ONE MILE SOUTH OF SUNSITES is the old mining town of Pearce, founded in 1893 and the last of Arizona's gold and silver stampede towns. The Commonwealth Mine made Pearce a boomtown with a population of 3,500. At that time the mine produced more gold that any other mine in the southwest. Although Pearce is considered a ghost town, there are still several families living there. The original school is still in use today with recent additions. A scattering of deteriorating adobe and frame buildings remains in the Pearce along with the old cemetery.
SUNSITES is an attractive community of 1,500 people whose well-maintained homes surround its championship golf course which graces this area with its greenery and duck ponds. A medical clinic and a fire and rescue department are always ready if needed. A grocery, convenience stores, restaurants, library, churches and a new community center are accompanied by many diverse businesses. Large apple, peach, pecan and pistachio orchards thrive here, as well as many small family sized orchards and vegetable gardens. Almost anything grows here- from grapes, melons, and tomatoes, to peanuts, rhubarb, strawberries and raspberries. Farm produce such as wheat, milo, corn, alfalfa, chili peppers, pinto beans, cotton and popcorn and feed corn are also grown in the valley.