An Unincorporated Town 2019-2023 Project Statement
An Unincorporated Town 2019-2023 Project Statement
Haul truck cab at the Freeport-McMoRan training facility.
Muscle and luxury cars, parked at a Freeport-McMoran Morenci Home. The phrase "Morenci Rich" was used to describe a phenomena of excess spending given the high wages and low cost of living for mine workers.
Anthony, originally from Chinle, AZ on the Navajo Nation, cooks his dinner at a small Clifton Park. As an independent contractor without any housing support, he had been camping in his truck working the past week for FMI.
Verde Lee neighborhood of Clifton, AZ. Verde Lee is one of a few small communities nearby to the mine, with privately-owned housing outside of the company town model. The mountain cut appears tied to efforts carving out a few new housing lots.
"Copper Verde" Freeport-McMoran Morenci Homes, built with modular construction. A resident suggested this type of fabrication suited a likely scenario where the neighborhood would be moved elsewhere, to allow mining in this location.
Poplar Street home, East Plantsite neighborhood. The construction dumpster signifies ongoing renovations, which the contractors described as typical after an extended employee lease. Freeport-McMoRan housing is only available to current employees, so retirees must exit the community.
A portion of neighboring Clifton appears to built upon slag, a byproduct of the copper smelting process. In 1984, owned by Phelps-Dodge at the time, the Morenci Mine abandoned smelting at this site and has since been shipping its copper concentrates to its smelter in Chino, New Mexico.
RV storage for Freeport-McMoRan employees. With heavily subsided rentals, published rates ranging from $200/month for a 1 bedroom apartment, to $500/month for a 4 bedroom modular home, employees may enjoy comparatively less of their wages devoted to primary housing.
Morenci from the summit of Mulligan Peak. There is no trail or road to aide the difficult climb up the 5612' peak, and a sparsely signed summit register. A plaque was installed reading "The Hike of Champions, Morenci High School Wrestlers, 2004/2005.”
Morenci layers. Mine operations on top. Commercial sector with a supermarket, motel, and bowling alley in the middle. "Down in the hole" section of Freeport-McMoran Morenci Housing below.