It became one of the last boomtowns in the American frontier. Its population grew from to around 14, in less than seven years. It is best known as the site of the Gunfight at the O. Corral and draws most of its revenue from tourism. The city had a permanent population of 1,, according to the census.
The town was established on Goose Flats, a mesa above the Goodenough Mine. Within two years of its founding, although far distant from any other metropolitan area , Tombstone had a bowling alley, four churches, an ice house , a school, two banks, three newspapers, and an ice-cream parlor, alongside saloons, 14 gambling halls, and numerous dance halls and brothels.
All of these businesses were situated among and atop many silver mines. The gentlemen and ladies of Tombstone attended operas presented by visiting acting troupes at the Schieffelin Hall opera house, while the miners and cowboys saw shows at the Bird Cage Theatre and brothel.
Under the surface were tensions that grew into deadly conflict. The mining capitalists and the townspeople were largely Republicans from the Northern states. Many of the ranchers some of whomβlike the Clantons βwere also rustlers or other criminal varieties were Confederate sympathizers and Democrats.
The booming city was only 30 miles 48 km from the U. The Cowboys repeatedly threatened the Earps over many months until the conflict escalated into a shootout on October 26, The historic gunfight is often portrayed as occurring at the O.
