Maricopa Wells, Arizona

Maricopa Wells, Arizona
Populated place
An American wagon train at Maricopa Wells, 1857 drawing
Maricopa Wells
Location within the state of Arizona
Maricopa Wells
Maricopa Wells (the US)
Coordinates: 33°09′43″N 112°05′03″W / 33.16194°N 112.08417°W / 33.16194; -112.08417Coordinates: 33°09′43″N 112°05′03″W / 33.16194°N 112.08417°W / 33.16194; -112.08417
Country United States
State Arizona
County Pinal
Elevation[1] 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 is a populated place situated in Pinal County, Arizona.[2] It has an estimated elevation of 1,093 feet (333 m) above sea level.[1] Historically, it was an oasis around a series of watering holes in the Sierra Estrella, eight miles north of present-day Maricopa, Arizona, and about a mile west of Pima Butte. It developed as a trading center and stopping place for travelers in the mid to late 19th century.

History

Maricopa Wells was a watering place named by travelers on the Southern Emigrant Trail who used it as a stopping place on the trail. They could rest and feed and water their animals. They traded with the nearby Maricopa and Pima natives for crops produced in their fields, which they irrigated by the Gila River. A settlement developed here when it was the base for the large stage station for the San Antonio-San Diego Mail Line and Butterfield Overland Mail, and later stage companies. At one time this was the primary military telegraph post for all of Arizona Territory.

It was abandoned after the railroad constructed a route north through Tempe to Phoenix. Maricopaville was planned as a terminus before Tempe won a spot on the line that was constructed. The settlement moved east to what developed as Maricopa Junction, known as Maricopa.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Feature Detail Report for: Maricopa Wells". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. ↑ "Maricopa Wells (in Pinal County, AZ) Populated Place Profile". AZ Hometown Locator. Retrieved November 27, 2016.


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