Aravaipa, Arizona facts for kids

Aravaipa, once called Dunlap, was a small community in Graham County, Arizona. It was located near Arizona Gulch, a stream that flows into Deer Creek, which then joins Aravaipa Creek. This spot is north of the town of Klondyke. Aravaipa sits high up, at an elevation of 4600 feet.

The History of Aravaipa

Aravaipa began as a ranch headquarters in 1882. It was first named Dunlap, after Burt Dunlap, the rancher who started it. Burt Dunlap was an important person in the community. He was the postmaster, meaning he was in charge of the local post office, from 1883 until 1892.

Mr. Dunlap also served several terms in the territorial legislature. This was a group of people who helped make laws for the Arizona Territory before it became a state.

The town and its post office were later renamed Aravaipa. This happened because there was already another post office in Arizona with the name Dunlap. The new name, Aravaipa, honored the local Apache people of the area. In 1893, the post office in Aravaipa closed down.

Aravaipa was a small town, focused on mining and ranching. In 1900, only 17 people lived there. By 1920, the population had dropped to 12. The town once had a school, a store, and even a pool hall. Today, Aravaipa is mostly a ghost town, with only a few old buildings and outhouses remaining.