Black Hills (Yavapai County)
Encyclopedia
The Black Hills of Yavapai County are a large mountain range of north-central Arizona
in southeast Yavapai County
. It is bordered on the northeast, and in the south on the east by the southeast-flowing Verde River
in the Verde Valley
. From the southeast mountain section, the northwest section is bisected by Interstate 17
, which is the route between Phoenix
, Sedona
, Oak Creek Canyon
, and Flagstaff
. This bisection point is the approximate center of the mostly northwest by southeast trending range. The northwest section contains a steep escarpment
on the northeast with the Verde Valley, the escarpment being the cause of the fault-block that created the available mining district at Jerome, Arizona
, which is a major historical and tourist landmark of the Black Hills range.
This Black Hills range is also the first major fault-blocked range west of the Mogollon Rim
on the southwest of the Colorado Plateau
of the states of Arizona, Utah
, Colorado
, and New Mexico
. The range is at the northwest-center of the Arizona transition zone
which extends diagonally across central Arizona.
Another range, the Black Hills (Greenlee County)
is found in eastern Arizona on the Gila River
.
Three wilderness areas are located in the range, the Woodchute Wilderness in the northwest, and the Cedar Bench and Pine Mountain Wildernesses in the southeast.
The center of the range is in the south of the north section with Mingus Mountain, south of historical Cherry, Arizona. Cherry, AZ
is located at 34°35′17"N 112°02′31"W.
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
in southeast Yavapai County
Yavapai County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*89.3% White*0.6% Black*1.7% Native American*0.8% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.5% Two or more races*5.0% Other races*13.6% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
. It is bordered on the northeast, and in the south on the east by the southeast-flowing Verde River
Verde River
The Verde River is the north and northwestern watershed of the Salt River–Verde River Watershed that co-join and enter the Gila River at Phoenix, Arizona, located in the U.S. state of Arizona...
in the Verde Valley
Verde Valley
The Verde Valley is a valley in central Arizona in the United States of America. The Verde River runs through it. It is overlooked by Mingus Mountain and the Mogollon Rim.- History :The first notice of this region appears in the report of one Espejo,...
. From the southeast mountain section, the northwest section is bisected by Interstate 17
Interstate 17
Interstate 17 , also known as the Black Canyon Freeway, is an intrastate Interstate Highway located entirely within the state of Arizona, United States. I-17's southern terminus lies within Phoenix, at Interstate 10, and its northern terminus is in Flagstaff, at Interstate 40...
, which is the route between Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, Sedona
Sedona, Arizona
Sedona is a city that straddles the county line between Coconino and Yavapai counties in the northern Verde Valley region of the U.S. state of Arizona...
, Oak Creek Canyon
Oak Creek Canyon
Oak Creek Canyon is a river gorge located along the Mogollon Rim in northern Arizona located between the cities of Flagstaff and Sedona. The canyon is often described as a smaller cousin of the Grand Canyon because of its scenic beauty...
, and Flagstaff
Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff is a city located in northern Arizona, in the southwestern United States. In 2010, the city's population was 65,870. The population of the Metropolitan Statistical Area was at 134,421 in 2010. It is the county seat of Coconino County...
. This bisection point is the approximate center of the mostly northwest by southeast trending range. The northwest section contains a steep escarpment
Escarpment
An escarpment is a steep slope or long cliff that occurs from erosion or faulting and separates two relatively level areas of differing elevations.-Description and variants:...
on the northeast with the Verde Valley, the escarpment being the cause of the fault-block that created the available mining district at Jerome, Arizona
Jerome, Arizona
Jerome is a town in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town is 353.-History:...
, which is a major historical and tourist landmark of the Black Hills range.
This Black Hills range is also the first major fault-blocked range west of the Mogollon Rim
Mogollon Rim
The Mogollon Rim is a topographical and geological feature running across the U.S. state of Arizona. It extends approximately from northern Yavapai County eastward to near the border with New Mexico.-Description:...
on the southwest of the Colorado Plateau
Colorado Plateau
The Colorado Plateau, also called the Colorado Plateau Province, is a physiographic region of the Intermontane Plateaus, roughly centered on the Four Corners region of the southwestern United States. The province covers an area of 337,000 km2 within western Colorado, northwestern New Mexico,...
of the states of Arizona, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, and New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. The range is at the northwest-center of the Arizona transition zone
Arizona transition zone
The Arizona transition zone, or Transition zone is a diagonal northwest-by-southeast region across central Arizona. The region is a transition from the higher elevation Colorado Plateau to the northeast in Northeast Arizona and the Basin and Range region of southwest and south regions of lower...
which extends diagonally across central Arizona.
Another range, the Black Hills (Greenlee County)
Black Hills (Greenlee County)
The Black Hills of Greenlee County are a 20 mi long mountain range of the extreme northeast Sonoran Desert bordering the south of the White Mountains of eastern Arizona's transition zone....
is found in eastern Arizona on the Gila River
Gila River
The Gila River is a tributary of the Colorado River, 650 miles long, in the southwestern states of New Mexico and Arizona.-Description:...
.
Description
The high point of the Black Hills (Arizona) is Mingus Mountain at 7726 feet (2,355 m).Three wilderness areas are located in the range, the Woodchute Wilderness in the northwest, and the Cedar Bench and Pine Mountain Wildernesses in the southeast.
The center of the range is in the south of the north section with Mingus Mountain, south of historical Cherry, Arizona. Cherry, AZ
Cherry, Arizona
Cherry is a mining ghost town in central Yavapai County, Arizona, United States, between Dewey and Camp Verde. Cherry's post office was established March 3, 1884 and discontinued March 15, 1943. Notable mines in the area include the Federal, Bunker, Sunnybrook, Logan and Gold Bullion mines. About...
is located at 34°35′17"N 112°02′31"W.