Payson, Arizona

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Payson, Arizona
Green Valley Park, Payson Arizona.jpg
Green Valley Park
Flag of Payson, Arizona.gif
Motto: 
"Arizona's Cool Mountain Town"
Gila County Arizona Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Payson Highlighted 0453700.svg
Location of Payson in Gila County, Arizona
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Payson, Arizona
Location in Arizona
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Payson, Arizona
Location in United States
North America laea relief location map with borders.jpg
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Payson, Arizona
Location in North America
Coordinates: 34°14′22″N111°19′39″W / 34.23944°N 111.32750°W / 34.23944; -111.32750
Country United States
State Arizona
County Gila
Incorporated1973 [1]
Government
  Type Council-manager
  BodyPayson Town Council
   Mayor Chris Higgins
Area
[2]
  Total19.36 sq mi (50.13 km2)
  Land19.35 sq mi (50.11 km2)
  Water0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation
[3]
5,100 ft (1,554.48 m)
Population
 (2020)
  Total16,361
  Density845.10/sq mi (326.30/km2)
Time zone UTC-7 (MST (no DST))
ZIP codes
85541, 85547
Area code 928
FIPS code 04-53700
GNIS ID(s) 32746, 2413121
Website www.paysonaz.gov

Payson is a town in northern Gila County, Arizona, United States. Due to Payson's location being very near to the geographic center of Arizona, it has been called "The Heart of Arizona". The town is surrounded by the Tonto National Forest, the largest of the six national forests in Arizona and the ninth largest national forest in the United States.

Contents

Payson boasts a lively festival calendar, including The World's Oldest Continuous Rodeo, established in 1884, as well as the Arizona State Old Time Fiddlin' Championship which celebrates the area's musical heritage.

As of the 2020 census, the population of Payson was 16,361. [4]

History

Prior to the arrival of European-American settlers, the area was known as Te-go-suk—or Place of the Yellow Water—by the Dilzhe'e Apache. [5] The area was also historically inhabited by the Yavapai and Puebloan peoples, including the Hohokam, Mogollon, and Sinagua cultures.

Native American ruins west of Payson. Spanish Ruins Payson 2023.jpg
Native American ruins west of Payson.

In 1882, considered to be the founding year of Payson, area settlers established a logging, mining, and ranching hamlet called “Green Valley." [6]

Payson as it appeared in the 1890s. PaysonAZ 1890s.jpg
Payson as it appeared in the 1890s.

That same year, the Battle of Big Dry Wash—fought between troops of the United States Army's 3rd Cavalry Regiment, 6th Cavalry Regiment, and members of the White Mountain Apache Tribe—took place just north of town on the Mogollon Rim. The battle occurred within the greater context of the Apache Wars.

On March 3, 1884, a post office was built in Green Valley with the help of Illinois Representative Levi Joseph Payson. In honor of the representative's help, the town's name was changed to "Payson".

Payson held its first rodeo in 1884. The town declares the competition to be the world's oldest and continuous rodeo as it has been held every year since.

In 1918, author Zane Grey made his first trip to the area surrounding Payson. He would visit with regularity through 1929, and he purchased two plots of land near Tonto Creek, including 120 acres (49 ha) from Sampson Elam Boles under Myrtle Point. Grey wrote numerous books about the area, and he also filmed movies in the area, such as To the Last Man . His cabin is located in Green Valley park.

During Prohibition, the manufacture, sale, and distribution of liquor was plentiful in Payson. These transactions took place on historic Bootleg Alley. [7] “Payson Dew,” brewed across 30 to 40 stills in the Payson area, was coveted from as far away as Los Angeles. The drink helped to reinvigorate Payson’s economy. [8]

During the 1930s, an effort was initiated to better connect Payson to the outside world through the construction of roads and highways. At that time, the town was very isolated—with a trip from Phoenix to Payson taking eight to twelve hours. Throughout the 1950s, work progressed on a paved road from Phoenix to Payson, and the road was completed in 1958. The highway, State Route 87 (also known as the "Beeline Highway"), was later expanded to four lanes.

Payson was officially incorporated in 1973.

Ellison Creek & East Verde River flooding

On July 15, 2017, heavy rains from upstream of the creek and river caused the waterways to swell, subsequently leading to downstream flooding. This flash flood crucially affected the popular Water Wheel swimming hole where 10 people were killed and 4 others were injured. [9]

Geography

Payson is located in northern Gila County [10] —within the hilly and mountainous terrain of the Arizona transition zone. The town sits at an elevation of 5,000 feet (1,500 m), and it has a total area of 19.5 square miles (51 km2). [4] The Mogollon Rim, the southern boundary of the Colorado Plateau, lies to the north of Payson, with elevations exceeding 7,500 feet (2,300 m). There are several cold water lakes on top of the rim; they are stocked with fish by the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Payson is adjacent to the Tonto Apache Reservation, and it is bordered to the east by the town of Star Valley. Other nearby communities are Pine, Strawberry, Gisela and Rye, all within Gila County. Globe, the Gila County seat, is 80 miles (130 km) to the south via State Routes 87 and 188. State Route 87, the Beeline Highway, leads 90 miles (140 km) southwest to Phoenix and 90 miles (140 km) northeast to Winslow. State Route 260 leads 90 miles (140 km) east to Show Low.

Zane Grey Country

Zane Grey cabin replica. Zane Grey had a cabin under the Mogollon Rim near Payson. Zane Grey Cabin Replica Payson, Arizona. Zane Grey had a cabin under the Mogollon Rim near Payson.jpg
Zane Grey cabin replica. Zane Grey had a cabin under the Mogollon Rim near Payson.

"Zane Grey Country" is a term for the area around Payson. This term was most often used in the 1970s and 1980s, and appeared in the header of the local newspaper, the Payson Roundup. In recent times, it has fallen somewhat out of favor, as the term "Rim Country" has become more popular among locals.[ citation needed ]

Cypress Trail in southeast Payson. Cypress trail Payson-AZ.jpg
Cypress Trail in southeast Payson.

Climate

Owing to its elevation of 5,000 feet (1,500 m), Payson is in a transitional area between a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csa) and a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk). The town straddles USDA Hardiness Zone 7b and 8a, and it is surrounded by high desert pinyon-juniper woodlands; ponderosa pine; stands of Arizona cypress and live oak; and the mixed conifer forests of the Mogollon Rim escarpment.

While average summer daytime temperatures climb above 90 °F (32 °C), the town's elevation keeps it protected from the extreme heat found in Arizona's lowland deserts—though temperatures do occasionally reach 100 °F (38 °C). Early summer is characterized by hot and dry weather, with elevated wildfire risk, whereas mid-to-late summer is tempered by the North American Monsoon. The monsoon brings frequent, sometimes severe thunderstorms with heavy rain, strong winds, hail, and flash floods. On average, Payson receives 7 inches (180 mm) of monsoonal moisture—approximately 35% of its annual precipitation—across the months of July, August, and September.

Summer storm over Payson. Payson, AZ Summer Storm.jpg
Summer storm over Payson.

Diurnal temperature variation is large throughout the year. Even in summer, the difference between daytime highs and nighttime lows exceeds 30 degrees.

Winter is often sunny with mild days and cold nights. In December and January, nighttime lows typically fall below 32 °F (0 °C)—with the coldest nights of the year falling below 20 °F (−7 °C). By mid-afternoon, however, average daytime temperatures surpass 50 °F (10 °C). While most winter precipitation falls as rain, Payson receives an average of 18.5” of snow each year, spread across six days of measurable snowfall. Snow melts quickly, and any lingering snow cover is minimal. [11]

Town lake in snow Payson SW01.jpg
Town lake in snow

Desert wildflowers are common in the spring. Blooms include a fiery array of Indian paintbrush blossoms, primroses, poppies, lupines, larkspurs, daisies, and the golds and fuchsias of cactus flowers (and other brightly colored wildflowers).

Climate data for Payson, Arizona (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1940–present)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °F (°C)77
(25)
80
(27)
89
(32)
91
(33)
99
(37)
106
(41)
107
(42)
104
(40)
103
(39)
94
(34)
83
(28)
77
(25)
107
(42)
Mean maximum °F (°C)66.9
(19.4)
68.4
(20.2)
75.6
(24.2)
82.9
(28.3)
90.2
(32.3)
97.8
(36.6)
99.8
(37.7)
97.6
(36.4)
92.9
(33.8)
86.3
(30.2)
75.3
(24.1)
66.9
(19.4)
101.1
(38.4)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)56.1
(13.4)
58.5
(14.7)
65.1
(18.4)
71.6
(22.0)
80.0
(26.7)
90.2
(32.3)
92.5
(33.6)
90.5
(32.5)
85.9
(29.9)
75.9
(24.4)
64.3
(17.9)
54.9
(12.7)
73.8
(23.2)
Daily mean °F (°C)41.0
(5.0)
43.0
(6.1)
48.4
(9.1)
53.8
(12.1)
61.4
(16.3)
70.5
(21.4)
76.0
(24.4)
74.8
(23.8)
68.9
(20.5)
58.3
(14.6)
47.7
(8.7)
40.2
(4.6)
57.0
(13.9)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)26.0
(−3.3)
27.7
(−2.4)
31.6
(−0.2)
36.0
(2.2)
42.8
(6.0)
50.8
(10.4)
59.5
(15.3)
59.2
(15.1)
51.9
(11.1)
40.6
(4.8)
31.0
(−0.6)
25.6
(−3.6)
40.2
(4.6)
Mean minimum °F (°C)14.0
(−10.0)
17.9
(−7.8)
21.3
(−5.9)
26.3
(−3.2)
33.5
(0.8)
41.4
(5.2)
51.0
(10.6)
52.2
(11.2)
41.9
(5.5)
30.2
(−1.0)
19.5
(−6.9)
14.5
(−9.7)
11.7
(−11.3)
Record low °F (°C)−8
(−22)
1
(−17)
3
(−16)
15
(−9)
22
(−6)
31
(−1)
39
(4)
37
(3)
33
(1)
16
(−9)
6
(−14)
−9
(−23)
−9
(−23)
Average precipitation inches (mm)2.27
(58)
2.33
(59)
1.89
(48)
0.82
(21)
0.54
(14)
0.21
(5.3)
2.81
(71)
2.60
(66)
1.54
(39)
1.26
(32)
1.48
(38)
2.09
(53)
19.84
(504)
Average snowfall inches (cm)4.7
(12)
4.9
(12)
2.0
(5.1)
2.0
(5.1)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
1.3
(3.3)
3.6
(9.1)
18.5
(47)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 inch)5.35.85.03.02.61.48.811.15.04.33.95.661.8
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 inch)1.61.30.80.40.00.00.00.00.00.00.51.35.9
Source 1: NOAA [11]
Source 2: National Weather Service [12]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1970 1,787
1980 5,068183.6%
1990 8,37765.3%
2000 13,62062.6%
2010 15,30112.3%
2020 16,3516.9%
U.S. Decennial Census [13]

As of the census [14] of 2019, there were 15,297 people living in Payson, AZ and is the 2,788th largest city in the United States. 5,832 households, and 4,070 families residing in the town. The population density was 791 people per square mile, which is 1275% higher than the Arizona average and 773% higher than the national average. There were 7,033 housing units at an average density of 361.2 per square mile (139.5/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 92.5% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 2.6% Native American, 0.5% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.0% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. 9.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,832 households, out of which 21.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.6% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.71.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 18.1% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 15.3% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 36.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 57.1 years. This is approximately 54% higher than the Arizona average of 37. The male/female ratio was 0.9:1. English was spoken by 93% of people and Spanish was spoken by 5% of people.

The median income for a household in the town was $33,638, and the median income for a family was $38,713. Males had a median income of $30,900 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,513. About 6.5% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.1% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.

Recreation

Heading north on Highway 87 into Payson during snowfall Paysonsnow.jpg
Heading north on Highway 87 into Payson during snowfall
Horton Creek Trail Horton Creek Trail, Payson, Arizona - panoramio (52).jpg
Horton Creek Trail

The United States Forest Service has jurisdiction of 97% of the land around Payson; the town is surrounded by the Tonto National Forest and by tribal governments. Much of the land is available for recreational activities. Payson is home to several hiking trails—notably the Cypress/Boulders trail system and nearby Mogollon Rim trails (including Horton Creek trail). The Tonto Natural Bridge, the largest known natural bridge in the world, is located just northwest of Payson in Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, a unit of the Arizona State Park system. The area incorporates three golf courses, two of which belong to private country clubs. Mazatzal Casino, a tribal casino, is operated by the Tonto Apache Reservation near the south end of town.

The Payson area is a popular destination for rock hounds. In various areas surrounding the community, quartz crystals can be found, some rivaling Herkimer diamonds in quality, as well as geodes, agate and onyx. Fossils are commonly found in the Paleozoic strata that is exposed along the Mogollon Rim to the north and west of Payson along State Route 87 and State Route 260.

Autumn colors at See Canyon Trail. See Canyon Trail.jpg
Autumn colors at See Canyon Trail.

Payson has two parks, Green Valley Park and Rumsey Park. It also has two lakes, which are part of the Urban Fish Program. Payson hosts free outdoor concerts in the summer. Other activities include intramural sports like baseball and football. Payson also has a small skate park.

Payson hosts a Fourth of July fireworks display at Green Valley Park.

Culture

Mogollon Rim Country Firefighter Memorial - Rim Country Museum. The plaque lists the dates, fires and the names of the firefighters who died. Mogollon Rim Country Firefighter Memorial - Rim Country Museum - Payson, Arizona. The plaque lists the dates, fires and the names of the firefighters who perished.jpg
Mogollon Rim Country Firefighter Memorial – Rim Country Museum. The plaque lists the dates, fires and the names of the firefighters who died.

Payson is the site of the annual Arizona State Old Time Fiddlin' Championship, held in September. The fiddle contest features both local and nationally known instrumentalists, and it awards cash prizes.

Rodeos

Payson hosts two rodeos. In May, the Multi-Purpose Event Center near the Tonto Apache Reservation hosts the Gary Hardt Memorial Rodeo. In August, Payson hosts the historic August Doin's Rodeo (1884), which makes Payson the "Home of the World's Oldest Continuous Rodeo". [15] [16] Prescott, Arizona, 100 miles to the northwest, is known for hosting the "World's Oldest Rodeo" (1888), but it took a hiatus during World War II.

Mogollon Monster

Mogollon Monster Wood Carving Mogollon Monster Carving.jpg
Mogollon Monster Wood Carving

Forestlands surrounding Payson, and throughout central, northern, and eastern Arizona, serve as the backdrop to the legend of the Mogollon Monster—described as a large, bipedal, ape-like creature with a pungent smell, similar to Bigfoot. The legend came to local prominence in 1947 when a "big, hairy beast" raided a Boy Scout camp near Tonto Creek. [17]

Public services

Education

The town is served by the Payson Unified School District. [18]

A branch of Gila Community College is located in Payson. [19]

Police department

The Payson Police Department serves both the Town of Payson and Town of Star Valley. As of 2022, the department is authorized to staff 32 sworn officers which includes the chief, lieutenant, five sergeants, four detectives, two school resource officers, two speciality positions (GIITEM and Traffic), and patrol. In 2021, officers responded to more than 16,000 calls for service.

The police department also staffs a 24/7 dispatch center that is the primary public safety answering point (PSAP) for northern Gila County. In addition to dispatching for Payson PD, they also dispatch for the Tonto Apache Police Department, Town of Payson Fire Department, Hellsgate Fire District, Pine/Strawberry Fire District, Christopher Kohls Fire District, Waterwheel Fire District, and Gisela Valley Fire District.

Transportation

The Payson Senior Center operates the Beeline Bus, which provides local bus service to Payson, Star Valley, and Mesa del Caballo. [20] Mountain Valley Shuttle stops in Payson on its PhoenixShow Low route. [21]

Historic structures

The following are images of some of the historic structures recognized by the local government.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gila County, Arizona</span> County in Arizona, United States

Gila County is a county in the central part of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2020 census, the population was 53,272. The county seat is Globe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pine, Arizona</span> CDP in Gila County, Arizona

Pine is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Gila County, Arizona, United States. The population was 1,953 at the 2020 census. Pine was established by four Mormon families in 1879.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Star Valley, Arizona</span> Town in Gila County, Arizona

Star Valley is a town in Gila County, Arizona, United States, incorporated in 2005. Before incorporation, it was a census-designated place (CDP). As of the 2020 census the population of the town was 2,484.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mogollon Rim</span> Escarpment of the Colorado Plateau in Arizona, US

The Mogollon Rim is a topographical and geological feature cutting across the northern half of the U.S. state of Arizona. It extends approximately 200 miles (320 km), starting in northern Yavapai County and running eastward, ending near the border with New Mexico. It forms the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau in Arizona.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonto National Forest</span> Protected area in Arizona

The Tonto National Forest, encompassing 2,873,200 acres, is the largest of the six national forests in Arizona and is the ninth largest national forest in the United States. The forest has diverse scenery, with elevations ranging from 1,400 feet in the Sonoran Desert to 7,400 feet in the ponderosa pine forests of the Mogollon Rim. The Tonto National Forest is also one of the most visited "urban" forests in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arizona State Route 87</span> State highway in Arizona, United States

State Route 87 is a 272.66-mile (438.80 km) north–south highway that travels from I-10 near Picacho northward to State Route 264 near Second Mesa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greer, Arizona</span> CDP in Apache County, Arizona

Greer is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Apache County, Arizona, United States. Located within the White Mountains of Arizona and surrounded by the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, Greer is the highest town in the state at an elevation of approximately 8,400 feet. As of the 2020 census it had a population of 58. Greer was founded circa 1879 by Mormon settlers from Utah. The Greer post office has the ZIP code of 85927.

Tonto is the fictional sidekick to the Lone Ranger, an American Western character.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arizona State Route 260</span> State highway in Arizona, United States

State Route 260, also known as SR 260, is a 217.78-mile (350.48 km) long east–west major state highway in the north-central part of the U.S. state of Arizona. It connects State Route 89A in Cottonwood to U.S. Route 180 and U.S. Route 191 in Eagar. The highway begins in Yavapai County before entering Coconino County and then entering Gila County before reentering Coconino County and then entering Navajo and Apache counties, where the highway ends.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kohls Ranch, Arizona</span> CDP in Gila County, Arizona

Kohls Ranch is a census-designated place (CDP) in Gila County, Arizona, United States. The population was 46 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mazatzal Mountains</span> Landform in Arizona, United States

The Mazatzal Mountains are a mountain range in south central Arizona, about 30–45 miles northeast of the Phoenix metropolitan area. The origin of the name remains obscure but one possibility is that it is from the Nahuatl language meaning "place of the deer". The crest of the Mazatzals forms the county line between Maricopa County and Gila County. SR 87, the Beeline Highway, traverses the Mazatzals on its way to Payson. The highest peak is Mazatzal Peak at 7,903 feet (2,409 m). They also include the Four Peaks, with elevation 7,659 ft, 2,334 m; a prominent mountain and landmark of the eastern Phoenix area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonto Creek</span> Stream in Gila County, Arizona

Tonto Creek is a 72.5-mile-long (116.7 km) stream located in the Mogollon Rim area of the state of Arizona on the north edge of the Tonto National Forest. The closest town, Payson, is 18 miles (29 km) away. Tonto Creek is a stream that flows year round, starting just below the Mogollon Rim, at the northern edge of Tonto National Forest. The creek continues its descent through the Hellsgate Wilderness area and eventually into a wide valley in the Sonoran Desert. It continues through the desert and into the Salt River within the north end of Theodore Roosevelt Lake. The facilities are maintained by Tonto National Forest division of the USDA Forest Service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonto Basin</span> Landform in Gila County, Arizona

The Tonto Basin, also known as Pleasant Valley, covers the main drainage basin of Tonto Creek and its tributaries in central Arizona, at the southwest of the Mogollon Rim, the higher elevation transition zone across central and eastern Arizona. Although the word tonto means silly or foolish in Spanish, this place name is derived from the Apache word, Koun’nde, which means wild, rough people and refers to the indigenous Dilzhe’e Tonto Apache.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christopher Creek, Arizona</span> CDP in Gila County, Arizona

Christopher Creek is a census-designated place in northern Gila County in the U.S. state of Arizona. Situated at the base of the Mogollon Rim, the community lies at an elevation of 5,961 feet (1,817 m), and is located approximately 23.5 miles (37.82 km) northeast of Payson, just off SR 260. The population as of the 2010 U.S. Census was 156.

Tonto Village is a census-designated place (CDP) in Gila County, Arizona, United States. The population was 256 at the 2010 United States Census.

Geronimo Estates is both a census-designated place (CDP) and a populated place in Gila County, Arizona, United States. The population of the CDP was 60 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haigler Creek, Arizona</span> CDP in Gila County, Arizona

Haigler Creek is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in northern Gila County, Arizona, United States. It lies at an elevation of 5,240 feet and is surrounded by the Tonto National Forest. As of the 2020 census, Haigler Creek had a population of 39 people.

Round Valley is a census-designated place (CDP) in Apache County, Arizona, United States. The population was 487 at the 2010 census.

Washington Park is a census-designated place (CDP) in Gila County, Arizona, United States. The population was 70 at the 2010 United States Census.

References

  1. http://www.paysonaz.gov/Council/agendas/2015/03-05-15-A/I3cdrtowerwell.pdf Archived August 31, 2021, at the Wayback Machine [ bare URL PDF ]
  2. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  3. "Feature Detail Report for: Payson". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  4. 1 2 "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Payson town, Arizona". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved October 28, 2016.[ dead link ]
  5. "Tonto Apache Tribe". itcaonline.com . Tonto Apache Tribe. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  6. "Community". paysonaz.gov . Town of Payson. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  7. Payson Roundup, December 4, 2002
  8. "Northern Gila County Historical Society". . Rim Country Museum. Retrieved April 25, 2024.{{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  9. "Eyewitness who recorded dramatic video of deadly Arizona flash flood thought he was doomed". ABC News . Michael Edison Hayden. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  10. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  11. 1 2 "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Payson, AZ". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  12. "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Flagstaff". National Weather Service. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  13. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  15. Pyle, Jinx; Jayne Peace Pyle (2004). Rodeo 101. Git a Rope! Publishing. ISBN   0-9722560-8-3.
  16. Craven, Scott (August 18, 2006). "Ropin', rasslin' and bustin' bronc' World's Oldest Continuous Rodeo' in Payson". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved April 22, 2008.
  17. "The Mogollon Monster; Arizona's bigfoot". youtube.com . Fox 10 Phoenix. November 3, 2014. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  18. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Gila County, AZ" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved September 12, 2024. - Text list
  19. Gila Community College
  20. "Routes-Map". Beeline Bus. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  21. "Route Schedule/Stops" . Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  22. Rim County Museum
  23. 1 2 The Mud House
  24. 1 2 3 Smithsonian Magazine
  25. "The History of Payson's Oxbow Inn & Saloon". Oxbow Inn. November 4, 2008.