Bradshaw Mountains

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Bradshaw Mountains
Bradshaw Mts..JPG
The Bradshaw Mountains seen from the peak of
Mount Union
Highest point
PeakMount Union (Arizona)
Elevation 7,979 ft (2,432 m)
Coordinates 34°24′53″N112°24′14″W / 34.41472°N 112.40389°W / 34.41472; -112.40389
Dimensions
Length40 mi (64 km)north-south
Geography
USA Arizona relief location map.svg
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Bradshaw Mountains
CountryUnited States
StateArizona
County Yavapai
Borders on Weaver Mountains, Sierra Prieta, Black Hills and New River Mountains
Geology
Age of rock Precambrian
Type of rock granite and schist

The Bradshaw Mountains are a mountain range in central Arizona, United States, named for brothers Isaac and William D. Bradshaw after their deaths, having been formerly known in English as the Silver Mountain Range. [1]

Contents

History

The first known settlements in the Bradshaws were a group of Yavapai people, called the Kwevkapaya who built forts and mined copper from around AD 1100 to 1600. [2] They called the mountains Wi:kañacha, meaning "rough, black range of rocks" [3]

The Walker party found gold, and within a few years, the Bradshaws were filling up with settlers mining for gold, silver, and copper. In the early part of the 20th century, most of the towns that had sprung up were little more than ghost towns.

Geography

The Goodwin Fire in the Bradshaw Mountains in 2017 Goodwin Fire Mayer.jpg
The Goodwin Fire in the Bradshaw Mountains in 2017

Located approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Prescott, Arizona, between the Agua Fria River on the east, and the Hassayampa River on the west, the range is 40 miles (64 km) long, and almost 25 miles (40 km) wide.

Peaks

Geology

The Bradshaw Mountains consist primarily of Precambrian granite, gneiss and schist.

Ecology

The biotic community of the Bradshaws ranges from interior chaparral and montane conifer forest, to plains and desert grassland, and Sonoran desert scrub. Many species of trees are found in the Bradshaws, including Piñon, Alligator Juniper, Ponderosa pine, Blue Spruce, Quaking Aspen, White fir, and Douglas fir. As well, much wildlife is present, including javelina, mountain lion, bobcat, black bear, mule deer, porcupine, fox, skunk, abert's squirrel, rock squirrel, wild turkey, many species of reptiles and amphibians, and many species of birds.

Several creeks have been dammed to form reservoirs, including Lynx Lake, Goldwater Lake, Lake Marapai, Hassayampa Lake, Horsethief Lake, and Cedar Tank.

Human use

An abandoned charcoal kiln, near Walker, Arizona Charcoal Kiln.JPG
An abandoned charcoal kiln, near Walker, Arizona

Gold was first discovered in the Bradshaws in 1863, over $2,000,000 worth being taken from just the Crown King Mine. [4] Copper and silver were also mined in the early part of the 20th century. Within Mount Union lies the Poland Junction silver mine. [5] Its adit, now sealed, may be accessed from Poland Junction, near Walker.

Ghost towns and other settlements

There are over 40 ghost towns in the Bradshaw Mountains, [4] including Crown King, Bumble Bee, Goodwin, Bradshaw City, Alexandra and Cleator.

Protected areas

Much of the Bradshaw Mountains are on Prescott National Forest land. Other parks include Horsethief Basin Recreational Area, Lynx Lake Recreational Area, and the Castle Creek Wilderness.

See also

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References

  1. "Isaac Bradshaw picked up legacy after brother's death". Sharlot Hall Museum. Archived from the original on March 14, 2009. Retrieved October 2, 2009.
  2. Annerino, John (1991). Adventuring in Arizona: The Sierra Club Travel Guide to the Grand Canyon State. San Francisco, California: Sierra Club Books. pp. 134–143.
  3. Corbusier, William T. (1969). Verde to San Carlos. Dale Stuart King. p. 55.
  4. 1 2 "Ghost Towns & Mining History". Archived from the original on May 23, 2007. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  5. "Arizona Pioneer & Cemetery Research Project".