About Congress, AZ
Population – 1,665 (April 2023)
Median home value - $255,00 (April 2023)
Congress is located approximately 80 miles northwest of downtown Phoenix. Prospecting in the area around Congress began in the 1860’s in what was then known as the Date Creek Mining District (the district is now known as the Martinez District). Despite the early activity in the district, it was not until almost 20 years later that the Congress mine would be discovered. Dennis May first staked a claim at the site in Congress in 1870, but it wasn’t until 1884 that enough work had been done to locate what would become the Congress Mine. In 1887, May sold the Congress claims for $30,000 to outside investors. Finally, with the deposits located and with the availability outside capital, a mine and stamp mill were constructed on the property. The town of Congress grew up around the mine.
The town didn’t last long after the mine shut down and the post office was moved to Congress Junction. Today the town known as Congress is actually old Congress Junction, and little remains of the original town site. Congress, this gold-mining ghost town, now serves mainly as a retirement community.
