Fun Facts

Welcome to Historic WickenburgWickenburg is the oldest town north of Tucson, and the 5th 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 2 votes.
The Bola Tie
In 1971 the Arizona Legislature decreed the bola tie the official state neck wear. Vic Cedarstaff invented it in 1949 in Wickenburg.

Mesquite Trees
There is a 200 year old mesquite tree located at the corner of US-60 (Wickenburg Way) and Tegner Street that served as the town jail from 1863 to 1890 with outlaws chained to the tree. To discover this or other Wickenburg treasures, 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.

Legend of the Hassayampa
There's a legend centuries old by the early Spaniards told of a sparkling stream that lies under Arizona's skies.  Hassayampa is its name and the title to its fame is a wondrous-quality known today from sea to sea those who drink its waters bright red man, white man, boor, or knight; girls or women; boys or men never tell the truth again.

Hassayampa River
The name “Hassayampa” comes from a Yavapai Indian word, hayesamo, meaning “following the water as far as it goes.” Apache Indians referred to it as the “upside down river” because it flows underground most of the way. It comes above ground amid the towering cottonwoods in the Hassayampa River Preserve.