HISTORY
The Gila Valley at the Base of Mount Graham
The Gila Valley at the Base of Mount Graham
|
|
In the southeastern part of Arizona, the Gila Valley (pronounced HE-LA) is nestled between the base of the majestic 11,000-foot Mount Graham to the south and the 6,000-foot Gila Mountains to the north. Running through the valley is the Gila River, which originates in New Mexico and joins the Colorado River in the westernmost part of the state. In its length of 35 miles, the valley, with an average elevation of 3,000 feet, serves many rural farming communities.
Throughout its history with mankind, it has been home to prehistoric Indian cultures, Apache tribes, Spanish explorers, military units, mining prospectors, and pioneers of different faiths who settled the area. Cotton farming, cattle-raising, copper mining, and community college education have been major influences in the valley.
Even though the Spanish expeditions in the 1800s had given this valley many names, it was the detailed recorded account of Lt. William H. Emory, a topographical engineer in 1846, who used the place name “Valley of the Gila.” With a little deviation, the term "The Gila Valley,” was used repeatedly since that time.
In 1879, the Mormons were the first to settle in the valley, staking out the town of Smithville, which is now known as Pima. Later, a Mexican population developed the town of San Jose while enterprising Jewish business men built up the town of Solomon and established businesses in Safford. Within time, mining operations would extend from the Clifton-Morenci area to Safford. Through the years, all would depend on the Valley of the Gila.
With its rich history and perseverance of those early settlers, the valley became part of the Old West Highway in more recent times. There is no doubt, the Gila Valley has been and still is an oasis in the desert.
The chosen name for this newly formed DAR chapter is a welcoming way to greet new members and share the mission of DAR with others. It would also be a way to pay tribute to a valley that reflects a sense of peace, beauty, spaciousness, and history in a nation that believes in freedom for its people.
Overlooking the Gila Valley is the prominent Mount Graham, which is part of the Pinaleno Range and the third highest summit in Arizona, with an elevation of almost 11, 000 feet. At that height, it is the dominant peak in the southeastern part of the state and provides beautiful vistas far beyond the immediate area. Throughout written history, the whole range has commonly been referred to as “Mount Graham.”
The Pinaleno Range is isolated from other mountains in the area; therefore, it is referred to as a “sky island” in the desert. With five life zones, it supports a variety of lush fauna and flora, some known only to this range.
Geologically, it has a solid, ancient granite core which was uplifted in more recent times, thus displaying outcrops of rock with jagged edges and steep slopes. On its north side are noticeably large, flat-top mesas formed partially from sediments washed down those slopes over time.
Like the Gila Valley, it has been explored by prehistoric Indian cultures, Apache tribes, Spanish conquistadors, fur trappers, military units, mining prospectors, and pioneers of different faiths settling in the area. It has supported a number of saw mills in addition to providing work for the Civil Conservation Corp Camps.
In 1846, the same year the name “Valley of the Gila” was first noted, Mount Graham was named in honor of Col. James Duncan Graham, a highly respected topographical engineer. Again, Lt. William H. Emory, a surveyor who worked with Col. Graham, was the one who first used this name.
Currently, in addition to recreational facilities provided by the U.S Forest Service for camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, and bird-watching; Mount Graham houses an observatory with the largest binocular telescope in the world, viewing vast distances into the Universe. Once again, the mountain extends its ability to see beautiful vistas after eons of time.
There are wonderful correlations between Mount Graham and this newly formed DAR chapter in the Gila Valley. The members have a solid core and will endure the test of time in being able to serve this area in patriotism, education, and historic preservation. And, even though this chapter is in an isolated part of the state, it will rise to the challenge in most unique and heartfelt ways.
Throughout its history with mankind, it has been home to prehistoric Indian cultures, Apache tribes, Spanish explorers, military units, mining prospectors, and pioneers of different faiths who settled the area. Cotton farming, cattle-raising, copper mining, and community college education have been major influences in the valley.
Even though the Spanish expeditions in the 1800s had given this valley many names, it was the detailed recorded account of Lt. William H. Emory, a topographical engineer in 1846, who used the place name “Valley of the Gila.” With a little deviation, the term "The Gila Valley,” was used repeatedly since that time.
In 1879, the Mormons were the first to settle in the valley, staking out the town of Smithville, which is now known as Pima. Later, a Mexican population developed the town of San Jose while enterprising Jewish business men built up the town of Solomon and established businesses in Safford. Within time, mining operations would extend from the Clifton-Morenci area to Safford. Through the years, all would depend on the Valley of the Gila.
With its rich history and perseverance of those early settlers, the valley became part of the Old West Highway in more recent times. There is no doubt, the Gila Valley has been and still is an oasis in the desert.
The chosen name for this newly formed DAR chapter is a welcoming way to greet new members and share the mission of DAR with others. It would also be a way to pay tribute to a valley that reflects a sense of peace, beauty, spaciousness, and history in a nation that believes in freedom for its people.
Overlooking the Gila Valley is the prominent Mount Graham, which is part of the Pinaleno Range and the third highest summit in Arizona, with an elevation of almost 11, 000 feet. At that height, it is the dominant peak in the southeastern part of the state and provides beautiful vistas far beyond the immediate area. Throughout written history, the whole range has commonly been referred to as “Mount Graham.”
The Pinaleno Range is isolated from other mountains in the area; therefore, it is referred to as a “sky island” in the desert. With five life zones, it supports a variety of lush fauna and flora, some known only to this range.
Geologically, it has a solid, ancient granite core which was uplifted in more recent times, thus displaying outcrops of rock with jagged edges and steep slopes. On its north side are noticeably large, flat-top mesas formed partially from sediments washed down those slopes over time.
Like the Gila Valley, it has been explored by prehistoric Indian cultures, Apache tribes, Spanish conquistadors, fur trappers, military units, mining prospectors, and pioneers of different faiths settling in the area. It has supported a number of saw mills in addition to providing work for the Civil Conservation Corp Camps.
In 1846, the same year the name “Valley of the Gila” was first noted, Mount Graham was named in honor of Col. James Duncan Graham, a highly respected topographical engineer. Again, Lt. William H. Emory, a surveyor who worked with Col. Graham, was the one who first used this name.
Currently, in addition to recreational facilities provided by the U.S Forest Service for camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, and bird-watching; Mount Graham houses an observatory with the largest binocular telescope in the world, viewing vast distances into the Universe. Once again, the mountain extends its ability to see beautiful vistas after eons of time.
There are wonderful correlations between Mount Graham and this newly formed DAR chapter in the Gila Valley. The members have a solid core and will endure the test of time in being able to serve this area in patriotism, education, and historic preservation. And, even though this chapter is in an isolated part of the state, it will rise to the challenge in most unique and heartfelt ways.
PHOTO CREDIT:
Website photograph of Mount Graham on this page by
Talana Hooper, Gila Valley Chapter organizing members.
Website photograph of Mount Graham on this page by
Talana Hooper, Gila Valley Chapter organizing members.
MAP CREDIT:
Permission granted by Graham County Chamber of Commerce
For more information on membership, please contact the Gila Valley Chapter Regent or Webmaster.
Learn more at www.dar.org or www.arizonadar.org
The content contained herein does not necessarily represent the position of the NSDAR. Hyperlinks to other sites are not the responsibility of the NSDAR, the state organizations or individual DAR chapters.
Permission granted by Graham County Chamber of Commerce
For more information on membership, please contact the Gila Valley Chapter Regent or Webmaster.
Learn more at www.dar.org or www.arizonadar.org
The content contained herein does not necessarily represent the position of the NSDAR. Hyperlinks to other sites are not the responsibility of the NSDAR, the state organizations or individual DAR chapters.
