Adapted from www.wickenburgchamber.com

When the late Beaver Bird started the first Tuesday team roping jackpots in Wickenburg, Ariz., circa 2002, little did he know he was launching what would soon become a new chapter in the town's colorful history. Today, with nearly a dozen arenas spanning the area it is literally a hot bed of ropers. A quick look at Wickenburg's rich past and it's easy to see why this jewel of the Sonoran Desert lent itself naturally to the rise of The Team Roping Capital of the World.

The Hassayampa

For centuries the western Yavapai made the once fertile banks of the Hassayampa River their home. Located within the territories of both the Spanish Empire and Mexican Republic, neither extended their authority in the region. However, Hispanic culture and trade did reach the Yavapai and there are still strong ties to the culture today.

The Gold Rush

Stalwart hunters and trappers began exploring the region in the early 1820s and their reports piqued American interest in the West. In 1862 a gold strike on the Colorado River near the present-day Yuma inspired hardy prospectors and miners, predominantly from California and Mexico, to search for minerals throughout central Arizona. The Wickenburg area and much of the West became part of the United States following the Mexican American War in 1848.

The Vulture Mine

Among the gold searchers was the German immigrant, Henry Wickenburg, whose quest was rewarded by the discovery of the Vulture Mine, where over $30 million in gold has been dug from the ground. Throughout the foothills surrounding Wickenburg are relics of other mines that stand as a tribute to the pioneer miner and prospector. The mining lore of the region, past and present, adds much to the charm of the area.

The Ranchers

Ranchers and farmers who built homes along the fertile plain of the Hassayampa River accompanied the miners. Many of the resourceful and committed settlers came from Sonora, Mexico, giving this area the distinction of being the northern edge of the Hispanic ranching frontier. Together with Henry Wickenburg and the miners, they helped found the young community of Wickenburg in 1863.

The Railroad

The infant town went through many trials and tribulations in those first decades, surviving Indian wars, mine closures, desperadoes, drought, and a disastrous flood in 1890 when the Walnut Creek Dam burst, killing nearly 70 (read more on page 32). Through it all, the town continued to grow. Its prosperity was insured with the coming of the railroad in 1895. The historic depot still stands today as the Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce and Visitor's Center.

The Dude Ranch Capital of the World

Along the town's main historic district, early businesses built beautiful structures that still grace Wickenburg's downtown area. The abundant clean air and wide-open spaces attracted a whole new and exciting aspect of the Wickenburg neighborhood. Guest ranches offered a unique western experience to tourists who fell in love with the West. The Bar FX Ranch became the first true guest ranch in 1923, followed by the Remuda, Kay El Bar, Rancho de los Caballeros, and Flying E ranches, just to mention a few. The construction of the Phoenix to California highway (Highway 60) brought even more tourists, making Wickenburg the Dude Ranch Capital of the World. Today, some of these ranches still offer their unique brand of Western hospitality.

World War II

The Hassayampa community became a vital contributor to America's patriotic war effort during World War II when the U.S. Army trained thousands of men to fly gliders at a newly constructed airfield west of Wickenburg. After the War, modern pioneers and home builders developed Wickenburg into a splendid American community. Wickenburg of today is a modern town with over 600 businesses providing a full range of services, shopping conveniences, specialty shops and galleries for gifts of western distinction.

Traditions of the Old West

The western ambience, however, still thrives. The town has cherished the best traditions of its colorful early days. Through annual events such as Gold Rush Days, and the famous Desert Caballeros Men's trail ride, organizations such as the Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce, Desert Caballeros Western Museum, Desert Caballeros, and the determination and hard work of its citizens, Wickenburg is committed to preserving the best traditions of the Old West.

Out Wickenburg Way

We encourage you to “rope in the region” and discover Wickenburg's historic downtown. You'll find historical markers like the Jail Tree where townspeople chained lawbreakers in the old days and the Hassayampa River Well, enjoy the self-guided Historical Walking Tour, see beautiful bronze sculptures and more.