Arizona Place Names

“For more than thirty years the author has been gathering information from old timers, Indians, Mexicans, cowboys, sheep-herders, historians, any and everybody who had a story to tell as to the origin and meaning of Arizona names” begins Will Croft Barnes' most well-known work, Arizona Place Names – the product of a lifetime of travel throughout Arizona as a result of his military, political, geographical, and ecological services to the U.S. The original publication of this indispensable reference work on Arizona toponyms is extremely popular and has been republished many times since its first printing. In addition to the numerous place names, an idiosyncratic list of Arizona ‘firsts’ is provided – sure to intrigue (and to invite debate, as Barnes anticipated). The researched claims include reference to Arizona’s first: artificial ice factory, sewing machine, legal hanging, postmistress, and even ostriches!