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Town Snapshot: Town of Fredonia
The Earliest People
As with many areas of Arizona, the Anasazi or Basket Makers were the first inhabitants in the Fredonia area. Their presence is marked by petroglyphs and
the pottery they left behind throughout the area. After the Anasazi left, the area became home to nomadic tribes of Paiute, Navajo, Hopi, and other Indian
tribes. For centuries, Indian people lived in the area of Pipe Spring, Moccasin, and Big Canyon.
Fredonia originally started as a business venture by five men who invested to build a dam to create farmland under irrigation. Then in 1891, after reaching
its goal of 24 families, the town of Fredonia was established. Virtually all of the early settlers who established the town of Fredonia were seasoned pioneers
that relied on the logging and mining industries. Today the community relies more on tourism and small local businesses and ranching.
Moving Forward
Fredonia recently completed a $6.5 million water system improvement, which includes a state-of-the-art filtering and pumping station. The project rehabilitated
one of the aging water tanks and added 16 million gallons of water storage.
With a population of approximately 1,300 residents, Fredonia is one of the few communities that owns its own electric utility, and despite major upgrades to
its system, it still boasts some of the cheapest electrical utility rates in the Southwest.
After years of fundraising, March 31, 2012, will mark the completion of a Park Community Build that will completely renovate the park's play equipment. This
accomplishment is a true testament to how a community can come together and accomplish its goals despite any economic woes.
Additionally, this year marks the grand opening of the Red Pueblo Museum, a partnership between the Town Council and a local businessman. Volunteering efforts
have transformed an abandoned ADOT rest area into a museum and heritage park. Here you can compare 300-year-old pots made by Navajos, to 1,000-year-oldancient
Puebloan pots. The museum is home to the largest projectile point collection on display in Northern Arizona and a full-size reproduction of a sod dugout home
which was often found in earlier Arizona history. The museum is also home to the Fredonia Historical Society, which offers a look back at the history and
traditions of the pioneers, ranchers and homesteaders of the Arizona Strip.
Natural beauty of the Arizona Strip
The Arizona Strip is home to some of the most spectacular landscapes in the world, Gunsight Point is no exception. Overlooking Kanab Creek and Snake Gulch,
the Canyon walls expose deep red and purple strata rich in minerals and history.
"Fredonia, AZ Center of the Universe"
The comical bumper sticker "Fredonia, AZ Center of the Universe" adorns vehicles of locals and tourists alike. Although Fredonia is such a tiny town, seemingly
in the middle of nowhere, there is quite a bit of truth to the statement. Nestled in the high desert between the North Rim, Lake Powell, Zion National Park,
Bryce Canyon, Grand Staircase Escalante, Marble Canyon, Lee's Ferry, Snow Canyon and more, maybe Fredonia really is the center of the universe.
Visit www.fredoniaaz.net for more information.
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League of Arizona Cities and Towns
1820 W. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: 602-258-5786
Fax: 602-253-3874
http://www.azleague.org
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