Leupp is in Eastern Arizona. It is in Coconino County. The town is situated along the southwest bank of the Little Colorado River, in the southwest corner of the Navajo Indian Lands. It is just off of Interstate 40, on State Highway 99.
Overview:
Leupp has always been a town of change and growth. The warm desert climate has a summer high temperature of 100 degrees and a winter low temperature of 30 degrees.
Community Features:
Leupp has so many outdoor activities. Wupatki National Monument is located just northwest of Leupp. Here you will see countless ruins of a community from long ago. The three-story dwelling at Wupatki is the most striking. Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument is almost directly to the west. The monument is a spectacular sight. There are two trails that visitors can take to get an up close look at the volcanic formations. Meteor Crater is to the south, off of Interstate 40. It is truly amazing. A 570-foot deep and 4,000-foot diameter hole was created after a meteor slammed into the earth. Meteor Crater has a rim walk that lets you see the crater from all angles.
History:
During the 1800’s, there were scattered settlements near the Little Colorado River. The river’s water drew many to the area. This region has long been a path of travel by the Navajo Indians.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs established a school in Leupp in 1902. The town’s name is pronounced LOOP. Soon afterward, the school was moved to a new location known as Old Leupp. Old Leupp is a few miles to the southeast of Leupp. Later in 1907, Leupp became the headquarters of the Leupp Indian Land. It was one of five Navajo Indian Lands that existed before 1936.
The Navajo Indian Nation combined all its lands in 1936. The center for the Navajo Nation was also established during this period in Window Rock, Arizona. The Navajo Nation decided that there would be Navajo chapter organizations dispersed throughout the Indian Land. These chapters evolved into local government units servicing the local residents. Leupp was selected as one of 110 Navajo chapters.
In 1961, the Bureau of Indian Affairs rebuilt the boarding school. The school became the center for social and political activities.
Leupp is one of the Navajo Indian Land’s fastest growing towns. Today, it is focusing on the high tech industry and was designated by the Navajo Indian Land as a secondary growth center.
