We also have the distinction of having a World War II naval tanker named
after us, the USS Coconino County LST 603 that supported the United
States Seventh Army and Free French First Army in the initial landings
in Southern France. Let’s also not forget the infamous “Coconino Mocha,”
a popular coffee drink among the locals and tourists at “Late For The
Train” coffee shop.
History
Regionally, historical records can be traced back to nomadic hunters
from the Great Plains who made their way to the Little Colorado River
approximately 12,000 years ago. As a result, the Anasazi culture was
born and spread across the Colorado Plateau, which encompasses a large
part of Coconino County. By the 1600s, tribes consisted of the Hopi,
Havasupai, Pai (Yavapai and Walapai), and the Paiutes.
The
area continued to develop and prosper over the next few hundred years.
As in any area, there are certain recognizable pioneer families in the
community. These names began to surface in our area in the 1850s when
military expeditions passed through the area between the Little Colorado
River and the Verde River. In 1851, Captain Lorenzo Sitgreaves of the
Army Corps of Topographical Engineers mapped a wagon road through the
area and, today, Sitgreaves National Forest honors his memory.
Continue Reading
Continue reading to learn more about the history of early Coconino County.