Globe's history began in the mid 1870's when silver was discovered. Rich mines produced a booming community of 700 by 1880, leading to Globe's appointment as county seat for the newly formed Gila County in 1881. As silver ore played out, Globe turned to abundant copper deposits, and the Old Dominion Copper Mine, founded in 1881, spurred growth in both mining and the town. The arrival of the railroad in 1898 stimulated further growth of Globe and the mines. Globe was incorporated in 1907, and George W. P. Hunt became the first mayor before later becoming Arizona's first governor and serving six subsequent terms. By 1910, Globe was a flourishing community with several copper mines and many commercial buildings, churches, theaters, and the now historic Gila County Courthouse. It also carried a continuous element of Old West excitement, with fancy bordellos, "orderly" lynchings, and infamous saloons patronized by hard-working miners and ranch hands. Through prosperous boomtown eras and more than its share of tough times, Globe evolved into a vigorous example of Old West spirit.