The Arizona Territory 1862 – 1912

Arizona Geography
GCU 221
 Game Plan
• 1853 – Part of New Mexico territory
• 1861 – Tucson and southern New Mexico
claim independence and join the Confederacy
• 1862 – Arizona becomes formal territory
• 1867 - Phoenix settled.
• 1869 –Powell and the Grand Canyon
• 1877 – Desert Land Act provides 640 acres
• 1882 - Railroad helps industry immensely
• Important industries of early Arizona includes:
mining, farming, cattle, and train
construction
1853 - Part of New Mexico Territory

Boundaries of the New Mexico Territory as the

Confederates wanted to see it.
 1861 – Tucson joins Confederacy

Arizonans were dissatisfied with the US government for

neglecting them in their need to deal with Apache raids
and for shutting down the Butterfield Overland Route.
 1862 - Battle of Picacho Pass
One of four minor
battles that occurred in
Arizona. Tucson taken
without incident.

Occurred along the a

remote remount station
along the Butterfield
Overland route.
1862 – Arizona Territory is born

Where should the capital be?

 1862 – Arizona Territory is born
Northern mining
town preferred
Prescott, AZ by Americans
from back east

Southern former
Spanish, Mexican,
and Confederate
Tucson, AZ stronghold

Where should the capital be?

 1867 – Phoenix founded

Jack Swilling

Phoenix rises from the ashes, agriculture

intensifies. Becomes the capital of AZ.
 John Wesley Powell and Grand
Canyon - 1869

160 rapids in Grand

Canyon alone, a
1,000 mile journey.
Desert Land Act - 1877

“For $1.40 an acre, a

married family could
claim 640 acres if
they promised to
TRY and irrigate the
land within 3 years.”
Industry leads to the establishment of
railroads in 1882
 Arizona Mining and Trading
Company - 1854

Grandviewite
Mining even in the Grand
Started near Ajo, kicked off
Canyon, more profit from
mining in Arizona Tourism, in 1890

Gold, Silver, Lead, Zinc, Asbestos, Copper, Borax

 1863 – One in four Arizonans
was a miner or prospector
Ajo Copper mine, intensified in
1884, discovered in 1854
Tailings largest dam in the
country 7.4 billion cubic feet
Started at 20% ore to less than
1% today
Originally smelted in Swansea
Wales, around the horn.
Produced $20 billion in ore
Discovered by Tom Childs, an old
abandoned mine named Old Bat
Hole with a 60 foot shaft.
Tombstone History
founded in 1879

Tough Nut Mine

Nearby mines produced an estimated $85 million in

silver, founded by Ed Schieffelin,
Told the only stone he would find would be a “Tombstone”.
Tombstone History
Gunfight at the OK Corral in March 15, 1881 Ike
Mostly unknown to the public until 1931 Clanton

Wyatt Earp

Virgil Earp

The gun battle at the OK Corral between the Earp

brothers and the Cow-boys.
Early Arizona Cattle Industry 1880s

Moves from Texas (affected by heavy overgrazing)

into Arizona with the development of the rail lines.
Aztec Land and Cattle Company (Hashknife Outfit)
Third largest ranch in North America in the late 1800s

Utilized 2,000,000 acres of land bought at $0.50 an acre

Stretched from New Mexico to Flagstaff
26 deaths in Holbrook, AZ in 1886 out 250 people
Aztec Land and Cattle Company (Hashknife Outfit)
Third largest ranch in North America in the late 1800s

Burton C.
Mossman

Bucket o’ Blood
Saloon Arizona Rangers
Severe winter in 1900 devastated the outfit.
Over utilized the land, 20 cattle per acre instead of 7.
The ranch was sold to the Babbitt Brothers in 1901
 Canyon Diablo near Holbrook, AZ

Hell Street had 14

saloons, 10 gambling
houses, 4 brothels,
and 2 dance halls

Town built to support the construction of a railroad

bridge across Canyon Diablo, later became Two Guns,
built to support Route 66.
 Things to know:
• 1853 – part of New Mexico territory
• 1861 – Tucson and southern New Mexico
claim independence and join the Confederacy
• 1862 – Arizona becomes formal territory
• 1869 – John Wesley Powell explores the
Colorado River
• 1877 – Desert Land Act provides 640 acres
• 1882 – Establishment of railroads
• Important early industries: farming, cattle,
and mining