The city of Douglas was incorporated in 1905, and the community became a regional center servicing the thriving mining and ranching industries. Following a boom period in the early 1900s, copper prices fell and impacted the area’s smelters. The smelter in Douglas served the developing copper mines in Bisbee and Nacozari. In 1941, transcontinental traffic was rerouted from U.S. 80 to State Highway 86 through Benson, which impacted Douglas’ retail trade. The area was affected by the closure of the Phelps-Dodge Douglas smelter operation in 1987, and the corporate offices moved.

The county is as big as the state of Rhode Island and Connecticut combined at 6,219 square miles. Douglas is located about 118 miles southeast of Tucson via Interstate 10 to U.S. 80, and 229 miles south of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. The Janos Highway, the shortest route to Mexico City and Guadalajara by paved roads from the western United States, begins in Douglas.

Principal Economic Activities

One of the principal economic activity in Douglas is retail trade. The retail market is much larger than the existing city population base because of the growing market in Agua Prieta, Cananea, Nacozari and Cumpas, Sonora. According to a 2017 study by the Sierra Vista Metropolitan Planning Organization (SVMPO), approximately 80.9 percent of people crossing the border in Douglas are frequent crossers (more than two times per week). The study confirmed that the travelers' principal destination was Douglas, and the number one reason for crossing was shopping. The average expenditures of $196 per person result in an estimated economic impact to the city of Douglas and Cochise county of over $740 million each year. The ease of travel through the Douglas port of entry for pedestrians and vehicles is critical to continuing to encourage visitors to shop in stores, eat in restaurants and conduct business in Douglas.

Scenic Attractions

Douglas’ nationally registered historic landmarks include the Southern Pacific Depot, Gadsden Hotel, Church Square, Douglas Municipal Airport, Downtown Historical District and Sonoran District. Many points of interest are nearby, including the historic John Slaughter Ranch, Agua Prieta, the frontier mining town of Tombstone, the ghost towns of Charleston and Dos Cabezas, the historic Old Fort Bowie, Fort Huachuca, Coronado National Memorial, Cochise Stronghold, Texas Canyon, San Bernardino Wildlife Refuge, Chiricahua National Monument, Coronado National Forest and the Chiricahua Mountains. Scenic drives include Bisbee and Cave Creek Canyon. Historic Arizpe is a short drive into Sonora. Hunting and fishing areas, in both the United States and Mexico, are also nearby.

Community Facilities

Douglas offers a broad range of community facilities including an art gallery, a library, city recreation centers, an Olympic-size swimming pool, a new indoor aquatic center, seven parks, a golf course and several handball, raquetball and tennis courts. Other athletic facilities are available at Cochise College and Douglas High School. Douglas offers two thriving educational institutions, The University of Arizona and Cochise College, the local community college.