Hillsboro is located about 17 miles west of Interstate 25 on New Mexico
Highway 90 in Sierra County.
In 1877, near the south end of the Black Range, three mining camp
communities were established--at Hillsboro, Kingston, and Lake Valley.
They formed a triangle of mining industries and boomed for about 20 years.
The camp at Hillsboro was established 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 "Ready
Pay" mines. "Rattlesnake" and "Bonanza" came soon after. Reportedly,
one chunk of gold from the area weighed almost 240 pounds.