| Two pioneers partnered to discover the site where Hillsboro stands. Dan Dugan and Dave Stitzel worked on the East side of Black Range when Stitzel came into contact with a float that Dugan perceived as useless. Stitzel persisted and analyzed parts of the float that he collected and analyzed when they returned to town. Dugan quickly got word that the appraisal ran $160 per ton and immediately wanted to file a claim. Many miners and prospectors got word of this and nobody could seem to agree on a settlement. The final decision was to put suggested names into a hat and the first drawn name would become the name of the town. Hillsboro was the drawn name and Hillsboro has since been the name!
Approximately two hundred and twenty two people reside in Hillsboro. It’s history dates back over one hundred years, Hillsboro was founded in April of 1877, when gold was found on the East of the Mimbres Mountains along Percha Creek. In August of the same year, the first home was built. As progression continued, each town prospector put a suggested name into the hat. “Hillsborough” (later changed to Hillsboro) was drawn. |
The town continued to progress, despite Indian attacks on the community. first post office opened in 1879 and has yet to shut down. Hillsboro soon became county seat in 1884. It’s growth in population reached 1200 people by the year 1907. Local mines produced approximately six million in silver and gold. Hillsboro soon lost the county seat to Truth or Consequences in 1938. The remains of the county courthouse of Hillsboro still stands. Hillsboro holds the memory of the three alleged killers of Col. Albert J. Fountain were tried for and acquitted of his murder in 1896. Click here to learn about the Annual Hillsborro Apple Festival |
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