Silver mines lay near Tombstone, but the mills that processed the ore were built along the San Pedro River because enormous amounts of water were needed to run stamp mills and sustain mules and men. Before water was struck during underground mining, the river was the most reliable water source, so ore was hauled there for processing. Once an ore processing mill was built in Tombstone, nearby towns dried up. Many towns along the river later became ghost towns because mining drew people there, and when the industry collapsed, the towns collapsed as well. Fairbank survived because its key location made it a transportation hub; besides the railroad, State Highway 82 ran through it in 1936, helping it endure as a roadside stop until the 1970's. The San Pedro River also supplied water for household use, gardens, farming, and recreation.