Arizona has experienced tremendous growth and is on target to pass Philadelphia as the fifth largest city in the country. Apache County has become a destination for many travelers enjoying the southwestern flair that this area provides and has become an area of interest for investors looking to expand their real estate holdings outside of the big metro areas like El Paso, Albuquerque and Phoenix.
Attraction Areas The shortest and most scenic route from Phoenix to Albuquerque is through St. Johns. The Petrified Forest National Park, about 43 miles NW of St. Johns, contains the largest and most spectacular forest of petrified logs on earth. Adjacent to the Petrified Forest is the famous Painted Desert. The Blue Hills (about three miles north of St. Johns) have interesting formations or layers of blue, red, and white painted desert clay. Agate beds and dinosaur teeth have been found in the vicinity. Of particular interest are the prehistoric dwellings, petroglyph trails and archaeological programs for excavation opportunities. Recently an archaeological corridor was completed. Within an hour's drive are the Apache, Zuni, and Navajo reservations. Less than an hour's drive south of St. Johns is the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest. The Forest contains many primitive areas, rivers, lakes, and streams. Backpacking, hiking, hunting, and fishing are ideal activities in the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest.
Apache County was carved from Yavapai County one Arizona's original four counties on February 24, 1879, by the 10th Territorial Legislative Assembly. Leaders of St. Johns and Globe had petitioned for their towns to be the county seat, but the honor went temporarily to Snowflake, with the provision that an election would determine the permanent county seat. In November 1879, on the strength of votes from the mining town of Clifton (now in Greenlee County), St. Johns was designated the county seat.