Two prospectors working as partners discovered the site where Hillsboro stands. Dan Dugan and Dave Stitzel were working the east side of Black Range when Stitzel ran across some float that Dugan thought worthless. Stitzel disagreed and proceeded to hide a few samples that he had assayed when they returned to town. When Dugan heard the assay ran $160 a ton, he couldn't wait to file a claim. The news spread and soon there was a community of miners and prospectors. The inhabitants seemingly could not agree on a name for the settlement. It was decided to put names into a hat and the first one drawn would be the name of the town. By the luck of the draw, Hillsboro came into existence. The town still breathes today but barely. Submitted by Henry Chenoweth.

     Although not a ghost town (about 225 people live there), Hillsboro has a rich history dating back more than 100 years. The town was founded in April 1877, when two prospectors discovered gold on the east side of the Mimbres Mountains along Percha Creek. Dan Dugan and Dave Stitzel staked out the Opportunity and the Ready Pay mines. The Rattlesnake and the Bonanza came soon after. Reportedly, one chunk of gold from an area mine weighed
     The first house -- a log cabin -- was built in August 1877, but the town wasn't named until December. Each prospector put his suggestion for the name into a hat. "Hillsborough" (later shortened) was drawn. (Another story says miner Joe Yankie got the honor of naming the town because of his especially big gold strike. He choose "Hillsborough" for his home town in Ohio.)
     Despite fierce Indian attacks, the town grew. The post office opened in 1879 and never closed, and Hillsboro became the county seat in 1884. It grew to about 1,200 people by 1907. Area mines produced about $6 million in gold and silver. A slowdown occurred, however, and Hillsboro lost the county seat to T or C in 1938. The remains of the old county courthouse, built in 1892, still stand. It was here that the three alleged killers of Col. Albert J. Fountain were tried for (and acquitted of) his 1896 murder.      Hillsboro today is home to several restaurants, gift shops and galleries, a museum, a garage and grocery, a bed and breakfast, a saloon, a library, a post office and a bank. Courtesy Michael Cook.

Hillsboro, New Mexico, The Town With Nine Lives,  Desert Magazine, March, 1978, page 24, by James Leonard, has a lot of local history. Four pictures.

Hillsboro, New Mexico
Courtesy Dolores Steele

Hillsboro, New Mexico
Courtesy Dolores Steele