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City Snapshot: City of Show Low
Named by the Turn of a Card
Have you heard the legend about how Show Low got its name? Marion Clark and Corydon E. Cooley owned 100,000 acres. They
decided to play a game of cards, with the winner to take the ranch. The game lasted all night. When the last hand began,
Cooley needed one point. Clark told Cooley "SHOW LOW and the ranch is yours." Cooley turned the deuce of clubs, thereby
naming SHOW LOW. The main street became the Deuce of Clubs.
With a legacy as colorful as this one, you know that the city is rich in history and lore. This tale, in fact, so captivated
the Reader's Digest that Show Low was a finalist in this summer's nationwide America's Most Interesting Town contest. Nestled
in the beautiful White Mountains of northeastern Arizona, Show Low is a mix of a small western-hometown feel and big-city
amenities. Our 10,699 full-time residents welcome newcomers and tourists from all over the world.
At 6,400 feet elevation and temperatures averaging 25 degrees less than Valley cities, Show Low boasts an enviable four-season
climate and is home to some of Arizona's finest recreational areas, drawing seasonal residents who spend the summer or winter
months in this energetic community. The city sits in the nation's largest stand of Ponderosa Pine, surrounded by two million
acres of scenic national forests and mountain landscapes. It is an outdoor-lover's paradise, with world-class fishing and
hunting opportunities and miles of trails for hiking, camping, mountain biking, horseback riding, skiing, and snowboarding.
It has ranked high on the list of the 200 Best Towns for Outdoorsmen by Outdoor Life Magazine.
Not only is Show Low the largest city in the White Mountains of northeastern Arizona, it is also the economic and healthcare hub.
Tourism, forest products, and manufacturing are the pillars of our economy. With the city strategically located at the crossroads
of highways 60, 260, and 77 and its proximity to I-40, other industries have discovered special locational advantages, including
health care, aviation, and business services. In addition, our regional airport offers daily commuter service to and from Phoenix
and Denver. We are partners in an award-winning rural transit service that connects Show Low with Holbrook to the north and
Pinetop-Lakeside to the south. Show Low is a community teeming with business start-ups and entrepreneurial activity.
We beautified our downtown through our recently completed Deuce of Clubs streetscape project. Our main street features wider, more
pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, attractive landscaping, public art, and places to sit and relax, drawing visitors and customers to
our downtown area to stroll and shop. We host a number of popular annual signature events, including: Show Low Days in June (with an
outdoor recreation show, arts and crafts festival, the soapbox Derby Down the Deuce, and a stick horse parade for the kids); Fourth
of July FreedomFest (featuring a parade, concerts, and magnificent fireworks); Show Low Shines for the Holidays in December (when
the city is ablaze with sparkling holiday lights; decorations, and events); and the award-winning Deuce of Clubs Drop on New Year's
Eve (featuring our famous deuce of clubs card).
Show Low's greatest assets are its incredible quality of life, attractions, recreational opportunities, and well-educated workforce. We
invite you to see for yourself why we call it home.
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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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