Maricopa Wells, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maricopa Wells, Arizona
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An American wagon train at Maricopa Wells, 1857 drawing
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 Maricopa Wells, Arizona
Location in Arizona
Maricopa Wells, Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| County | Pinal |
| Elevation | 1,093 ft (333 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (MST) |
| Area code(s) | 520 |
| FIPS code | 04-44585 |
| GNIS feature ID | 42802 |
Maricopa Wells was an important historical spot in Pinal County, Arizona. Imagine an oasis, a place with water in the middle of a dry area! That's what Maricopa Wells was. It was located near the Sierra Estrella mountains, about eight miles north of where the town of Maricopa, Arizona is today. This special place became a busy center for trading and a popular stop for travelers in the mid to late 1800s. It sits about 1,093 feet (333 meters) above sea level.
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A Historic Stopping Place
Maricopa Wells got its name from travelers on the Southern Emigrant Trail. This trail was a long route used by people moving west. Travelers would stop at Maricopa Wells to rest. They could also feed and water their animals here.
Trading with Native Americans
The travelers often traded with the local Maricopa and Pima tribes. These native people grew crops using water from the Gila River. They would trade their crops for other goods. This made Maricopa Wells a lively trading spot.
A Hub for Stagecoaches
Over time, Maricopa Wells grew into a small settlement. It became a main station for large stagecoach lines. These included the San Antonio-San Diego Mail Line and the famous Butterfield Overland Mail. Later, other stagecoach companies also used it. For a while, it was even the most important military telegraph post in all of Arizona Territory.
The End of an Era
Maricopa Wells was eventually abandoned. This happened after the Maricopa and Phoenix Railway built a new train route. The new route went north through Tempe to Phoenix. The plan was to make Maricopaville the end of the line. But Tempe ended up getting that spot. So, the settlement moved east to a new place called Maricopa Junction. This new place is known today as Maricopa, Arizona.
Images for kids
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Maricopa and Pimas Villages, Military District of New Mexico, mapped in 1858
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A 1904 map of the Pima Indian Reservation, showing Maricopa Wells compared to the new Maricopa town
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Maricopa Wells is in the center of this 1913 map, marked as "abandoned"
