Navajo
County, Arizona
History
Navajo
County has
an area of 9,826 square miles, and is nearly the size of the State of
Maryland. By the census of 1900 the population was 8,829 or less than
one to each square mile of territory. The boundaries of this county are
as follows: on the north by the State of Utah, on the east by Apache
County, on the south by Graham and Gila Counties, on the west by Gila
and Coconino Counties.
There
are parts of
two Indian reserves in this county, viz.: Moquis and Navajos. Nearly
the whole county is mountainous and it is claimed there are fine
prospects of coal, as well as most of the other minerals. Holbrook is
the county-seat, and is a place of some considerable importance, being
situated upon the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad. This county was formed
out of Apache County by act of the Territorial legislature, March 21,
1895. The county proper or so much of it as is not included in Indian
reservations, is about one hundred miles long north and' south, by some
fifty east and west. The main industries are cattle and sheep raising
and cultivating the soil.
Scattered
throughout
the county are many points of special interest, such as the
world famous Petrified Forest, the Painted Desert, the great Natural
Bridge in the northern part, while scattered from one end of the county
to the other are ruins of prehistoric cities. North of the line of the
railroad that crosses the county are indications of a heavy deposit of
coal. Coal is also found near Show Low and in the White Mountains, but
so far not in quantity and only of inferior quality. There are several
salt lakes some thirty miles south of Navajo Station on the Atlantic
Railroad, where an excellent dairy and table salt are produced.
The
people pay
great attention to schools and upon an average have their public
schools taught by efficient teachers, seven months in each year. There
are a goodly number of places of religious worship, mostly of the
Latter- day Saints (Mormon) persuasion. So far there is but one
newspaper published in the county, styled Winslow Mail. With the hardy,
industrious, economical and honest population, this county will, in a
very short time, be a great wealth producer.
Source: The
History of Arizona By Sidney Randolph De Long