Apache County, Arizona
| Apache County, Arizona | ||
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 Location in the U.S. state of Arizona |
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 Arizona's location in the U.S. |
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| Founded | February 24, 1879 | |
| Named for | Apache people | |
| Seat | St. Johns | |
| Largest community | Eager | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 11,218 sq mi (29,054 km2) | |
| • Land | 11,198 sq mi (29,003 km2) | |
| • Water | 21 sq mi (54 km2), 0.2% | |
| Population (est.) | ||
| • (2015) | 71,474 | |
| • Density | 6.4/sq mi (2/km²) | |
| Congressional district | 1st | |
| Time zone | Mountain: UTC-7 | |
| Website | www |
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Apache County is located in the northeast corner of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2010 census its population was 71,518. The county seat is St. Johns.
Apache County was formed during the Tenth Territorial Legislation in 1879 out of the eastern section of Yavapai County; officially all land east of 119°45′ W. By 1895, Navajo County and parts of Graham, Greenlee and Gila Counties were formed from this land. The county seat was placed in the town of Snowflake, but was moved a year later to St. Johns. From 1880 to 1882, the county seat was temporarily in Springerville before being returned to St. Johns.
A history of the area, written in 1896, records the following about Apache County:
Apache County was created in 1879 and lies in the northeastern corner of the Territory. Until March, 1895, it also embraced what is now Navajo County, but at that date the latter was set apart and established as a separate county. Apache County is justly noted for its great natural resources and advantages. It is destined some day in the early future to have a large agricultural population. Now, immense herds of cattle and flocks of sheep roam over its broad mesas and its fertile valleys. The Navajo Indians occupy the northern part of the county-in fact, occupy much of the remainder of the county, as they refuse to remain on their reservation, preferring to drive their sheep and cattle on lands outside their reservation, where the grazing is better. The southern part is a fine grazing country, while the northern part is cut up into picturesque gorges and canons by the floods of past centuries.
In the late 1880s, the county sheriff was Old West gunfighter legend Commodore Perry Owens. At that time, the county covered more than 21,177 square miles (54,850 km2) in territory. In September 1887, near Holbrook in what is now Navajo County, Owens was involved in one of the Old West's most famous gunfights, when he killed three men and wounded a fourth while serving a warrant on outlaw Andy Blevins/Andy Cooper, an active participant in a raging range war, later dubbed the Pleasant Valley War.
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