Mogollon, also known as the Mogollon Historic District, is actually a former mining town in the Mogollon Mountains of Catron County, New Mexico. Located east of Glenwood and Alma, it was established in the 1880s at the base of Silver Creek Canyon to serve the gold and silver mines in the nearby mountains. The “Little Fannie” mine became the town’s biggest employer, and in the 1890s its population of miners ranged from 3,000 to 6,000. Thanks to its remote location, Mogollon earned a reputation as one of the wildest mining towns in the West.
In the 1870s, Sergeant James C Cooney of Fort Bayard discovered a rich vein of gold in the Gila Mountains near what would become Mogollon. In 1889, miner John Eberle built the first cabin there after mines were established along Silver Creek, which runs through the town. A jail and post office opened in 1890, followed by the first school in 1892. During this boom, Mogollon absorbed the population of nearby Cooney and spurred growth in towns like Glenwood, Gila, and Cliff, thanks to their locations along the trail to the town. Between 1872 and 1873, the stagecoach from Mogollon to Silver City was robbed 23 times by the same outlaw, who was eventually caught by Wells Fargo agents.
In 1909, Mogollon had a population of around 2,000. That year, the town boasted five saloons, two restaurants, four general stores, two hotels, and several brothels spread across two red-light districts. It was also home to a photographer, the Midway Theatre, an ice maker, and a bakery. The Silver City and Mogollon Stage Line ran daily, transporting passengers, freight, and gold and silver bullion over the 80-mile trip between the towns in nearly 15 hours. By 1915, Mogollon had a monthly payroll of $75,000 and a population of 1,500, complete with electricity, water, and telephone service. The local school educated around 300 students.
From its early days, Mogollon faced a string of devastating fires and floods. The first major fire in 1894 destroyed most of the wooden buildings, with more fires striking in 1904, 1910, 1915, and 1942. Each time, residents quickly rebuilt, increasingly using stone and adobe. Floods also tore through Silver Creek in 1894, 1896, 1899, and 1914, sweeping away mine tailings, debris, bridges, homes, and even lives.
More than 20 mines sprang up in the Mogollon area, and by 1914 the district had produced around $1.5 million in gold and silver…about 40% of New Mexico’s precious metals that year. Over their lifetime, the Mogollon Mountains yielded more than 18 million ounces of silver, making up a quarter of the state’s total production. Nearly $20 million worth of gold, silver, and copper was extracted, with silver making up about two-thirds of the total. Many saw Silver City mainly as a railhead for Mogollon’s eight-team freight wagons loaded with gold and silver ore.
As the ore grade declined, so did profits, and by 1930 the population had dropped to around 200. By 1940, mining activity had slowed significantly. The Fanny Mill was the only local facility processing ore in Mogollon, so when the Fanny mines closed in 1942, the others that had sent their ore there also shut down. There was a brief, modest resurgence during World War II, as idle mines across the country began producing minerals and precious metals to support the wartime manufacturing boom. Mining has been inactive ever since. In 1973, the Italian Western “My Name is Nobody,” starring Henry Fonda and Terence Hill, was filmed in Mogollon. As part of the movie set, a saloon and general store were built in the town.
Advancements in refining technology have sparked attempts to restart mining operations. In the 1980s, Challenge Mining Company tested ore concentrations, but the project never progressed. By 2023, Canadian mineral exploration firm Summa Silver had acquired 7,730 acres of claims in the Mogollon mining district. Tests revealed high-grade ore, and the company hopes to start mining based on future results. Today, the town is home to several private residences and a few small businesses, including the Silver Creek Inn, which occupies the historic Mogollon House, built by Frank Lauderbaugh in 1885. In 1987, the entire Mogollon community was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the 
Fannie Hill Mill and Company Town Historic District, recognized for its industrial significance and architectural significance from 1875 to 1949.
