TOWN OF WICKENBURG FUN FACTS

Wickenburg is the oldest town north of Tucson, and the fifth oldest in the state (established in 1863).

In its heyday, Wickenburg was the third largest town in Arizona.  In 1866 it missed becoming the territorial capital by two votes.

In 1971 the Arizona Legislature decreed the bola tie the official state neckwear.  Vic Cedarstaff invented it in 1949 in Wickenburg.

There is a mesquite tree located at the corner of US-60 and US-93 that served as the town jail over 200 years ago.  The Chamber of Commerce has a walking tour of the Historic Downtown.

In the late 1800’s Wickenburg was a boomtown reveling in silver, copper and gold.  Its residents, perhaps in excess enthusiasm, exaggerated the potential of wealth in the area to the point that it became common in the West to call any teller of tall tales a Hassayamper, in honor of the river that flows through the area.  The humor of the connection between the unique dry river and the tall tales told inspired Andrew Downing to write his famous Legend of the Hassayampa.  In keeping with this story and in an effort to maintain the legend, the town has erected “No Fishing From Bridge” signs on the bridge that spans the dry river.