Camp Verde, Arizona

Camp Verde started life as a military camp on the Verde River in north-central Arizona. This is a verdant area surrounded by Lower Sonoran Desert. The first settlers arrived in the early 1860's. The first military establishment was a tent colony overlooking the West Clear Creek-area farms. A more permanent fort was established as Camp Lincoln in 1865, then the name was quickly changed to Camp Verde. In 1871 a malaria outbreak forced the moving of the garrison to the center of what is now Camp Verde town. The name was changed again in 1878 to Fort Verde, in hopes of signifying permanence, but the Fort was officially decommissioned in 1890 and everything reverted to being just "Camp Verde."

In the middle of town is the Fort Verde State Historic Park, and just out of town is Montezuma Castle National Monument. These 2 parks bring in more than 1 million visitors per year. 18 miles of the Verde River are within the city limits. Most land outside the city limits is either National Forest Service or BLM.

In the business district of Camp Verde

On Main Street in Camp Verde

Refurb in the historic district of Camp Verde

Also in the historic district in downtown Camp Verde

Montezuma Castle