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The following is an excerpt from the book Smalltown, U.S.A by Michael Caldwell - Creative Classic Publications, 1999.

WICKENBURG, ARIZONA

Wickenburg is fifty miles northwest of Phoenix at an elevation of 2,100 feet and is surrounded by a desert known as Sonoran.  Nestled in the foothills of the Bradshaw Mountains, and along the banks of the Hassayampa River, Wickenburg boasts a rich Western history which is still evident today.  The town is the oldest north of Tuscon.

In 1863, Henry Wickenburg, a German immigrant, discovered the Vulture Mine which in time became the richest gold producing mine in Arizona's history.  In the early 1900s, as the mine played out, ranching and tourism took over as economic mainstays in the area.  Wickenburg was incorporated in 1909.  Today, Wickenburg offers a relaxing Western life style with a full range of municipal and private sector services.

Traditionally, tourism, cattle ranching, and agriculture have been the main economic activities in Wickenburg.  In 1964, Wickenburg began to diversify its economic base by developing an industrial airpark to encourage manufacturing firms to locate in the town.

Wickenburg owes what is considered by its residents and winter visitors to be almost a perfect climate to some generous gifts of nature.  The town is situated on the rich verdant soil of the Hassayampa River Valley and surrounded by rugged  mountain ranges which break the force of winds.  It draws on a unlimited supply of pure mountain water.

During the winter, an abundant sunshine, aided by gentle warm winds from the wide expanses of desert to the south, make the days delightfully temperate.  The nights are crisp and so clear that the stares, moon and planets stand out in relief against a blue-black sky.

During the summer, cooling mountain breezes from the north reduce the daytime temperatures and make the nights cool.  The 2,100-foot altitude and clean, dry air of Wickenburg are also beneficial to those with health problems.  The average daily (year-round) maximum and minimum temperature in Wickenburg is eighty-three and forty-seven degrees.

CULTURE

Wickenburg boasts several fine art galleries, each unique from the other.  Housed in a nostalgic 2,500-square-foot adobe building constructed in 1863, the Gold Nugget Art Gallery features Southwestern fine art, sculpture, wood, glass, pottery, designer jewelry and artistic furniture.

The Helen Voehl Gallery features "unpredictable" contemporary American crafts and art, pottery, furniture, jewelry with an emphasis on wearables.  The Wickenburg Gallery-Art Services has been serving collectors since 1974, presenting significant national and regional fine art by both established and highly regarded emerging artists, featuring paintings, sculpture, pottery, weavings and cowboy trapping.

The Wickenburg's Desert Caballeros Western Museum is the best small museum in the Southwest and offers Western Art, period rooms, dioramas that tell the many stories about the town including the discovery of gold by Henry Wickenburg at Vulture Peak, the Walnut Grove Dam disaster in 1893, the Wickenburg Massacre, and the story behind the dude ranches and the Desert Caballeros Trail Ride, Native American Art, and gems and minerals.

Popular exhibitions include the turn-of-the-century Street Scene and Period Rooms.  Western Art is the permanent collection at the Museum and the Native American Gallery features excellent examples of the artwork of the southwestern tribes, Navajo weaving and jewelry, Hopi Kachinas and silverwork, Apache baskets, and Anasazi pottery show the cultural richness and diversity of the region's first peoples.  The Mineral and Gem Gallery has more than 200 specimens from Arizona and around the world.  The black-light mineral exhibit is among the Museum's most popular.

There are special annual events in the Wickenburg area such as the Bluegrass Festival in November, the Gold Rush Days Parade in February, the Fiesta Septiembre that has been celebrated for ten years, the Desert Caballeros Ride in April which is more than fifty years old, the Cowboy Poets Christmas Gathering going into its tenth year, the Senior Pro Rodeo which is one of the top attractions during the Gold Rush days, and the Fourth of July celebrations featuring fireworks, free watermelon and plenty of games, sponsored by Cops Who Care, for the entire family.

EDUCATION

There is one public elementary school, one middle school, one junior high school, one high school, and one private school in Wickenburg.

Arizona State University West, Glendale Community College and Estrella Community College are less than an hour's drive from Wickenburg.  The Wickenburg area is also served by the Yavapai College and Rio Salado Community College districts, with night classes throughout the year.

SPORTS AND RECREATION

The town of Wickenburg offers a wide range of community facilities.  There is a community center, a library, a swimming pool, a skate park, two golf courses, a nature preserve, several tennis courts, a rodeo arena and three parks.

The most intimate way to enjoy the desert is to walk about on your own two feet.  Nature's landscape design gives interest, stimulation and refreshment to all of your senses.  For gentle nature walks, try the desert nature trail at the Wickenburg Inn or the riparian, cottonwood-lined trail along the riverbed at the Hassayampa River Preserve east of town.  The more adventuresome can drive north out Highway 89/93 to the Box Canyon area and may even find some running water.  Rock climbers will be exhilarated by climbing Vulture Peak.  A box on top invites you to record your name and arrival date.  The Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce presents a Certificate of Achievement to those that reach the top.

Horses are loved as much as people in Wickenburg.  There is an experience available for every taste and skill level.  Experienced or beginning riders both will thrill to the desert canyons and dry washes where much evidence of wildlife can be seen.  Winding up a trail through the saguaros to a vista of low rolling hills and valleys, you will become your own hero or heroine in a fantasy of your making.

Unique tours of Box Canyon, the Living Desert, Ghost Towns, and the old Mine Sites are conducted by various jeep tours.   

Located just a short thirty-five miles southeast of Wickenburg on scenic Highway 74, Lake Pleasant offers boating, camping, hiking and fishing.   Moored at nearby Lake Pleasant, the 86-foot Desert Princess was built especially for cruises on this lake.  This sleek cruise ship is unequaled in its beauty and grace.  The Desert princess can accommodate up to 120 guests.

The Los Caballeros Golf Club is ranked one of the top five in the state of Arizona by the Golf Digest editors.  The 7,025-yard par 72 course is a masterpiece designed by Jeff Hardin and Greg Nash.  The layout of the course is strategically intermingled around the Ranch, taking advantage of the natural rolling terrain and offering breathtaking views of the desert and nearby mountains.  The front nine stretches your game with long fairways, and our back nine will require every club in your bag as the terrain and pin placements make the course a real challenge every time you play.  There is also a lovely 18-hole golf course, Wickenburg Country Club, open for membership or public play.

SHOPPING AND RETAIL

In Wickenburg, you will find several bookstores located in the historic district and inside the Hassayampa River Preserve and Desert Caballeros Western Museum.  Antique shops are growing in number in Wickenburg.  Browse among yesteryear goods for furniture, pottery, collectibles, books, novelty and decorator items, toys, western memorabilia, clothing, jewelry, dishware, kitchen items and tools.  Treasuring the past gives enduring honor to the heritage and a unique way to remember Wickenburg.  Many of the gift shops are known for their unique selection of Southwestern arts and crafts.

From formal dining to western-style attire and cuisine, you will find delicious fare, including vegetarian options.

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139 North Frontier Street, Wickenburg, Arizona  85390
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