Sunset, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sunset, Arizona
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 Sunset, Arizona
Location in Arizona
Sunset, Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Arizona |
| County | Navajo |
| Founded | 1876 |
| Abandoned | 1887 |
| Founded by | Lot Smith and Company |
| Elevation | 4,895 ft (1,492 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST (no DST)) |
Sunset, Arizona was once a small town in Navajo County, Arizona, United States. It was located about four miles northwest of Winslow. Today, it is known as a populated place, meaning it's an area with people but no official local government.
Contents
The Founding of Sunset
Sunset was started in 1876. A group of people from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints settled there. They were led by a person named Lot Smith.
Why Sunset Disappeared
Life in Sunset was very hard. The area faced many challenges.
- There were long periods of drought, meaning not enough rain.
- When it did rain, there were sudden flash floods.
- These floods washed away the dams and irrigation systems.
- Without water, crops could not grow. This led to many crop failures.
Because of these problems, people started to leave. By 1884, Sunset was no longer considered a town. The very last settlers moved away in 1888.
What Remains Today
The Little Colorado River now flows where the town of Sunset used to be. Most of the original town site is gone. However, a small hilltop cemetery still exists. This cemetery is called Sunset Cemetery. It is now part of the Homolovi State Park.
Other Little Colorado River Colonies
Sunset was one of four settlements along the Little Colorado River. These were often called "colonies." The other three colonies were:
Out of these four, only Joseph City is still a living community today. The others, like Sunset, became ghost towns.
