Overview of the town of Camp Verde

Area
Camp Verde is in the lower Verde Valley of central Arizona. The community, oldest in the Verde Valley, was established in 1865 to protect settlers from Indian raids. The town incorporated in 1986. Camp Verde, on the banks of the Verde River at an elevation of 3,133 feet, is near the geographic center of the state of Arizona.

The Verde Valley is one of the fastest-growing areas in Arizona. The valley has many scenic State Parks, consisting of Ft. Verde State Park in Camp Verde; Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Cottonwood; Jerome State Historic Park in Jerome; and Slide Rock and Red Rock State Parks in Sedona.

Also, there are several National Monuments in the area, consisting of Montezuma's Well and Montezuma's Castle, both located near Camp Verde. Tuzigoot National Monument is located near Cottonwood.

Population
The Verde Valley is experiencing rapid growth. Many factors account for this: the Valley's mild climate, scenic beauty, clean air and water, slower pace and recreation offerings are enticing many newcomers to the area. Projections indicate steady, manageable growth in the future. According to the Chamber of Commerce, Camp Verde has a population of 8,500.

Education
Elementary and high school students attend Camp Verde Public Schools. School bus service is provided at the ranch's entrance on Salt Mine Road.

The region is also the home of the Verde Campus of Yavapai Community College.

Scenic Attrations
The Fort Verde State Park in Camp Verde contains military artifacts, Indian relics and articles used by the settlers and Indians. Four of the original adobe for buildings still stand and are open to the public. The General Crook Trail, beginning at the Park and winding north through the Mogollon Rim to Fort Apache, is a scenic drive of unsurpassed beauty along which can be seen the old mile markers on rocks and trees.

The first church built in the Verde Valley, Clear Creek Church, has been restored and adjoins the Clear Creek Cemetery, where many pioneers are buried.

The Verde Valley is a sport paradise with fishing in the Verde River and trout streams; and hunting for deer, elk, antelope, bear, quail, dove, duck, geese, wild turkey and rabbit. Beasley Flats (located south of the ranch on the Verde River), operated by the US Forest Service, is now a major starting point for trips on the Verde River.

The second weekend of October each year, Camp Verde celebrates Fort Verde Days with a parade, horse events, barbecue, calvary drills and arts shows. Camp Verde residents also enjoy the cultural Verde Valley Fair in May.


Precipitation
The average total annual precipitation is 12.21 inches. Most rainfall occurs in the summer months and the annual average temperature ranges from a low of 45ºF to an annual average high of 79ºF.

History
History abounds in this geographical center of Arizona.

Archaeologists estimate that humans have been in the Verde Valley for at least 11,000 years. The earliest inhabitants were Indians. A skillful farming people, the Hohokam moved into the Valley around A.D. 600. They were experts in irrigation procedures. The Sinagua were pithouse dwellers and dry farmers who moved into the Valley around 1125. The villages at Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot reached their present size in the 1300s and were abandoned in the early 1400s by the Sinaguan. The Yavapai were in the Valley when Captain Antonoio de Espejo and his band of Spanish conquistadors took possession of "great riches" in the Verde Valley in 1583.

Military occupation of the Verde Valley began in 1865 to protect settlers farming along the Verde River -- Clear Creek junction, five miles south of Camp Verde. Mining and farming disrupted the lives of the Tonto Apache and the Yavapai. The late 1860s and early 1870s saw major conflicts in the Valley. The first military post (1865) overlooked the farms at West Clear Creek. The next post, Camp Lincoln, was located one mile north of the Fort's present site, and was used from 1866-1871. The present post was built during 1871-73. Camp Verde has been renamed Fort Verde in 1879 to signify permanence. The post was abandoned in 1891. Local citizens began a museum in the administration building in 1956 and donated several buildings to create Fort Verde State Historical Park in 1970.

Jerome, sometimes nicknamed "The City in the Sky," was at one time the most talked-about mining camp in America. It was a roaring mining town. Jerome's modern history began in 1876. Three prospectors staked claims on rich copper deposits, which they later sold to the United Verde Copper Company in 1883. Eugene Jerome was the venture's principal backer. A new owner, William A. Clark, brought in a narrow-gauge railroad to reduce freight costs. By the early 20th century, the United Verde was the largest producing copper mine in the Arizona Territory. In 1912, James S. Douglas purchased and developed the Little Daisy Mine. Copper production peaked in 1929. The population at that time was 15,000. Loss of profits brought Jerome mining days to an end in 1953. By 1955, Jerome's population was less than 100, giving it the title of "ghost town." It is now a veritable paradise for artists, photographers and history buffs.

John James "Jim" Thompson squatted in Oak Creek Canyon in 1876, becoming its first permanent resident. Three years later, the Abraham James family became the first settlers of the site which in 1902 was named Sedona. Ranching and farming were originally the base of the region's economy. Due to its magnificent scenery, Sedona is a popular attraction for visitors.

Cottonwood, named after the beautiful cottonwood trees along the Verde River, was a farm settlement in the late 1870s and developed along with the progress of Jerome, providing homes for the miners, smeltermen and their families. Cottonwood was incorporated in 1960 and is the business center of the Verde Valley.

Just two miles north of Cottonwood is the town of Clarkdale, which was planned and built in the early 1900s to serve the employees and management of the smelter company which smelted copper ore from one of Jerome's mines. Most of the houses are original structures, and its quiet, tree-lined streets make it a favorite choice of retirees. Clarkdale was incorporated in 1957.

Verde Village is located south of the town limits of Cottonwood. It is a large development of new housing with a comfortable suburban feel and beautiful views. It was developed in 1970 and is not incorporated.

Bridgeport is also located east of the town limits along both sides of the Verde River and is an area of farms and ranches that still has a "rural atmosphere."

Medical
Verde Valley Medical Center (VVMC) is a 99-bed acute care facility and is equipped with the latest modern technology. This new facility (opened December, 1998) includes a 10-bed critical care unit, a pediatrics division, a trancare unit, and a Day-In-Day-Out Center for outpatient services, as well as medical/surgical units and a birthing center. The medical staff includes over 50 physicians, dentists, naturopaths, chiropractors, optometrists and opthamologists. The facility also sponsors home health care and respite/hospice programs.

Founded by Carrie Lawrence in 1930 in memory of her son, the facility serves Cottonwood and the greater Verde Valley including Camp Verde and Sedona.

In December 1998, Verde Valley Medical Center opened a new $23,000,000 hospital in Cottonwood, reaffirming that it is the premier rural hospital in Arizona.

In addition, VVMC is currently building a $2,500,000 Medical Clinic in Camp Verde at the Outpost Mall.


Air Transportation
The Valley has four public airports. Two of the airports, serving Cottonwood and Sedona, are paved.

The Cottonwood Airport at 3,500 feet elevation is 4,250 feet in length with a lighted and paved runway, fuel, mechanic service and UNICOM 122.7. It is a full-service airport with a paved taxiway and tie-down areas, FBO, car rental, aircraft rental, parts and supplies.

The Sedona Airport is at 4,830 feet elevation with a lighted runway of 5,135 feet in length, a paved taxiway and parking tie-down areas. Sedona is also a published instrument approach airport with charter service, car rental, taxi service and a restaurant on the field.

Camp Verde has a graveled landing strip located southeast of Camp Verde. In the Verde Valley, the majority of the air traffic uses the Cottonwood or Sedona airports.


Highway
With Camp Verde having three exits on Interstate 17 and being located approximately 50 miles from Flagstaff on Interstate 40, insures that a substantial market can be reached overnight, or on second morning delivery. Interstate 17 is the main route north from Phoenix to Flagstaff, where it meets Interstate 40, The 1-17/Highway 260 intersection is one of the most heavily used in the entire Verde Valley.

Disclaimer: This information was obtained from sources deemed to be reliable but is not guaranteed by the Broker. Prospective buyers should check all the facts to their satisfaction. The property is subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal.