Heber-Overgaard, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Heber-Overgaard, Arizona
|
|
|---|---|
Heber-Overgaard as viewed from SR260 at mile post 307.
|
|
| Motto(s):
"Always In Season"
|
|
Location in Navajo County and the state of Arizona
|
|
 Heber-Overgaard, Arizona
Location in Arizona
Heber-Overgaard, Arizona
Location in the United States
Heber-Overgaard, Arizona
Location in North America
|
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Arizona |
| County | Navajo |
| Settled | 1883 |
| Established | 1890 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Unincorporated |
| • Body | Navajo County Board of Supervisors |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.86 sq mi (17.77 km2) |
| • Land | 6.86 sq mi (17.77 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 6,627 ft (2,020 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 2,898 |
| • Density | 422.45/sq mi (1,094.14/km2) |
| Demonyms | Heberite, Overgaardian |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (MST (no DST)) |
| ZIP Codes |
85928, 85933
|
| Area code(s) | 928 |
| FIPS code | 04-32310 |
| GNIS ID(s) | 2408368 |
| Major airport | Mogollon Airpark |
| State Routes |    |
Heber-Overgaard is a small community in Navajo County, Arizona, United States. It's called a census-designated place (CDP), which means it's a special area used for gathering population data. The community sits high up on the Mogollon Rim, about 6,627 feet (2,020 meters) above sea level. In 2020, about 2,898 people lived there.
Heber and Overgaard were once two separate communities. But they are so close that they were combined into "Heber-Overgaard" for the 1990 census. Heber was settled in 1883 by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was named after either Heber J. Grant or Heber C. Kimball, both important church leaders. Overgaard was settled around 1936. It got its name from Kristen Kristensen (Chris) Overgaard, who owned the first sawmill there.
Long ago, people in Heber-Overgaard made a living by dry farming (growing crops without irrigation) and ranching. Today, the main industries are tourism, people moving there to retire, and timbering (cutting down trees for wood).
Contents
History of Heber-Overgaard
How Heber-Overgaard Started
In 1873, Mormon pioneers from Utah came to the Little Colorado River area. By 1876, they had set up four small towns. But after several years of drought, many of these towns struggled. So, in 1882, a man named John Bushman was sent to explore the forests to the south. People thought it would be easier to farm there because of more rain, good grass, and plenty of trees.
On December 6, 1882, Bushman and five other men went to the forest. They started digging wells to find water. More men joined them later. By April 1883, they had built two cabins and planted grain. Only four families stayed: Lehi Heward, John Scarlet, Hans Nielson, and James Shelley. They built houses, cleared land, and planted crops. The growing season was about four months long.
Over the next few years, some families left. Lehi Heward moved away in 1887 because of a conflict called the Pleasant Valley War. John Scarlet left in 1888. But James and Margaret Shelley were the only original family who stayed and made Heber their long-term home.
Early Days of Heber
In 1882, Heber J. Grant visited the settlement and stayed with the Shelley family. The townspeople later named their community after him. Another story says it was named after Heber C. Kimball, an important leader from the early days of Utah.
The first post office in Heber opened in 1890. James Shelley became the first postmaster. Mail arrived once a week from Holbrook by a horse-drawn cart.
More families came to Heber in the 1890s. Many settled in the rich farmlands of Black Canyon. They grew potatoes, corn, and had large gardens. They also raised cattle. People were careful around Apache Native Americans. They often gave food to any Native Americans who passed through town to keep the peace. Travel was sometimes dangerous because of outlaws and quicksand. Horse thieves were also a big problem.
In 1891, John Hoyle, an immigrant from Germany, opened the first store in Heber. He had been a cook for a famous ranching group called the Hashknife Outfit. He ran the store until he passed away in 1912.
May 1898 was very dry, and people had to bring water from other towns for their homes. When the rains finally came in July, everyone celebrated Fourth of July with extra joy. They fired guns, set off firecrackers, had picnics, and danced. Years later, the Fourth of July remained a huge celebration in Heber. They would have rodeos with calf roping and horse riding, pistol shooting contests, foot races, and dances.
Heber-Overgaard in the 1900s
In 1904, a severe drought caused many cattle to die. Many settlers felt discouraged and left the area. James Shelley and his sons had to take their cattle to a lake on the Apache reservation to find water. Even though they were trespassing, the Native Americans didn't bother them.
After John Hoyle's store closed, Alva Porter and Thomas Shelley opened a new one in 1912. Thomas Shelley and his wife ran it until 1957. This store later became the "Heber Country Store" and then "IGA Supermarket."
By the 1930s, Heber was known as a logging town. Horses were used to pull logs until 1965. Logging and ranching were the main jobs until the mid-1990s. That's when rules were put in place to protect the Mexican spotted owl in the Sitgreaves National Forest.
The town of Overgaard was named after Kristen Kristensen "Chris" Overgaard. He was born in Denmark in 1881 and came to the United States to work in sawmills. In 1936, he moved to Arizona and set up a sawmill. The town, originally called "Oklahoma Flats," changed its name to honor him. The sawmill was later replaced by a senior center. The Overgaard post office opened in 1938.
On February 1, 1971, local citizens started working to create a Fire Department for Heber-Overgaard. By June 4, 1973, the Heber-Overgaard Fire District was officially formed. It covered an area of 102 square miles.
The first Fourth of July parade was held in 1976. It has become a very popular event, drawing crowds of up to 20,000 people. Since 1980, Les Parham of Heber-Overgaard put on fireworks displays for 39 years. These shows are paid for by donations from people who enjoy them.
In 1988, Heber-Overgaard held its first Oktoberfest. This event includes food, live music, and arts and crafts.
In 1995, logging in the national forests of Arizona and New Mexico was stopped by a judge's order. This was to protect the Mexican spotted owl. This decision affected many jobs in the area, and many Heber-Overgaard residents had to move to find work. The forests remained closed for over eight years.
Heber-Overgaard Today
In 2002, the Rodeo–Chediski Fire was a huge wildfire that burned in Heber-Overgaard. It started on June 18, 2002, and wasn't controlled until July 7. It was one of Arizona's worst forest fires, destroying 268 buildings in Heber-Overgaard and burning over 467,000 acres (1,890 square kilometers). Overgaard had to be evacuated for almost two weeks.
Today, Heber-Overgaard is a popular place for retirement and tourism. People enjoy hiking and fishing in the summer, and cross-country skiing in the winter. The town has four seasons, making it a great escape from the heat of Phoenix. Many houses in Heber-Overgaard are second homes. While about 2,822 people live there full-time, the population can grow to nearly 12,000 in the summer.
Geography of Heber-Overgaard
Heber-Overgaard is in the central-eastern part of Arizona. It's about halfway between Payson and Show Low. By car, it's about 144 miles (231.74 km) north of Phoenix. The town is located in the Apache–Sitgreaves National Forest at an average height of 6,627 feet (2,020 m). It's in the White Mountains, on the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau, and is surrounded by forest service land.
The area has rolling hills and flat meadows, except for Black Canyon and Buckskin Canyon in Heber. The main roads, SR 260 and SR 277, are maintained by the state. Other roads are dirt roads maintained by Navajo County.
The community covers about 6.9 square miles (17.77 square kilometers) of land.
Nearby Towns
Climate and Weather
Heber-Overgaard has a unique climate. It has dry periods in early summer, followed by heavy thunderstorms. The cooler months bring rain from weather fronts. Like other places with this type of climate, forest fires can happen often during dry summer periods.
| Climate data for Heber–Overgaard, Arizona (1991-2020 normals, extremes 1950–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 72 (22) |
78 (26) |
78 (26) |
85 (29) |
91 (33) |
100 (38) |
100 (38) |
98 (37) |
94 (34) |
87 (31) |
78 (26) |
70 (21) |
100 (38) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 58.7 (14.8) |
62.9 (17.2) |
69.5 (20.8) |
75.6 (24.2) |
82.7 (28.2) |
90.5 (32.5) |
91.2 (32.9) |
88.1 (31.2) |
84.7 (29.3) |
78.8 (26.0) |
69.4 (20.8) |
61.9 (16.6) |
92.4 (33.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 45.6 (7.6) |
49.6 (9.8) |
56.5 (13.6) |
63.6 (17.6) |
71.0 (21.7) |
81.7 (27.6) |
83.0 (28.3) |
80.5 (26.9) |
75.5 (24.2) |
66.9 (19.4) |
55.3 (12.9) |
45.6 (7.6) |
64.6 (18.1) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 32.7 (0.4) |
36.2 (2.3) |
42.1 (5.6) |
47.8 (8.8) |
54.9 (12.7) |
64.8 (18.2) |
69.4 (20.8) |
67.6 (19.8) |
61.5 (16.4) |
51.5 (10.8) |
41.0 (5.0) |
32.7 (0.4) |
50.2 (10.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 19.9 (−6.7) |
22.9 (−5.1) |
27.7 (−2.4) |
32.0 (0.0) |
38.9 (3.8) |
47.9 (8.8) |
55.8 (13.2) |
54.8 (12.7) |
47.5 (8.6) |
36.1 (2.3) |
26.7 (−2.9) |
19.9 (−6.7) |
35.8 (2.1) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 2.8 (−16.2) |
7.1 (−13.8) |
13.5 (−10.3) |
18.9 (−7.3) |
26.4 (−3.1) |
35.3 (1.8) |
46.6 (8.1) |
46.2 (7.9) |
33.5 (0.8) |
21.5 (−5.8) |
11.1 (−11.6) |
2.1 (−16.6) |
−1.5 (−18.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −25 (−32) |
−18 (−28) |
−12 (−24) |
3 (−16) |
13 (−11) |
21 (−6) |
30 (−1) |
30 (−1) |
21 (−6) |
9 (−13) |
−11 (−24) |
−22 (−30) |
−25 (−32) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.74 (44) |
1.65 (42) |
1.41 (36) |
0.67 (17) |
0.63 (16) |
0.45 (11) |
2.67 (68) |
2.98 (76) |
1.84 (47) |
1.22 (31) |
1.24 (31) |
1.87 (47) |
18.37 (466) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 7.1 (18) |
6.4 (16) |
1.9 (4.8) |
0.5 (1.3) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.4 (1.0) |
0.9 (2.3) |
5.0 (13) |
32.0 (81) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 inch) | 2.5 | 3.1 | 3.3 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 9.9 | 9.2 | 5.0 | 3.1 | 2.5 | 3.3 | 47.9 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 inch) | 2.4 | 2.1 | 1 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1 | 1.1 | 8.6 |
| Source 1: NOAA | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service | |||||||||||||
Plants and Animals of the Area
Heber-Overgaard is surrounded by the Apache–Sitgreaves National Forest. You can find many native plants and animals here.
Common mammals include elk, mule deer, black bear, coyote, and mountain lion. You might also see antelope, different types of squirrels, rabbits, and skunks.
Many bird species live here, such as bald eagles, golden eagles, wild turkeys, and various owls and hawks. Songbirds like robins and steller's jays are also common.
The area is home to several types of snakes, including rattlesnakes (which are venomous) and non-venomous ones like gopher snakes. There are also many lizards and skinks. Amphibians like different kinds of toads and frogs can be found too.
You can also find a variety of insects and spiders. These include the Arizona blond tarantula, black widow, and different kinds of beetles and butterflies.
The plants in the area are a mix of pine forests and pinyon-juniper woodlands. You'll see tall ponderosa pine trees, smaller pinyon pines, and bushy junipers. Many wildflowers and grasses also grow here.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1990 | 1,581 | — | |
| 2000 | 2,722 | 72.2% | |
| 2010 | 2,822 | 3.7% | |
| 2020 | 2,898 | 2.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, Heber-Overgaard had 2,898 people living in 1,350 homes. Most homes (83%) had 2 to 3 bedrooms. The average family size was about 3 people.
The people living here come from different backgrounds. Most residents (87.6%) are White. About 11.4% are Hispanic or Latino, and 1.7% are American Indian or Alaska Native.
About 16.5% of households had children under 18. The median age of people in Heber-Overgaard was 55.4 years. This means it's a community with many older adults, with 34.4% of the population being 65 or older.
The median income for a household was about $35,417 per year. About 22.3% of the people lived below the poverty line. Many people work in retail, construction, and services. About 32.1% of adults have a high school degree, and many have some college education.
Local Economy
Retirement and tourism are very important to the economy of Heber-Overgaard. The nearby Sitgreaves National Forest offers many fun activities. Timber is also harvested from the forest for sawmills and paper mills. A special plant processes leftover forest materials into mulch.
Many businesses provide services for the retired people living in the community. Government jobs and schools also help the local economy. More retail stores are opening, and construction is also growing in the area.
Parks and Fun Activities
Heber-Overgaard has many community places for fun and learning. There's a public library, a large 40-acre park, and an observatory for looking at the stars. There's also an airpark for small planes.
For sports, you can find fields for baseball, football, and Little League. There are also courts for basketball, volleyball, tennis, and racquetball.
Just south of town is the Mogollon Rim. This is a very steep cliff that offers amazing views. There are also many man-made lakes nearby where you can go fishing.
Hunting is allowed for animals like elk, deer, turkey, antelope, and bear. Fishing in the local trout streams is also popular. You can find picnic and camping spots in the area. Other beautiful places to visit include Black Canyon Lake, Willow Springs Lake, Woods Canyon Lake, and the Canyon Creek Fish Hatchery.
Community Services
Heber-Overgaard is an unincorporated community. This means it's governed by the Navajo County Board of Supervisors. The county provides education, fire, and police services.
Schools and Learning
The Heber-Overgaard Unified School District serves the community.
- Mountain Meadows Primary School (Pre-K to 3rd grade)
- Capps Middle School (4th to 6th grade)
- Mogollon Junior High School (7th to 8th grade)
- Mogollon High School (9th to 12th grade)
About 471 students attend these schools. Northland Pioneer College, a community college, also serves Navajo County. It has centers in nearby towns like Holbrook and Show Low.
Safety and Emergency Services
The community is kept safe by the sheriff's posse, county deputies, and the Department of Public Safety.
The Heber-Overgaard Fire Department started in 1971. It has paramedics, EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians), and many volunteers who help in emergencies.
Getting Around
Mountain Valley Shuttle offers bus stops in Heber for its route between Phoenix and Show Low.
For air travel, residents can use public airports in Show Low or Taylor. There's also a private airpark in Overgaard.
Well-Known People
- Chester J. Crandell – A former Arizona State senator.
- Jesse Horn – An American author, illustrator, and musician.
See also
In Spanish: Heber-Overgaard para niños
