In 1876, the town of Payson began when Bill Burch constructed a cabin.  Then in 1882, John and Frank Hise opened a store in the area.  The community began to grow due in most part to the lure of gold. 

Later, a fort was built to protect the settlers from the Apache raids.  The community was called Union Park, however the town had other names such as Big Valley and Green Valley

The town finally received its name from an Illinois senator named Louis Edwin Payson.  In 1884, Payson passed the recommendation for a post office to be established in town.  In honor of Payson’s help, the town decided to change the name to Payson.

Most of the town’s first residents were miners searching the nearby mountains for precious minerals.  Soon the fact that nobody was going to strike it rich became a reality.  Nevertheless, many of the residents decided to stay on.  They enjoyed the wonderful four-season climate.  Soon the residents switched their occupations and became loggers and ranchers.

Throughout Payson’s history, it has been a real cow town.  During many years when ranches in the area fought over land and livestock, Payson became a neutral ground or retreat.

One of Payson’s most famous residents was Zane Gray.  During the 1920’s, Gray lived outside of Payson in a log cabin where he wrote many books.  He loved the pines and the beauty of the Mogollon Rim, which reaches above the town of Payson.  This environment became his inspiration for his western books.  Unfortunately, his cabin burned in 1990 and can no longer be seen.

Payson continued to be an isolated mountain town until 1959, when the Beeline Highway (State Highway 89) was built linking it to Phoenix.  Today Payson is a popular tourist hangout because of its proximity to Phoenix and its ideal climate.