Agua Caliente, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Agua Caliente, Arizona
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Populated place
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-Agua_Caliente_Resort-1897.jpg)
Agua Caliente Resort
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | Maricopa |
| Elevation | 456 ft (139 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | N/A |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (MST) |
| ZIP codes |
85333
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| Area code(s) | 520 |
Agua Caliente is a small place in Maricopa County, Arizona. It is located near the border with Yuma County. You can find it north of the Gila River, close to Hyder, Arizona.
The name "Agua Caliente" comes from Spanish. It means "hot water." This name was given because of the natural hot springs nearby. Local Indigenous people used these springs for a long time. In 1744, Father Jacob Sedelmayer called the area 'Santa Maria del Agua Caliente'. Later, in 1775, Father Francisco Garces used the shorter name we know today.
Contents
Agua Caliente's Population History
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 113 | — | |
| 1910 | 153 | 35.4% | |
| 1920 | 57 | −62.7% | |
| 1930 | 60 | 5.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 1900, about 113 people lived in Agua Caliente. The population changed over the years. In 1910, it was listed as the Agua Caliente Precinct of Maricopa County. It appeared again in the 1920 and 1930 censuses. By 1940, the population was around 60 people. After 1940, it was no longer listed separately in the census.
Old Travel Stops and Stations
Flap-Jack Ranch and Stagecoach Travel
Around 1858, a place called Flap-Jack Ranch was built. It was about six miles from the Agua Caliente hot springs. This ranch became a stagecoach station for the Butterfield Overland Mail. Stagecoaches were like buses pulled by horses, used for mail and passengers.
Grinnell's Ranch and Stanwix Station
By 1862, Flap-Jack Ranch was known as Grinnell's Ranch. It was an important stop for travelers heading to Tucson. Later, a place called Stanwix Ranch or Stanwix Station became famous. This was where the westernmost fight of the American Civil War happened. In the early 1900s, the old U.S. Route 80 in Arizona passed by here. This made it a popular stop for tourists. But later, the road was moved, and traffic bypassed the area.
The Agua Caliente Ranch and Resort
Visiting the Hot Springs
In 1864, a writer named John Ross Browne visited the Agua Caliente Springs. He described them as amazing. He said the water was the perfect temperature. It made your skin soft and helped you relax. He felt they were as good as any hot springs in the world.
The Resort and Its Decline
By 1873, the Agua Caliente Ranch was owned by King S. Woolsey. It was a well-known place. In 1897, a resort was built there. It had 22 rooms and a swimming pool. The pool used the hot water from the springs.
Today, parts of the old hotel still stand. However, the hot springs have dried up. This happened because too much groundwater was pumped out for farming nearby.
Current Status of the Property
The Agua Caliente property is now owned by Sam Hughes. It includes the old hotel, which is no longer open. There are also old stone houses and other buildings that are falling apart. Some of the land is still farmed, but most of it remains untouched.
See Also
