Nope, no joke and after just a few posts I have already received several comments about the name of Show Low, Arizona. Yes, it is an interesting name and the history of the name is somthing you may expect to find in an old western movie. The town was won in a card game and below is the story of how Show Low was named by the turn of a card....
The Legend of How Show Low Got Its Name
Show Low had its beginning as a ranch claimed by Marion Clark and Corydo
n Cooley. A creek made its way through the little valley and provided water for irrigation and the cattle grazing on the lush grass throughout the ranch. Virgin pine forests surrounded the valley. Sometime around 1876 the partners knew that one of them should leave, but could not decide which one.
A card game would settle the issue. The game believed to have been called "seven up" began and lasted through the night and into the early morning hours. Clark finally told Cooley, "Show low and you take the ranch."
Cooley turned up the deuce of clubs and won a reported 100,000 acres, the cattle, crops and buildings. A century later the main street through the town was named "Deuce of Clubs."
Show Low was approved for a post office in 1880. Corydon Cooley was the first postmaster.
Mormon settlers began to arrive in 1876 to build their homes and till the land. Cooley sold his holdings in 1888 to his partner Henry Huning, who worked the ranch until 1903. More Mormons, William J. Flake, James C. Owens, John Henry Willis, Abner and Frank Ellsworth and Hans Hansen, bought the land, water rights, buildings, stock and crops for $13,500, plotted the town, divided it into four and one-half shares, and took up residence in the existing buildings on each one's share.
The settlement continued the name of Show Low.
Show Low continues even today with a small town friendly atmosphere. We are the "hub" of the White Mountains. We have tall ponderosa pines, gorgeous meadows, creeks and lakes. If you haven't heard of us before you may be surprised to find that we are a four season forrested mountain community with an elevation of approximately 6,500 ft. above sea level. For more information about our community be sure to visit my website at www.AzBigSky.com where you will find helpful community links and of course information on some of the beautiful land and homes that we have to offer!
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