how miners and their families built a community around this shared work and hope for prosperity.

Access is via gravel roads from Bouse or Parker, and a high-clearance vehicle is recommended though not required. Visitors should avoid open mine shafts, bring plenty of water, and plan to arrive early during hot months as temperatures can be extreme.

This settlement thrived for only about five years, making it a rare snapshot of a mining operation at peak capacity. The furnace could process 350 tons of ore daily, revealing the industrial scale of this remote location.