Patagonia, AZ is a town divided over the mining industry. These visualizations contextualize the conflict in the town by highlighting economic, environmental, and historical trends in Patagonia, Santa Cruz County, and across Arizona.
Mines in Santa Cruz County (1840 - 2016)
Mining for gold, silver, ore, and other minerals began in the 17th century with Jesuit missionaries in the region. Mining operations peaked in the early 20th century and largely shut down by the mid-1970s. Some of these mines continue to leak acid during heavy rains.
Viz created with Carto
Data Source: USGS
Arizona Mining stock history
Through Dec. 2, 2016
Arizona Mining is a publicly traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange, and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.
Viz created with R and Illustrator
Data Source: Yahoo Finance
A. June 5, 2015: Wildcat Silver changed its name to "Arizona Mining Inc" and began being traded as AZ:TO on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
B. Jan. 26, 2016: Arizona Mining Inc. acquired 300 acres of mining claims. Part of the deal requires that the company assume all environmental liability for the existing abandoned mines on the land. The company began exploratory drilling on this land, called the Taylor Deposit, shortly after the acquisition.
C. Sept. 7, 2016: The Forest Service began a 30-day public comment period regarding Arizona Mining Inc's proposal to drill eight exploratory holes on federal land adjacent to the Taylor Deposit.
Unemployment rate by Arizona county
Santa Cruz County's unemployment rate has hovered at about twice the unemployment rate of all of Arizona for the last ten years. Mining may create jobs in the region, but it may also harm the tourism industry, which provides jobs and economic stability in Patagonia.
Viz created with R
Data Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Urbanization of Arizona (1910 - 2010)
Some town residents in Patagonia worry that small towns in the state are slowly dying, with young people moving to cities. They think a revived mining industry might create jobs to keep young people in town. Like most of the country, Arizona has urbanized heavily in last 100 years.
Viz created with After Effects
Data Source: US Census Bureau
Contact
These visualizations were created by Lucas Waldron for Intro to Data Visualization at UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism with the assistance of instructor Peter Aldhous.
e: lucashwaldron@gmail.com