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Apache County

75 West Cleveland
928-337-4364

History

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 encompassed all 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 In 1880 St. Johns was superseded by Springerville.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.

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

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.