• Arizona Home Search
  • Arizona Motels - Hotels
  • Explore Arizona
  • Free Credit Report

    • West USA Realty | Carl Chapman, Phoenix Arizona Realtors | Contact Carl

    Relocating To Joseph City Arizona? Call West USA Realty Joseph City is in Eastern Arizona . It is in Navajo County. The town is located just off of Interstate 40, on the old section of Route 66, west of Holbrook. It is approximately 80 miles east of Flagstaff and 200 miles northeast of Phoenix.

    Joseph City is the oldest community in Navajo County. It began as a tiny Mormon community and has grown to a sizable retail trade and service town. Today Joseph City has a population of 1,465. The town sits at an elevation of 5,083 feet. The climate is mild all year round with a winter low Temperature of 18 degrees and a summer high Temperature of 94 degrees. The history of the town reveals determination and it still shows today.

    There are several attractions near Joseph City. The Historic Courthouse Center in Holbrook is one of only two courthouses in the state built in a Richardsonian Romanesque style. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum has exhibits and an original county jail on display. Even though you are unable to take pieces of petrified wood from the national park, it doesn't mean you have to go new home empty handed. The Petrified Forest Gift Shop and Museum in Holbrook sells a variety of fossilized wood. These pieces are not from the national park, instead they were found on private property near the park.

    You will discover some of the most amazing outdoor activities nearby. The Petrified Forest National Park is a terrific place to start. Once you arrive you will see what I mean. There are petrified logs in many shapes and sizes strewn across the desert floor. Please remember the collection or removal of petrified wood, natural or cultural objects is prohibited. There are two entrances to the park and both begin on Interstate 40. The north entrance takes you to the Painted Desert Visitor Center. Here you see spectacular colors bouncing off the rock formations.

    The best time to make your visit is during sunset. You can then take the loop driving tour around to the south entrance. In the middle of the loop drive, there is the Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark Museum. This was once a Fred Harvey hotel. It was built in the 1930's. Today, the park service uses it as a visitor center and it sometimes features Native Americans demonstrating their crafts.

    The southern end of the drive has the Rainbow Museum. Visitors will find artifacts from the Puerco Indian Ruins, dating back to 1150 A.D. Kids will love the three life-sized pre-dinosaurs on display. The largest manmade body of water in Arizona is Cholla Lake covering 360 acres. A park surrounds the lake. This makes it an ideal spot for camping, swimming, boating, fishing, wind surfing and picnics. Many people use this park to camp in after a day at the Petrified Forest National Park. The lake is about 20 miles east of Winslow.

    In 1876, several groups of Mormons came to the area along the Little Colorado River. They were in search of a place to start an agricultural settlement in north-central Arizona . One group established a community called Allen's Camp. It consisted of one fort built of mud and bricks.

    Many settlements tried to dam up the river and use the water for irrigation, but this proved to be difficult. The first dam was built three miles east of present day Joseph City. It took 960 days to construct, at a cost of $5,000. It was washed out during the first flood. Then a ditch was built to carry water to the farms. The ditch took 500 days to construct and the seeds for the crops were brought in by wagon from a town over 400 miles away. This ditch was also lost.

    After numerous attempts to control the river's water, four groups decided to give up and abandon their settlements. Allen's Camp persevered. Andrew Jensen, a Mormon Church historian, once described Allen's Camp as "the leading community in pain, determination and unflinching courage in dealing with the elements around them".

    Later, the town's name was changed to Joseph City, after the Mormon prophet Joseph Smith. The town continues to be the oldest community in Navajo County. Today, Joseph City has retail trade and service.