Commencing its journey in the early 1900s, Courtland attracted a surge of miners eager to work for prominent mining companies like Copper Queen, Leadville, Great Western, Calumet, and Arizona Mining Companies. The Great Western, a major player, owned by W.J. Young, took its name from Young's brother, Courtland, in honor of whom the settlement rapidly burgeoned.

By March 1909, a post office was established, and soon the town flourished with a population of 2,000 residents supporting two newspapers, multiple stores, a Wells Fargo office, and the Southern Arizona Auto Company.

The arrival of the Mexico and Colorado Railroad from Douglas enhanced the town's amenities, including a movie theater, an ice cream parlor, a pool hall, and a swimming pool for recreational purposes.

However, akin to other mining towns in the vicinity, Courtland's mines eventually depleted, leading to the decline of the town. Despite enduring through the challenges of the Great Depression, its post office shuttered in 1942. By then, numerous buildings had either been dismantled or relocated, and what remained succumbed to the encroaching desert.

In the present day, Courtland stands as a mere echo of its past glory, with only remnants such as the deteriorating jail, a collapsing store, various foundations, and abundant mining artifacts bearing witness to its once thriving era. The hills enveloping Courtland are marked with mines and abandoned shafts, cautioning visitors that hiking in the vicinity may pose hazards.

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