The Economic Times

By 1909, copper had helped Swansea, Arizona, grow to about 500 people; financial trouble followed in 1911, and the last mine closed in 1937

Swansea, Arizona, once thrived as a mining community but became a ghost town after its abandonment in 1937. It flourished in the early 1900s due to copper discoveries, only to suffer economic decline later. Research highlights that boom-dependent communities often face economic hardships. Surprisingly, copper prices are soaring today, driven by the tech and electric vehicle sectors. Swansea's history reminds modern towns to tread carefully in the current copper market.