Bradshaw City, Arizona

Bradshaw City's saloon in Crown King.

Bradshaw City, Arizona
Ghost town
Country	United States
State	Arizona
County	Yavapai
Founded:	circa 1860
Abandoned:	circa 1880
Named for	William Bradshaw
Population
• Total	0
Time zone	MST (no DST)
Post Office Opened:	July 1, 1874
Post Office Closed:	December 15, 1884

Bradshaw City was a mining camp in Yavapai County, Arizona, it is now a ghost town. Originally established in the 1860s, Bradshaw City was a haven for many of the early pioneers of Arizona. The town died out in the mid to late 1880s.

History

When gold was discovered in the Bradshaw Mountains, dozens of ghost town sprung up around and on top of the mountains over time. The City was named after William Bradshaw who first discovered gold around the area in 1863. The Bradshaw Mining District was also named after him. Bradshaw City was founded on the northwest side of Mount Wasson. At first the settlement was literally a camp but due to the vast pine forrests all over the Bradshaw Mountains, stone and lumber was quickly used to build permanent structures. Multiple saloons, stores, restaurants, a barber shop, a stage and a meat marcket along with two hotels accomidated the large population of around 5,000. Bradshaw City's nearest major settlement was Prescott, thirty miles away. Settlers could travel for free on the only wagon accessible road.

A man named Simpson operated a wagon train and apparently did not mind the company for over two days, which is how long it took to travel between Prescott and Bradshaw City during the forntier era. The only other route known to have been that leads to Bradshaw City was through Minnehaha Flat and then through a five mile steep mountain trail, rendering a wagon or anything on wheel too large to make the trip. In 1871 the mine was complete at nearby Tiger and the city flourished for a few years. A post office was constructed in 1874. The town officials suspected 10,000 to 20,000 people would eventually settle there but unfortunately the 1880s were just ahead, a time when many Arizona towns became ghosts, just as Bradshaw City did. The post office was closed in 1884.

Little of the city can be found today. One of Bradshaw City's saloons can be visited in Crown King, as it was moved there, a post office was taken from the city also and can still be found.

Trivia

On December 17, 1864, the Los Angeles News published this startling announcement:

"We learn from Mr. Grant that William Bradshaw, of Bradshaw route notoriety, well known to miners and mountaineers, committed suicide at La Paz on the 2nd instant, by cutting his throat. Bradshaw had been on one of his "Big Benders," was probably under the influence of liquor at the time; he was pursued by ghosts, etc. He walked deliberately into a carpenter's shop, took up a drawing knife, and with one stroke nearly severed his head from his shoulders."

References

• Sherman, James E (1969). Ghost Towns of Arizona. University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 0-8061-0843-6. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

34°11′51″N 112°21′20″W