La Paz, Arizona

La Paz, Arizona
La Paz is located in Arizona
La Paz
La Paz
Location in the state of Arizona
La Paz is located in the United States
La Paz
La Paz
La Paz (the United States)
Coordinates: 33°40′45″N 114°28′35″W / 33.67917°N 114.47639°W / 33.67917; -114.47639
CountryUnited States
StateArizona
CountyLa Paz
Founded1862, before Arizona was officially declared a territory by President Abraham Lincoln
Abandoned1875
Elevation300 ft (91 m)
Population
 (2009)
 • Total0
Time zoneUTC-7 (MST (no DST))
Post Office openedJanuary 17, 1865
Post Office closedMarch 25, 1875

La Paz (Yavapai: Wi:hela) was a short-lived early gold mining town along on the western border of current-day La Paz County, Arizona. The town grew quickly after gold was discovered nearby in 1862. La Paz, Spanish for peace, was chosen as the name in recognition of the feast day for Our Lady of Peace.[2] Originally located in the New Mexico Territory, the town became part of the Arizona Territory when President Abraham Lincoln established the new territory in 1863.[3] In 1983 the newly formed County of La Paz adopted the name, long after the town had become a ghost town.

La Paz was the location of the La Paz Incident in 1863, the westernmost confrontation of the American Civil War.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference usgs was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Granger, Byrd H (1979). Will C. Barnes' Arizona Place Names. Tucson, Arizona: Arizona Press. LCCN 59063657.
  3. ^ Wagoner, Jay J. (1970). Arizona 1863–1912: A Political History. Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona Press. ISBN 0-8165-0176-9