Dome Cemetery, also known as Gila City Cemetery

Dome / Gila City Cemetery. Located on the south bank of the Gila River about 20 miles east of Yuma, the site was first known as Swiveler's Station in 1857, then a stop along the old Butterfield Overland Mail route. After gold was discovered nearby in 1858 Gila City sprang up around the station. The "Gila City" post office operated from December 24, 1858, until July 14, 1863. A severe flood early in 1862 destroyed most of the town. The placers and the town were all but abandoned by late 1865. With the arrival of the railroad an attempt to conduct large scale mining of the placers began and a new post office reopened in 1892, this time as "Dome." The post office operated sporadically until finally closing in 1940. Little evidence of the town remains today, although burials in the cemetery continued until at least 1944.

To arrive at this cemetery, exit Hwy 95 at Butterfield Stage Road. Follow the road along the canal about 3 miles. Go under the railroad tracks and veer to the left. The cemetery is about 1/4 mile off the road. The exact GPS location is N 32°45.351’, W 114°21.913’. This cemetery is still active, with burials as recent as 2020.

Most of the graves are marked with a white cross, but have no name or date identification. There is also a pet cemetery at the side.