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Used by miners and ranchers sending cargos of copper ore, hides and wool downriver, Colorado River steamboats thrived until they were supplanted by the railroads in the late 1800s.

Used by miners and ranchers sending cargos of copper ore, hides and wool downriver, Colorado River steamboats thrived until they were supplanted by the railroads in the late 1800s.

Gila Bend has been nicknamed the Crossroads of the Southwest due to its importance as a transportation route in the settlement, development and growth of the Great Southwest. It is also near the Sonoran Desert National Monument which contains over 487,000 acres of highly diverse desert habitat.

Gila Bend has been nicknamed the Crossroads of the Southwest due to its importance as a transportation route in the settlement, development and growth of the Great Southwest. It is also near the Sonoran Desert National Monument which contains over 487,000 acres of highly diverse desert habitat.

Determined to forge a new route between Arizona and Los Angeles, Juan Bautista de Anza financed his own exploratory trip in 1774. When he successfully traveled from the San Francisco area to Mexico, Spain authorized Anza to launch a colonizing expedition in 1775.

Determined to forge a new route between Arizona and Los Angeles, Juan Bautista de Anza financed his own exploratory trip in 1774. When he successfully traveled from the San Francisco area to Mexico, Spain authorized Anza to launch a colonizing expedition in 1775.

The nearby Maricopa Wells, a source of water in this desert climate, provided impetus to establish a stop for the newly developed Butterfield Overland Mail Route. While many amenities are available in Phoenix, new development and commercial enterprises are starting to call Maricopa home.

The nearby Maricopa Wells, a source of water in this desert climate, provided impetus to establish a stop for the newly developed Butterfield Overland Mail Route. While many amenities are available in Phoenix, new development and commercial enterprises are starting to call Maricopa home.

As English colonists were arriving at Jamestown and Plymouth Rock on the east coast of North America, the southwestern Native Americans were starting to see visitors from the south. Catholic missionaries from Spain traveled north from Mexico to establish missions in the Southwest region that is now Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California.

As English colonists were arriving at Jamestown and Plymouth Rock on the east coast of North America, the southwestern Native Americans were starting to see visitors from the south. Catholic missionaries from Spain traveled north from Mexico to establish missions in the Southwest region that is now Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California.