Apache County Arizona dates back to February 24th, 1879. It was created out of Yavapai County, and has since been divided further into its current 11,174 square miles.
Longest County in the Country
Interstate I-40 cuts through the middle of the county east to west, and Highway 191 runs north and south - all 211 miles, making Apache County the longest in the country.
St. Johns Arizona is the county seat, located in the southern part of the county features Lymon Lake State Park, an Equestrian Center and RV Facilities, and a Historical Museum.
Two thirds of the County’s population of 70,000 and over half the land area is comprised of the Navajo Nation, the largest Native American tribe.
A Growing County, with Plenty to Do
You’ll find Blue Spruce and Aspen covered mountains near the towns of Alpine and Nutrioso and the clear, cold water of the Little Colorado River near St. Johns.
The Navajo Nation begins near sanders and features the beautiful Pinon covered mesas, red sandstone cliffs, huge valleys and hidden cannons.
The main towns include Window Rock and Fort Definance in the south, Ganado in the center and Chinle in the north, with many smaller towns in between.
Apache County is growing, with new permanent jobs being created a the Springerville Generating Station, as well as all of the services needed in the surrounding communities.
Land values are increasing, too. New development is being approved for local residents, as well as to meet the desire for rural recreational property or a second home by those living in more urban areas of the state.
Apache County is a place filled with rich culture, and endless scenic and recreational opportunities. It is becoming an important travel destination in Arizona.
Petrified Forest National Park
Apache County is also home to the Petrified Forest National Park, named for its large deposits of petrified wood. The Park consists of over 230 square miles and extends into the Painted Desert.
Petrified Forest is best known for its fossils, especially of fallen trees, ferns, and other plants, as well as giant reptiles, large amphibians, and early dinosaures, many estimated to be about 225 million years old. Paleontologists have been studying the Park’s fossils for almost 100 years.
More than 600 archeological sites, including petroglyphs have been found in the Park.
The Park is home to pronghorns, coyotes, bobcats, jackrabbits, prairie dogs, and an endless collection of smaller mammals, birds, reptiles like the collared lizard, and amphibians.
While there, be sure to visit the Painted Desert Visitor Center and the Rainbow Museum.
Activities also include backpacking, bicycling, hiking, and touring commercially or via your own car or motorcycle. Horseback riding is allowed in the wilderness areas, and water for your horses is available near the Visitor Center. Numerous Ranger-led programs are also available.
Four Corners
And of course, Apache County is home to the Arizona portion of “Four Corners”, where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah all meet.
Not only can you stand in four states at once, but you can buy dreamcatchers, Kachina dolls, Navajo rugs, pottery, jewelry, sand paintings, as well as a variety of food, Navajo style.