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Arizona Counties

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Arizona Counties

There are 15 Counties in the U.S. state of Arizona. There is also one defunct county: Pah-Ute County was formed in 1865 from Mohave County and returned in 1871. Four Counties (Mohave, Pima, Yavapai and Yuma) were created in 1864 following the organization of the Arizona Territory in 1862. All but La Paz County were created by the time Arizona was granted statehood in 1912.

Apache County, Arizona

Apache County History, Geography, Demographics, Cities and Towns, and Education

County Seat: Saint Johns
Year Organized: 1879
Square Miles: 11,206

Court House:

P.O. Box 667
Saint Johns, AZ 85936-0667

Etymology - Origin of County Name

Apache is named after the Apache Native American people.

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: Census Bureau Quick Facts

County History

Apache County, Arizona

On February 24, 1879 the Tenth Territorial Legislature created Apache County out of Yavapai County, one of the four original Arizona counties. The newly created county encompassedall of the present-day Navajo and Apache counties and parts of Graham and Greenlee counties. Much of the 20.940 square miles was unknown and uninhabited.

Apache and Navajo Indians continued to raid settlements. The entire county was torn by a range war between Texas cattlemen, who were new to the area, and Mexican and Indian sheepman.

The area assigned to Apache County was not to remain undisturbed for in 1881 that part of it between the Black and Gila Rivers was cut off to form part of what is now Graham County. Apache also lost a great stretch of land when Navajo County was formed.

Apache County's present area is 7,151,360 acres. Snowflake was designated the county seat when it was first formed. After the first elections in the fall of 1879, the county government was set up at St. Johns. In 1880 St. Johns was superseded by Springerville. Springerville remained the county seat for two years until 1882, when St. Johns again became the county seat and has remained so.

Prior to 1977, the supervisors were all elected in the southern part of the county. Tom Shirley was the first Native American to be elected as county supervisor for the Sanders district. When new supervisory districts were drawn up to more equally represent the population, districts were created and centered around Chinle, Ganado and St. Johns.

The Northern half of Apache County lies within the boundaries of the 14,450,369 acre Navajo Reservation. The reservation is changing rapidly, but the landmarks and history stay as they have always been.

Navajo land has within its boundaries some of the most spectacular monuments that have been created by nature. It has often been said the within the Navajo land lie the "Seven Wonders of the Navajo World."

Apache County is justly noted for its great natural resources and advantages. It is destined some day in the early future to have a large agricultural population. Now, immense herds of cattle and flocks of sheep roam over its broad mesas and its fertile valleys. The Navajo Indians occupy the northern part of the county-in fact, occupy much of the remainder of the county, as they refuse to remain on their reservation, preferring to drive their sheep and cattle on lands outside their reservation, where the grazing is better. The southern part is a fine grazing country, while the northern part is cut up into picturesque gorges and canons by the floods of past centuries.

Apache County celebrated its 125 years in 2004. The county has seen significant changes during its first 125 years. The least of which were improvements to roads, the jail, justice courts and county schools. Technological advances will continue to be a big part of Apache County's future.

Sources:

Adapted from Apache County, Arizona Centennial Book and the Apache County commemorative newsletter. Reprinted with permission.

Neighboring Counties:

North: San Juan County, Utah
Northeast: Montezuma County, Colo.; San Juan County, N.M.
East: McKinley County, N.M.
Southeast: Cibola County, N.M.; Catron County, N.M.
South: Greenlee County; Graham County
West: Navajo County

Cities and Towns:

- Eagar	town	Incorporated Area
- Holbrook	city	Incorporated Area
- Springerville	town	Incorporated Area
- St. Johns (County Seat)	city	Incorporated Area

County Resources:

Enter County Resources and Information Here

County Resources

The history of our nation was a prolonged struggle to define the relative roles and powers of our governments: federal, state, and local. And the names given the counties, our most locally based jurisdictions, reflects the "characteristic features of this country!"

But age, size and colorful names of our counties isn't the only reason to explore counties' role in American history, or the history of county government itself. In fact, the story of county government reflects the larger meanings of American history.

Today's counties are the most flexible, locally responsive and creative governments in the US. They are the most diverse, varying in size, population, geography, and governmental structure. In their politics and policies, they express a 1990's political slogan "Think globally, act locally."