Graham County

By Graham County Historical Society and Museum

Originally located in Doña Ana County in New Mexico Territory, the area that eventually became Graham County, Arizona, was part of a vast high desert landscape that stretched all the way to the Colorado River. In 1881, the Arizona legislature broke from the tradition of naming counties after local Native American tribes when it carved Graham County out of Pima and Apache Counties and named it for the 10,516-foot Mount Graham, the highest peak in the area. The last refuge of the legendary Native American war leader Geronimo, the region also boasts some of southeastern Arizona’s most beautiful topography, including the Santa Teresa Range, Mount Turnbull, the Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness, Roper Lake, the Pinaleño Range, and the Gila River. Today more than 33,000 residents call Graham County home.

About the Author

Born in Graham County, author Harold E. Herbert has a deep love for this land and its rich history. He serves as the official historian of the Graham County Historical Society and Museum and has published articles in the Journal of Arizona History, Graham County’s Links to the Past, and several newspapers. Drawing on the image collections of the Graham County Historical Society and local residents, this entertaining and informative retrospective chronicles the unique story of this place and the men and women who built a thriving community in it.