Wilford, Arizona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wilford, Arizona
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 Wilford, Arizona
Location in Arizona
Wilford, Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Arizona |
| County | Navajo |
| Founded | 1883 |
| Abandoned | 1926 |
| Founded by | Jerome Jefferson Adams |
| Named for | Wilford Woodruff |
| Elevation | 6,709 ft (2,045 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST (no DST)) |
Wilford, Arizona, is a ghost town. This means it's a place where people used to live, but now it's empty. It's located in Navajo County, Arizona, in the United States. You can find it about 7 miles south of Heber-Overgaard.
The town was started in April 1883 by a group of Latter-day Saints. They came from another settlement called Brigham City that didn't work out. Wilford was eventually left empty because too many cattle ate all the grass. The last people moved away in 1926.
Contents
History of Wilford, Arizona
How Wilford Started
In the 1880s, settlers living near the Little Colorado River were having a tough time. They decided to move to the forests near the Mogollon Rim. Wilford was founded in April 1883 by members of LDS Church.
The town was first called "Adam's Valley." It was named after its founder, Jerome Jefferson Adams. But the name was changed to "Wilford" in August 1883. This new name honored President Wilford Woodruff, who was the fourth president of the LDS Church.
Life in Early Wilford
The Adams family was joined by other families from Brigham City, like the Edmund Richardsons and Charles Whitings. Later, more families, including the Brookbanks, moved to Wilford. Other settlers from nearby towns also created small communities close by. By 1883, over 30 families lived in these areas.
Wilford mostly had simple, one-room log cabins. People made a living by dry farming and raising cattle. They grew crops like corn, potatoes, wheat, and melons. Milk from their cows was used for many things. They could trade their crops and milk for other goods and services. Getting medical help was hard back then. The nearest doctor was a two-day trip away.
Changes and Challenges
In February 1885, a new law caused many LDS Church members to move. The Church advised some families to go south to Mexico. They wanted to build a safe city there. Because of this, nearly half of Wilford's population left.
The next year, new people started moving into the area. These included non-LDS families and cowboys from the Hashknife Outfit. The Hashknife cowboys herded cattle for a large company. Some residents felt scared by the cowboys. It was even common for cowboys to move into empty cabins if a family left for a while. This became such a big problem that law enforcement had to get involved.
Why Wilford Became a Ghost Town
By 1888, the land around Wilford was in bad shape. Years of overgrazing by the Aztec Land & Cattle Company's cows had ruined the grassy fields. Many families decided to leave the settlement around this time. Some moved to nearby Heber, while others joined their friends in Mexico.
Wilford stopped being a real town by 1889. It became just a few scattered ranches. The very last residents moved out in 1926. Today, you can only find loose rock foundations. These are the only signs that a town once stood there.
