Rural community on the edge of Douglas
Douglas used to be the site of two smelting operations, reducing copper ore from neighboring Bisbee in the early 1900s. These smelters employed most of the town’s population, including Hispanic workers who traveled across the U.S.-Mexico border. Pirtleville — better known as Pueblo Nuevo — was where these workers and their families lived. Just north of town and closer to the Chihuahuan Desert, this area was considered separate from Douglas — it was unincorporated, and it lacked the big homes and paved sidewalks of its neighbor. That’s still the case today; Pirtleville remains unincorporated, and it still has smaller homes and gravel sidewalks. Even so, most residents have been here for decades. “I have friends that live in Pirtleville, and it’s more peaceful and relaxed compared to Douglas,” says Angelica Garcia with Long Realty, a Douglas local and a Realtor for over 30 years. “It’s one notch more rural than town. If somebody has horses or chickens, you can keep them here. You have mostly paved streets, but they can drift off into dirt or pavement.” While the area feels detached from urban life, Douglas is less than a mile away, and two major highways are close by. The U.S.-Mexico border and Douglas' sister city, Agua Prieta, are about 3 miles south.
Ranch-style homes are a fraction of Arizona's median
The median sale price for Pirtleville is around $180,000, less than half of the median for Arizona. Ranch-style homes range from $65,000 to $200,000, and they’re mostly renovated. Some were built around the time the neighborhood was founded in the 1910s and ‘20s, while others were built later in the ‘50s and ‘60s. Though rare, homes from the 2000s and 2010s are usually on the area’s east side. Dirt yards are sizeable in front and back, and a fence typically surrounds the property; storage sheds and parked mobile homes are common. Even though the area is unincorporated, it’s hooked up to city water and sewer.
Quick access to state Route 80, U.S. Highway 191
Pirtleville is only a few square miles, and gravel sidewalks line the streets. Pedestrians might hop onto the Pirtleville/Bay Acres bus route. It runs every weekday, and it can take residents into Douglas. Most people drive, though, as state Route 80 runs along the area’s southern and eastern sides; it connects south to Pan American Avenue, Copper Queen Community Hospital and the U.S.-Mexico border. Route 80 also goes about 25 miles west to Bisbee, a tourist town and employment hub. U.S. Highway 191 runs along Pirtleville’s western side too, and it connects to small towns such as Elfrida, Sunsites and Cochise. Though municipal airports dot the Chihuahuan Desert, commercial flights are out of Tucson International Airport. It’s about 115 miles northwest of Pirtleville.
Douglas Unified Schools for language learning
Faras Elementary is on Pirtleville’s north side, and Niche rates it a C. It serves kindergarten through fifth grade, and it has about 140 students. About 2 miles south of this campus, Ray Borane Middle also receives a C rating. Douglas High is nearby, and it serves Pirtleville, Douglas and other communities. Niche gives it a B-minus. All of these schools are in the Douglas Unified School District, which has more than 2,000 English Language Learners and Limited English Proficient students. Each school has comprehensive ESL and LEP programs as a result.
Close to Pirtleville grocers and Douglas restaurants
Two corner stores are within walking distance of most homes. Pirtleville’s Grocery & Meat Market is toward the neighborhood’s center, and in addition to typical groceries, visitors can get homemade tamales and menudo. Pueblo Nuevo Mini Mart is on the neighborhood’s south side, and this convenience store sells barbecue on the weekends. Most restaurants, though, are about a mile south in Douglas. El Chef serves traditional Mexican fare, and it’s been family owned and operated since 1997. Lai Lai Chinese Restaurant is nearby with casual takeout and big portions. Walmart, JCPenney and dd’s Discounts are on the Douglas’ west side, about 2 miles from Pirtleville.
A few miles from Cochise County Fair
The Cochise County Fair is held about 3 miles north of Pirtleville, and it’s been a September tradition since 1924. This fair features carnival rides, food vendors, live music and rodeos. The grounds host several other rodeos throughout the year too, with occasional horse races and ropings mixed in.
Neighborhood parks and the Swisshelm Mountains
Castro Park is about 2 miles south of the neighborhood. This small green space has walking paths and a fountain; its food trucks, Takos Fuentes and L&L Ricos Hotdogs, are popular with locals. About a mile south, Speer Park has a shady field and playground. The Swisshelm Mountains are about 20 miles north of Douglas for those who want more open space. Hiking trails cover the area, and some peaks go above 7,000 feet. Additionally, this subrange houses Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuge, which has over 2,700 acres of protected land.
Photography Contributed By
Piter Beyt
