Globe, Arizona was founded as a mining town in 1876. Before its current incorporation in 1907, the city was incorporated twice prior. The name Globe is said to have come from a globe shaped nugget of pure silver found nearby. Although silver started the population boom, copper proved more abundant and led to the growth of the community. Due to its attractive location for distribution of mining products and ample supply of water, infrastructure and commerce were added to support mining activities. But mining came to a halt in the Globe District proper when the Old Dominion Mine flooded in the 1920's, evolving the city into support businesses for the mines, as well as the major housing center in Cobre Valley. 

Today, the economic base remains mining and ranching, with more than 20 percent of the employment in Globe and Miami being related to mining and production of copper. Over half of Gila County's sizable manufacturing sector employment is in copper smelting, refining or rod production. In the area there are four copper mines, several concentrators, a smelter and a rod mill. All of Gila County is designated Enterprise Zone.