Welcome to the Navajo County Government Homepage
Navajo County was formed on March 21, 1895, as the final act of the Territorial Assembly before it adjourned at midnight. What is now Navajo County was first included in Yavapai County, but in 1879, the area was added to the newly formed Apache County.
The County is situated in the northeastern portion of Arizona and is well known for the White Mountains Region, the Painted Desert, the Petrified Forest, Route 66 and dozens of beautiful and majestic destinations. Our incorporated communities consist of the cities of Show Low, Pinetop-Lakeside, Snowflake, Taylor, Holbrook, Winslow and the unincorporated community of Heber-Overgaard, AZ. Navajo County also has the distinction of having three Native American communities in our county which include the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe and the White Mountain Apache Tribe. We are most well known as a recreation wonderland for the Phoenix-Metro area, but we also have a strong industrial base, and our trade area is remarkably well situated.
Our bio-diverse region is rich in natural resources, including water, forest products and minerals. Open land is abundant, affordable and accessible. The variety of geography, resources and natural assets is truly impressive. We are very excited about our potential to become one of the world’s largest suppliers of potash. It is estimated that there are up to 2.5 billion tons of potash in the Holbrook, AZ basin, which could provide for up to 80 years of production. We are also excited about the White Mountain Stewardship Contract and the Four Forest Restoration Initiative which are reintroducing the timber industry into our forests in a constructive and responsible manner.
In addition to the plentiful resources and access, you will find a wealth of recreational opportunities that await you. The largest stand of ponderosa pine graces our portion of northeastern Arizona. Opportunities for fishing, hunting and camping are plentiful throughout the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, Arizona State Parks, and the White Mountain Apache Indian Reservation. From the quiet, cool beauty of our mountain air, to the rich cultures of our communities, there's always something for every member of the family to experience no matter what the season. We have crystal-clear streams and lakes, as well as stunning vistas. Ski, tube or sled down snow-covered hills and then get warm by a fire in one of the area's lodges, hotels or resorts.
We have tremendous transportation access. Few other regions offer access to transportation assets and natural resources the way we do. Our County offers Interstate access and frontage, a strong state highway network and a location that is within four hours of Phoenix and Albuquerque. We are also within easy reach of the Arizona, California and Nevada markets, and less than eight hours from the Mexican border.
Almost 66 percent of Navajo County’s 9,949 square miles is Indian reservation land. Individual and corporate ownership accounts for 18 percent; the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Bureau of Land Management together control 9 percent; and the state of Arizona owns 5.9 percent. All of Navajo County is an Enterprise Zone.