Arizona Territory Exhibit
Arizona Territory Postal Routes 1866 – 1912
Pioneer Period 1866—1880
Arizona Territory
Postal Routes 1866 – 1912
Ehrenburg, Arizona Territory, to Italy. September 15, 1871
East from Ehrenburg through the western desert to Wickenburg, then north through the Bradshaw Mountains to Prescott.
North then east along the Santa Fe Road, crossing the Arizona border into New Mexico Territory and to Santa Fe.
Thence to the New York City post office and by ship to Cavi di Lavagia, Italy
This exhibit displays major and minor postal routes documented by mail carried within the Territory be-tween 1866 and 1912.
Covers going Eastbound, Westbound, Northbound and Southbound over regional routes, local routes, and remote routes to mining camps, ranching areas and military forts are included, indicating the diversities of carrying the mail.
Original research at the U.S. National Archives, the Arizona State Library, Post Office Department maps, vari-ous books, journals, and historic newspapers all provided excellent source material to accurately research this exhibit.
POSTAL ROUTES
I. Arizona Territory Pioneer Period 1866—1880
Westbound regional mail routes
Eastbound regional mail routes
II. Arizona Territory Old West Period 1881—1890
Stagecoach mail routes
Railroad mail routes
III. Arizona Territory Late Territorial period 1891—1912
Stagecoach mail routes
Railroad mail routes
Yuma, Arizona Territory 1868
Postal Route
Yuma, Arizona Territory 
San Bernardino, California
Los Angeles, California
September 7, 1868
Yuma, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 2
Postmark Census 1 of 20+ known
U.S. Mail Line Company Four-Horse Stagecoach to Los Angeles
Arizona Miner (Prescott Arizona) newspaper advertisement, May 18, 1867
Mohave City, Arizona Territory 1869
Postal Route 17209 
Mohave City, Arizona Territory
Aubrey, A.T.
Ehrenberg, Arizona Territory
Postal Route distance 140 miles
Postal Route 17212
Ehrenberg, A.T.
San Gorgonia, California
San Bernardino, California
Postal Route distance 175 miles
September 23, 1869
Mohave City, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 1 manuscript
Postmark Census 1 of 15 known
Latest known type 1 manuscript
The First Mails through the Ehrenberg Arizona Territory Post Office
The Post Office at the Colorado River port of Ehrenberg was established Monday September 20, 1869. This cover would have arrived in Ehrenberg on the southbound stage from Mohave City on Saturday, September 25th. The first weekly Ehrenberg stage for San Bernardino departed this same Saturday morning. It is proba-ble this cover was carried upon the first Noble & Waters stage from Ehrenberg to San Bernardino.
Yavapai and Mohave County mails for the Eastern States were preferentially routed west through California prior to 1875.
Grant, Arizona Territory – 1871
Postal Route 17211
Grant, Arizona Territory
Florence, A.T. 75 miles
McDowell, A.T. 35 miles
Phoenix, A.T. 25 miles
Wickenburg, Arizona Territory 55 miles
Ehrenberg, Arizona Territory 110 miles
Postal Route distance 300 miles
February 18, 1871
Grant, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 1
Postmark Census 1 of 5 known
Westbound Endorsement due to Uncertainty of Postal Route
Grant Arizona Territory Postmaster Newton Israel and party had recently been killed by Apache Indians on the postal route between Grant and Tucson. Knowledge of this tragedy by Postmaster Austin is a reasonable assumption why this cover was routed to the more secure but lengthy postal route westbound.
Postal Route 17211 (1870-1874) connected Tucson with Wickenburg via Grant, Florence, McDowell, and Phoenix. Once-per-week service was provided by Block & Helling Company’s 4-mule coach.
Cerbat, Arizona Territory – 1873
Postal Route 17218
Cerbat, Arizona Territory
Mineral Park, Arizona Territory
Union Pass, A.T.
Newberry, A.T.
Camp Mohave, A.T.
Hardyville, Arizona Territory
Postal Route distance 39 miles
December 30, 1873
Cerbat, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 1 manuscript
Postmark Census 1 of 6 known
Hardyville Postal Route Improves Service to Northern Arizona
Westbound Regional Postal Route via Hardyville, Arizona Territory
From Cerbat, located in a canyon on the west side of the Cerbat Range, mail passed over a private road cut through the pass to Mineral Park. Here the mail joined the weekly stage west, crossing Sacramento Valley, thence ascending 3,680ft Union Pass westerly until descending into Camp Mohave on the Colorado River.
Signal City, Arizona Territory – 1878
Discontinued Post Office requires Carriage of Mail by Wells Fargo & Co.’s
Postal Route Discontinued November 12, 1878
Signal, Arizona Territory
Aubrey, Arizona Territory 43 miles 
Ehrenberg, Arizona Territory 75 miles
Bradshaw Trail to San Gorgonia Pass California
November 14, 1878
Signal City, Arizona Territory
Postmark Meyer N/A
Postmark Census N/A
Written 2 days after the closure of the Post Office at Signal, this letter was carried by Wells Fargo & Co.
“I send this letter by Express for there is not a P. Office in this county”, John Moore, November 12, 1878 Signal City AT [enclosure].
J. Peck proprietor of the Inland Mail Transportation Co had abandoned his postal route contract between Ehrenberg, Signal and Mineral Park in late September 1878.
Arizona Sentinel Newspaper (Yuma)
Advertisement November 2, 1878
Arizona Sentinel Newspaper (Yuma)
Advertisement November 2, 1878
Kimble Bros Stage Company carried Wells Fargo & Co.’s express between Signal and Aubrey 1878.
Apache Pass – 1879
By Stage to the Terminus of the Southern Pacific Railroad
Postal Route
Apache Pass, Arizona Territory
Camp Bowie, Arizona Territory
Sulphur Springs
Cienega, A.T.
Tucson, A.T
Picacho Station
BlueWater Station
Terminus, A.T. (near Casa Grande)
Southern Pacific Railroad west
Postal Route distance approximately 180 miles
November 9, 1879
Apache Pass, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 3
Postmark Census 1 of 3 known
Latest known type 3 postmark
Construction of the eastbound Southern Pacific Railroad had just passed the town of Casa Grande in Novem-ber 1879. The travelling Post Office, Terminus, offered a point of entry to the new railroad postal route west.
Apache Pass mail via Camp Bowie was routed to Terminus under postal route contract held by The Southern Pacific Mail Line.
Phoenix Herald newspaper November 14, 1879
Seymour, Arizona Territory – 1879
Carried 45 Miles to the Nearest Post Office
Postal Route
Seymour, Arizona Territory
Nigger Wells 12 miles
Agua Fria Station 65 miles
Phoenix, Arizona Territory 25 Miles
Maricopa, Arizona Territory 30 miles
Southern Pacific Railroad west 157 miles
Postal Route Distance 289 miles
December 11, 1879
Seymour, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 1
Postmark Census 1 of 2 known
Earliest known postmark from Seymour
Seymour Arizona, located on the East bank of the Hassayampa River 10 miles south of Wickenburg, was a short-lived mill town for Vulture Mine ores.
Letter [enclosed] was written by a member of the post road construction crew working near Peeples Valley 45 miles north of Seymour. This new post road bypassed Date Creek and shortened the Prescott to Wicken-burg postal route.
California mails from Seymour were routed south through Phoenix to the new town of Maricopa along the Southern Pacific Railroad. Westbound train for Los Angeles departed Maricopa daily at 7:00AM.
Prescott, Arizona Territory – 1866
“Notorious Mail Mismanagement” and a Lengthy Postal Route
Postal Route contract number 14467a
Prescott, Arizona Territory
Wickenburg A.T.
Pimos Villages A.T.
Tucson, Arizona Territory
Mesilla, New Mexico Territory
Postal Route distance 493 miles
April 1866
Prescott, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 3
Postmark Census 1 of 6 known
Eastbound Regional Postal Route via Mesilla, New Mexico Territory
To the outrage of E.J. Bentley, Editor of The Arizona Minor newspaper in May 1866 mail contractor Samuel J Poston had failed to perform service on the Prescott to Albuquerque route due to notori-ous mail mismanagement. Eastbound Prescott mail is rerouted south 350 miles through the Arizona Territory before exiting East towards Mesilla, N.M.
Mail route 14467a departs Prescott A.T. Monday at 8AM, arrives Tucson Sunday by 8PM. Postal con-tract modified December 14, 1865 extending services from Tucson to Mesilla. Total postal route dis-tance 493 miles.
Tubac, Arizona Territory – 1867
Eastern Mails through Santa Fe via Mesilla, New Mexico
Postal Route contract number 14467a
Tubac, Arizona Territory
Tucson, Arizona Territory
Dry Camp
La Cienga
Dragoon Springs
Sulphur Springs
Fort Bowie, Arizona Territory
Apache Pass
San Simon, Arizona Territory
Mesilla New Mexico Territory
Postal Route distance 195 miles
November 4, 1867
Tubac, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 1
Postmark Census 1 of 14 known
Official Map of the Territory of Arizona 1865 Postal Route marked in Yellow
Maricopa Wells, Arizona Territory – 1869
Maricopa Wells at the Crossroads of the Arizona Territory
Postal Route
Maricopa Wells, Arizona Territory
Tucson, Arizona Territory 90 miles
Mesilla, New Mexico Territory 275 miles
November 5, 1869
Maricopa Wells, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 2
Postmark Census 1 of 18 known
Eastbound Regional Postal Route via Mesilla, New Mexico Territory
From Maricopa Wells central Arizona Territory location, postal routes extended northward to Wickenburg and Prescott, westward to Arizona City (Yuma), and eastward to Tucson.
The eastbound US Mail Line Company stagecoach from San Bernardino via Arizona City carried this cover 90 miles from Maricopa Wells to Tucson. In Tucson, eastbound mails were transferred to a two horse buggy of the Southern Overland US Mail & Express Company for carriage to Mesilla under a New Mexico postal route contract.
McDowell, Arizona Territory – 1872 – 1877
Fort McDowell is Accorded a Direct Postal Route to Maricopa Wells
December 6, 1872
McDowell, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 1
Postmark Census 1 of 6 known
Postal Route
McDowell, Arizona Territory
Florence, A.T.
Grant, A.T.
Tucson, Arizona Territory
Yuma, Arizona Territory
February 24, 1877
McDowell, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 2
Postmark Census 1 of 17 known
Postal Route
McDowell, Arizona Territory
Maricopa Wells, Arizona Territory
Tucson, Arizona Territory
Mesilla, New Mexico Territory
Postal Route 17211 (1870-1874) connected Tucson with Wickenburg via Grant, Florence, McDowell, and Phoenix. Once-per-week service was provided by Block & Helling Company’s 4-mule coach. 1872 cover carried south to Tucson on this route, then west on Southern Overland Mail to Yuma, Arizona Territory.
Circa 1876 postal route to Fort McDowell was changed to a direct southwesterly route 64 miles to Maricopa Wells. This route crossed the Salt River at Whitlow’s Ferry, current McDowell Rd, Mesa Arizona with a stop at Desert Station approxi-mately Gilbert Rd at Baseline Rd.
1877 cover carried to Maricopa Wells on this route, then east to Tucson and onward to Mesilla, New Mexico Territory.
Parker, Arizona Territory – 1874
Colorado River Postal Route joins Yuma with Hardyville
Postal Route 40105
Parker, Arizona Territory
Aubrey, A.T.
Mohave City, A.T.
Hardyville, Arizona Territory
Postal Route distance 150 miles
November 27, 1874
Parker, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 1
Postmark Census 1 of 4 known
Earliest known postmark from Parker
Establishment of postal route contract 40105 in March 1874 joined the two principle north and south Colorado River ports of Hardyville and Yuma. The postal route followed the eastern shore of the Colorado River the entire 250 mile distance.
Eastbound Parker mails routed north to Hardyville for conveyance west to San Bernardino thence east through Utah.
Camp Verde, Arizona Territory – 1875
New Postal Route between Prescott and Santa Fe
Postal Route 40101
Camp Verde, Arizona Territory
Hance’s ranch, Steminers, Spaulding Camp
Prescott, Arizona Territory
Postles Ranch, Santa Fe Road, Bear Springs, Lockwood Springs, Snively’s Holes, Volunteer Springs, Antelope Springs, Cosino Caves, Walnut Tank, Randalville
Postal Route distance 500 miles
October 4, 1875
Camp Verde, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 1 manuscript
Postmark Census 1 of 8 known
Earliest known postmark from Camp Verde
The fifth and final Arizona Territory regional postal route established during the Pioneer Period connected Prescott with Santa Fe, New Mexico Territory.
The local 45 mile postal route from Camp Verde to Prescott was provided by a Special messenger assigned to the Prescott office. This cover would have arrived at the Prescott Post Office Monday evening October 4, 1875. Eastbound mail via Santa Fe departed Prescott Wednesday morning October 6, 1875 for the 7 1/2 day trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico Territory. The Santa Fe route was contracted to Hayward & Baker spring 1875.
July 23, 1875 Arizona Miner
1st advertisement of the Santa Fe & Prescott Mail Line July 23, 1875 Arizona Miner (Prescott) newspaper
Clifton, Arizona Territory – 1876
Remote mining town serviced by New Mexico postal route
Postal Route 40115
Clifton, Arizona Territory
Silver City, New Mexico Territory
Postal Route distance 135 miles
June 19, 1876
Clifton, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 1 manuscript
Postmark Census 1 of 3 known
Latest known manuscript postmark
Settled in 1872 by miners and prospectors from Silver City, New Mexico Territory, Clifton, Arizona Territory lies upon one of the worlds largest copper deposits. Freight, passengers and mail from Clifton during this pe-riod were conducted east to Silver City N.M, thence to destinations East and West. No other towns with Post Offices were serviced on this two day stagecoach postal route.
The postal route from Clifton Arizona Territory departed Monday at 7:00AM heading southwest along the San Francisco River. At Smugglers Canyon a waterless cutoff was made to join the Gila River road East. Approximately 70 miles from Clifton the New Mexico border was crossed. The postal route then continued gen-erally southeast to Silver City, New Mexico Territory arriving no later than Wednesday by 6:00PM.
Camp Thomas, Arizona Territory – 1879
Seven Days Staging, and Two days by Rail to St. Louis
Postal Route 40148
Camp Thomas, Arizona Territory
Safford, A.T. 23 miles
Fort Grant, A.T 25 miles
Point of Mountain Station 22 miles
Ewell’s Springs 27 miles
Apache Pass 13 miles
San Simon Station 22 miles
New Mexico Border 15 miles
Postal Route Distance 147 miles
Fort Grant And Camp Thomas Mail Line
March 31, 1879
Camp Thomas, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 1
Postmark Census 20+ known
Proprietors Norton & Stewart provided triweekly stage and mail line service from Camp Thomas 70 miles south to Point of Mountain Station located 20 miles east of Tucson.
The eastbound mails were transferred to stages of the National Mail and Transportation Company which advertised, “Seven days staging, and two days by rail to St. Louis” via Tucson, Silver City, Mesilla, and Santa Fe connecting to Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad at Trinidad, Colorado.
Old West Period 1881-1890
Mineral Park, Arizona Territory – August 9, 1882 PDF Presentation Panel
Postal Routes 40120 + 40122
Mineral Park, Arizona Territory
Hackberry, Arizona Territory
Cactus Spring, Cottonwood Spring, Anvil Rock, Oaks & Willows
Old Camp Hualapai
Walnut Creek, Lockwood Springs, Snively’s Spring, Volunteer Springs, Antelope Springs, San Francisco Springs, Walnut Tank
Angell Camp
Canyon Diablo Camp
Winslow, Arizona Territory 
Holbrook, A.T.
New Mexico border
Postal Route distance 325 miles
August 9, 1882
Mineral Park, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 3
Postmark Census 1 of 20+ known
Carried Outside the Mail by Private Conveyance $2.00 Month
“The Mail is being carried to Hackberry twice per week by private conveyance & subscription my share is $2.00 per month” Mr. A.L. Brown, Mineral Park Arizona Territory, Aug 9th 1882 [enclosure]
Eastbound postal route met the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad crew at Canyon Diablo then followed the rails 36 miles to Winslow, Arizona Territory where mail bags were transferred to a railroad mail coach for convey-ance east to Santa Fe, NM.
Simmons, Arizona Territory 1882 PDF Presentation Panel
Postal Route 40140
Simmons, Arizona Territory
American Ranch 12.5 miles
Postal Route distance 12.5 miles
December 22, 1882
Simmons, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 1 Manuscript
Postmark Census 1 of 8 known
Local mail within Williamson Valley Arizona Territory
Just 23 miles northwest of Prescott, Arizona Territory, Simmons was located on the well-travelled Prescott to Hardyville stagecoach road at the Mint Creek crossing. American Ranch was a stagecoach station located 12.5 miles southeast of Simmons along the same Hardyville road. A Post Office was never established at American Ranch but the location would have been familiar to the mail route contractor.
Williamson Valley postal route serving Juniper, A.T, Simmons, A.T. and Prescott, A.T was performed twice-a-week by wagon. Postal route distance Juniper to Prescott 39 miles.
Camp Verde, Arizona Territory, 1883 PDF Presentation Panel
Postal Route
Camp Verde, Arizona Territory 10 miles
Cienega, A.T. 16 miles
Agua Fria Valley, Arizona Territory 18 miles
Prescott, Arizona Territory
Postal Route distance 44 miles
March 22, 1883
Camp Verde, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 4
Postmark Census 1 of 8 known
Registered Mail on the Short Postal Route to Prescott
Departing Camp Verde the postal route headed west-southwest 10 miles to the stage stop and ranch at Cienega located at the headwaters of Cienega Creek. Post Office established 1877. The postal route then angled northwest 16 miles arriving at Agua Fria Valley which was situated on the Black Canyon stagecoach route from Phoenix. Mail would have been transferred to the northbound Black Canyon stage for the final 18 mile journey to Prescott.
Springerville, Arizona Territory, 1884 PDF Presentation Panel
Postal Route
Springerville, Arizona Territory
St. Johns, A.T. 30 miles
Erastus, A.T. 15 miles
Woodruff, A.T. 35 miles
Holbrook, Arizona Territory 13 miles
Atlantic & Pacific Railroad east
New Mexico border 80 miles
Postal Route distance 173 miles
February 15, 1884
Springerville, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 2
Postmark Census 1 of 5 known
Pioneer Mormon Family delivers the Mail to Holbrook for 20 Years
“The mail was carried by buckboard from the train station in Holbrook to St. Johns, and from there in a two-wheeled cart drawn by one horse from St. Johns to Springerville. Sons Grover, David, John, Levi, Jesse, Gilbert, and Don all drove the mail before they were 16. Wives Ella and Ida cared for the boys and tended the horses.” David King Udall (1851-1938) Arizona Pioneer Mormon; ARIZONA SILHOUETTES TUCSON, ARIZONA 1959.
Gillett 1885 – Mayer 1884 PDF Presentation Panel
Black Canyon Stage route connects Prescott with Phoenix
March 2, 1885
Gillett, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 1
Postmark Census 1 of 11 known
Latest Known Type 1 postmark date
Postal Route
Prescott, Arizona Territory
Agua Fria Valley, Arizona Territory
Big Bug, Arizona Territory
Mayer, Arizona Territory
Bumble Bee, Arizona Territory
Gillett, Arizona Territory
Phoenix, Arizona Territory
Postal Route distance 113 miles
April 8, 1884
Mayer, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type A Manuscript
Postmark Census 1 of 4 known
The fastest route between Prescott and Phoenix was the Black Canyon Stage. Beset with difficult mountain terrain and notorious for stagecoach robberies, the route served an important mining district.
Mayer, Arizona Territory cover carried on northbound Black Canyon stage to Prescott, then north to Ash Fork. Distance 90 miles. Atlantic & Pacific Railroad East.
Gillette, Arizona territory cover carried on southbound Black Canyon stage to Phoenix then south to Maricopa. Distance 75 miles. Southern Pacific Railroad West.
Contention, Arizona Territory,1884 – PDF Presentation Panel
Last Mail from Contention Arizona Territory
Postal Route 40002
Contention, Arizona Territory
New Mexico & Arizona Railroad north
Canisteo Junction 7 miles
Benson, Arizona Territory 8 miles
Southern Pacific Railroad east
Wilcox, AT 40 miles
Teviston, AT 24 miles
San Simon, AT 16 miles
New Mexico border 10 miles
Postal Route distance 105 miles
November 9, 1884
Contention, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 2
Postmark Census 1 of 5 known
Latest known postmark from Contention Arizona
Mail service from Contention Arizona Territory upon the New Mexico & Arizona Railroad commenced No-vember 11, 1882. This route existed less than two years. This latest known cover from Contention Arizona travelled the northbound train to Benson. It departed Contention at 7:22AM arriving Benson 7:57AM.
Tip Top, Arizona Territory, 1886 – PDF Presentation Panel
By Horse, Burro and Buckboard
Postal Route 40124
Tip Top, Arizona Territory 
Gillett, Arizona Territory 9 miles
Phoenix, Arizona Territory 45 miles
Maricopa, Arizona Territory 30 miles
Southern Pacific Railroad east
New Mexico border 257 miles
Postal Route distance 341 miles
January 21, 1886
Tip Top, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 2
Postmark Census 1 of 10 known
Latest Known Type 2 postmark from Tip Top
Teenager Ocsar Wager carried mail between Tip Top and Gillett three times a week by horse, burro and buck-board.
At Gillett, Arizona Territory, mail from Tip Top was transferred to the daily southbound Black Canyon Stage to Phoenix and thence to Maricopa. Postal route mail contract with the Arizona Stage Company of Prescott.
San Carlos, Arizona Territory, 1886 – PDF Presentation Panel
Mis-Directed Mail to General B.H. Grierson
Commander of the District of Arizona
Postal Routes
San Carlos, Arizona Territory 35 miles
Ft. Thomas, A.T. 16 miles
Pima, A.T 14 miles
Safford, A.T. 9 miles
Solomonsville, A.T. 6 miles
Teviston, Arizona Territory 37 miles
Southern Pacific Railroad east to Ft Bayard New Mexico
Southern Pacific Railroad west to Willcox A.T.
Ft. Grant, Arizona Territory 25 miles
Willcox, Arizona Territory
Southern Pacific Railroad west to Maricopa A.T.
Phoenix, A.T.
Prescott, Arizona Territory
June 7, 1886
San Carlos, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 2
Postmark Census 1 of 2 known
Latest known use of type 2 postmark
On May 10, 1886 General Grierson received Field Order 29 ordering him to Ft. Bayard, New Mexico Territory for ’…the trial of court marshals that may be brought before it’. This letter attempted to reach him there but he was already enroute to Mohave County Arizona, Territory. On June 22, 1886 General Grierson sent a tele-graph to Govenor Zulick that there was no danger of an outbreak from the Walapai Indians of Mohave county.
Old Grizzly Placerita Camp, Antelope Valley, 1887 – PDF Presentation Panel
How to Send Mail from the New Gold Diggings at Placerita Camp
Postal Routes
Old Grizzly Placerita Camp 
Antelope Valley, Arizona Territory
Skull Valley A.T. 18 miles
Prescott, Arizona Territory 18 miles
Chino A.T 23 miles
Ash Fork, Arizona Territory 35 miles
New Mexico border 229 miles
Postal Route distance 323 miles
February 4, 1887
Antelope Valley, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 2
Postmark Census 1 of 10 known
The Placerita Gold Diggings were discovered and claimed by A.J. ‘Old Grizzly’ Callen circa 1886. The nearest Post Office, located approximately 8 miles away at Antelope Valley, allowed trice weekly mails to Prescott or Wickenburg.
Placerita Camp postal route by foot, mule or horse to Antelope Valley Post Office. Stagecoach from Antelope Valley via Prescott to Ash Fork, thence eastbound on Atlantic & Pacific Railroad mail coach to Santa Fe, New Mexico Territory.
Cottonwood 1887 – PDF Presentation Panel
Geological Impasse Requires Five Days to Travel 30 Miles
The great Mogollon Rim escarpment North and East of Cottonwood hindered travel the short 30 mile distance to Flagstaff.
The established postal route 24 miles southeast at Camp Verde provided access to the primary North – South postal route through Prescott. Twice a week stagecoach postal route from Cottonwood to Camp Verde. Transit postmark December 14, 1887. 128 miles by stagecoach to Seligman Fork where transit East 53 miles to Flagstaff provided aboard Santa Fe Railroad mail coach. Arrival postmark Flagstaff December 17, 1887.
Camp Verde transit December 14
Flagstaff Arrival December 17
Postal Route #1
Cottonwood
Cornville 7 miles
Aultman 7 miles
Camp Verde 10 miles
Postal Route #2
Camp Verde
Cherry 15 miles
Agua Fria Valley 15 miles
Prescott A.T 16 miles
Postal Route #3
Prescott
Whipple 4 miles
Clearwater 23 miles
Seligman 35 miles
Postal Route #4
Ash Fork
Williams 23 miles
Chalender 10 miles
Flagstaff 20 miles
Total Postal Route distance 181 miles
Tonto, Arizona Territory, 1888- PDF Presentation Panel
Rain & Snow delays the mail between Payson and Globe at Tonto Creek
Postal Route 68129
Tonto, Arizona Territory
Armer, A.T 35 miles
Catalpa, A.T. 3 miles
Globe, Arizona Territory 32 miles
Dripping Springs, A.T. 24 miles
Riverside, A.T. 12 miles
Butte, A.T. 16 miles
Florence, Arizona Territory 16 miles
Casa Grande, Arizona Territory 30 miles
Southern Pacific Railroad west
Yuma, Arizona Territory 177 miles
Postal Route distance 345 miles
January 6, 1888
Tonto, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 2
Postmark Census 1 of 5 known
Latest known Type 2 postmark date
“I have missed every chance of writing when the mail was going out until today & it seemed almost impossible to go to meet the mail today. It has been raining and snowing more or less for the last few days & has been raining all morning & it is eight miles to the Post Office.”, Ransom B Moore January 6, 1888 [enclosure]
Bisbee, Arizona Territory, 1888 – PDF Presentation Panel
6:00am Bradshaw Stage Line from Bisbee, Arizona Territory
Postal Route
Bisbee, A.T.
Charleston, A.T.
Tombstone, A.T
Postal Route distance 40 miles
March 21, 1888
Bisbee, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 4
Postmark Census 1 of 9 known
Earliest known type 4 postmark from Bisbee
The daily stage from Bisbee to Tombstone left early in the morning. The 6:00am stage carried passengers, express and mails. This cover was received by the Tombstone Post Office around 11:00am March 21st and was backstamped with this date.
By 1888 the postal route through the Mule Pass Mountains to Tombstone had been abandoned. Postal route west then north through Charleston, then northeast to Tombstone.
Bisbee Tombstone Received March 21 1888
Payson, Arizona Territory, 1888 – PDF Presentation Panel
Payson Pony Route to Camp Verde
Postal Route
Payson, Arizona Territory 
Pine, Arizona Territory 20 miles
Strawberry, Arizona Territory 7 miles
Camp Verde, Arizona Territory 40 miles
Prescott, Arizona Territory 44 miles
Seligman, Arizona Territory 74 miles
California border 110 miles
Postal Route distance 295 miles
May 11, 1888
Payson, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 2
Postmark Census 1 of 11 known
Westbound mails from Payson were carried on horseback to Camp Verde on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fri-days. The 67 mile postal route was completed the same day.
Cover postmarked Payson Friday, May 11, 1888. Received Camp Verde Monday May 14, 1888. Plausible ex-planations for three day delay is mail missed the morning despatch from Payson and was carried on Monday or mail was carried Friday and sorting occurred Monday morning in Camp Verde.
Payson Camp Verde Backstamp Postmark May 14 1888
Wilgus, Arizona Territory, 1889 – PDF Presentation Panel
Utah Mails Routed through California for Speed and Convenience
Postal Route
Wilgus, Arizona Territory
Brannock, Arizona Territory 10 miles
Fort Bowie, Arizona Territory 15 miles
Teviston, Arizona Territory 14 miles
Southern Pacific Railroad west
California border 345 miles
Postal Route distance 384 miles
March 3, 1889
Wilgus, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 1
Postmark Census 1 of 2 known
Wilgus, Arizona Territory, Cochise County, was located along Turkey Creek on the western slope of the Chiri-cahua Mountains. Town previously known as Aztec, Arizona Territory.
Postal routes between Arizona and Utah were local only, the region being remote and sparsely populated. Arizona mails to populated central Utah were routed west through California using the speed and conven-ience of the railroads.
Twenty-five mile Wilgus to Fort Bowie postal route once per week. Fort Bowie to Teviston postal route service six-times-a-week.
Vekol, Arizona Territory, 1889 – PDF Presentation Panel
Remote Pinal County Silver Mine Postal Route to Casa Grande
Postal Route
Vekol, Arizona Territory
Orizaba, A.T. 10 miles
Casa Grande, Arizona Territory 25 miles
Southern Pacific Railroad east
New Mexico border 208 miles
Postal Route distance 243 miles
December 30, 1889
Vekol, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 1
Postmark Census 1 of 8 known
In the late 1800s, The Vekol Mine silver mine averaged an output of $16,000 per month for 31 straight months and produced millions of dollars in ore during its heyday.
In 1888, the Pinal County supervisors voted to extend a road south to the Vekol Mine. This road became the postal route between Vekol and Casa Grande.
Quijotoa, Arizona Territory, 1890 – PDF Presentation Panel
Stagecoach Mail through the Sonoran Desert Summer
Postal Route 68166
Quijotoa, Arizona Territory
Haynes’ Well 18 miles
Quinlin’s Station 12 miles
Half Way House Station 8 miles
Bowley Station 11 miles
Aguirre’s Dry Camp 14 miles
Tucson, Arizona Territory 13 miles
New Mexico Territory border 140 miles
Arizona Territory Postal Route distance 216 miles
July 15, 1890
Quijotoa, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 3
Postmark Census 1 of 4 known
Earliest known Type 3 postmark date
The Quijotoa postal route to Tucson was the longest and harshest in Southern Arizona in 1890. The 76 mile route traversed waterless valleys of the lower Sonoran Desert, home to peaceful Papago Indians. July tem-peratures often exceed 105F.
Trice weekly mail service by stage from Quijotoa to Tucson provided by Pedro Aguirre & Co. This cover was postmarked Tuesday morning July 15, 1890 prior to departure of the 9:00 AM Tucson stage.
Late Territorial Period 1891—1912
Nogales, Arizona Territory – 1891
Postal Routes 40001 + 40002
Nogales, Arizona Territory New Mexico and Arizona Railroad
Calabasas, A.T. 10 miles
Crittenden, A.T. 22 miles
Fairbank, Arizona Territory 40 miles Arizona and Southeastern Railroad
Contention, A.T. 3 miles
Saint David, A.T. 6 miles
Benson, Arizona Territory 6 miles Southern Pacific Railroad
Dragoon, A.T. 19 miles
Cochise, A.T. 10 miles
Willcox, A.T. 10 miles
Teviston, A.T. 24 miles
San Simon, A.T. 14 miles
New Mexico border 10 miles
Postal Route distance 134 miles
June 30, 1891
Nogales, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 8
Postmark Census 1 of 13 known
Three Railroads and no Stagecoaches
Carried entirely aboard three railroad mail coaches. The old stagecoach postal routes were rapidly diminishing in the 1890’s. This postal route required mail sack transfers between three separate railroads in Southern Arizona.
Cline, Arizona Territory – 1892
Postal Route 68129
Cline, Arizona Territory
Reno A.T. 8 miles
Armer A.T. 22 miles
Globe, Arizona Territory 37 miles
Riverside A.T. 35 miles
Florence Arizona Territory 32 miles
Casa Grande Arizona Territory 30 miles
Southern Pacific Railroad east
New Mexico border 200 miles
Post Route Distance 332 miles
March 20, 1892
Cline, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 1
Postmark Census 1 of 2 known
Earliest known postmark from Cline
Tonto Basin Cattle Ranch Mail Routed to the Closest Rail Depot
The Postal Route through Tonto Basin joined Payson and Globe, a distance of 85 miles. The Cline Post Office served the Bouquet Ranch founded by Charles Bouquet Cline.
Cline mail to the Eastern states travelled south 67 miles on the trice-weekly stage to Globe. At Globe, mails were transferred to postal route contractor Arizona Stage Company stagecoach for carriage to the railroad depot at Casa Grande. Three day transit from Cline to Casa Grande. Southern Pacific Railroad east to New Mexico via Tucson
Phoenix, Arizona Territory – 1897
Spectacles cross the Arizona Territory upon 6 Different Railroads
Dates of possible use October 16, 1894 earliest known use 4 cent Lincoln stamp (Sc. 254) to July 28, 1897 business name change to H.F. Vantilburg Co
From Chicago this spectacles case entered the Arizona Territory on the westbound Santa Fe Railroad, disembarking with the Phoenix mails at Ash Fork. The Santa Fe, Prescott & Phoenix Railroad carried the case to Phoenix and its destination Vantilburg & Davidson 33 W. Washington St. This optical company then reversed and addressed the lid and mailed the case to Lochiel, Ariz. From Phoenix, the Maricopa & Phoenix Railroad provided closed bag mail service to the main line at Maricopa. From Maricopa the eastbound mail was placed on a Southern Pacific Railroad mail coach for Benson. This spectacles case, and other mails, were transferred to the Arizona and Southeastern Railroad in Benson for the short trip to Fairbank. Once again the mails were transferred to a different railroad, the sixth, The New Mexico and Arizona. 40 miles east of Fairbank this spectacles case and other mails were unloaded from the mail coach at Crittenden for the 26 mile stagecoach postal route #68180 south to it’s addressee in Lochiel Arizona Territory on the US-Mexico border.
Skull Valley – 1895
Postal Route
Skull Valley, Arizona Territory
Prescott A.T. 22 miles
Chaparral A.T. 15 miles
Postal Route distance 37 miles
January 24, 1895
Skull Valley, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 2
Postmark Census 1 of 4 known
Latest known Type 2 postmark from Skull Valley
Bradshaw Mountain Mail to the Mining Camps at Chaparral Gulch
Skull Valley was the final stop before Prescott on the daily northbound Santa Fe Prescott and Phoenix rail-road. Upon arrival in Prescott, the southbound mails for Chaparral, Big Bug, Mayer and others would have waited for the now auxiliary trice-weekly Black Canyon Stage postal route.
1895 Postal Route Map, Post Office Dept.
Skull Valley Arizona Post Office was located inside this train station
Ellison, Arizona Territory – 1897
Postal Route 16109
Ellison, Arizona Territory
Young, Arizona Territory 12 miles
Gisela A.T. 25 miles
Payson, Arizona Territory 12 miles
Oxbow A.T. 5 miles
Rye A.T. 5 miles
Tonto A.T. 15 miles
Cline A.T. 12 miles
Livingston A.T. 28 miles
Globe, Arizona Territory 27 miles
Postal Route distance 136 miles
September 22, 1897
Ellison, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 1 manuscript
Postmark Census 1 of 5 known
Ellison was served by a 12 mile Special Supply Mail Route messenger from Young, Arizona Territory in consequence of not being directly on a mail route.
Winslow, Arizona Territory – 1898
Drop Letter Postal Route
August 14, 1898
Winslow, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 12
Postmark Census 1 of 16 known
A Drop Letter is mailed at a Post Office and either kept for general delivery, or delivered to a post office box, at that same post office. This Winslow, Arizona Territory drop letter was delivered to Post Office Box 1202.
Fredonia, Arizona Territory – 1902
Longest Stagecoach Postal Route Late Territorial Period
Postal Route 68103
Fredonia, Arizona Territory
Kanab, Utah 8 miles
Johnson, Utah 14 miles
Lee’s Ferry, A.T. 76 miles
Tuba, A.T. 80 miles
Flagstaff, Arizona Territory 95 miles
Postal Route distance 273 miles
March 25, 1902
Fredonia, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 1
Postmark Census 1 of 5 known
Latest known use of type 1 postmark
Fredonia Arizona is located within the Arizona Strip north of the Colorado River and south of Utah. Then as now, all transportation routes into the area must deviate widely around the Grand Canyon. This natural won-der, and sparse population in the region, account for the long length and low frequency of this remote postal route.
Depart Fredonia Tuesday March 25, transit Lee’s Ferry Wednesday March 27, Arrive Tuba Friday March 28, Depart Tuba Monday March 31, Arrive Flagstaff Wednesday April 2, 1902. Eight day transit, 273 miles.
Flagstaff Ariz. April 2, 1902 10AM Received Postmark
Crown King, Arizona Territory – 1905
Frank Murphy’s Impossible Railroad
Postal Route 168013
Crown King, Arizona Territory
Middelton A.T. 15.5 miles
Turkey A.T. 3 miles
Mayer A.T. 12 miles
Valverde A.T. 9 miles
Blanchard A.T. 2 miles
Dewey A.T. 2.75 miles
Prescott, Arizona Territory 21 miles
Postal Route
October 9, 1905
Prescott & Crown King R.P.O.
Postmark Towle type 12-b-1
The Prescott & Crown King Railroad earned its colloquial name ‘Frank Murphy’s Impossible Railroad’ from the fact that Crown King is 3,000 feet higher than Mayer and the terrain between the two places is very steep. It’s this fact that caused naysayers to believe that the two towns could not be linked by rail. In all, the railroad required five switchbacks, a tunnel and extremely high trestles to make the ascent to Crown King.
This cover is addressed to Prescott, the northern terminus of the railroad, however it was routed south to Crown King the southern terminus. From Crown King the cover traveled north the entire 65.25 mile length of the railroad to Prescott.
Prescott Receiver type 31
New latest known date of use
October 9, 1905
Supai, Arizona Territory – 1904
Mule Train Postal Route from the Bottom of the Grand Canyon
Postal Route 68203
Supai, Arizona Territory 
Grand Canyon, A.T. 47.5 miles
Grand Canyon Railroad south
Williams, Arizona Territory 64.5 miles
Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad east
New Mexico border, 207 miles
May 4, 1904
Supai, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 2
Postmark Census 1 of 3 known
From 1897 to the present, mail to and from the Supai Arizona Post Office has been carried by mule train from the floor of the Grand Canyon to the Grand Canyon Village Post office on the South Rim.
Naco, Arizona Territory – 1907
International Postal Route connects with Railroad at Naco Arizona Territory
Postal Route 688156
Naco, Arizona Territory
El Paso & Southwestern Railroad
Naco Junction 4.5 miles
Fairbank, Arizona Territory 36 miles
Benson, Arizona Territory 6 miles
Southern Pacific Railroad
Dragoon, A.T. 19 miles
Willcox, A.T. 10 miles
Teviston, A.T. 24 miles
San Simon, A.T. 14 miles
New Mexico border 10 miles
Postal Route distance 142.5 miles
August 5, 1907
Naco, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 4 Registered
Postmark Census 1 of 3 known
The Cananea (Sonora, Mexico) Consolidated Copper Company Railroad connected with the El Paso & Southwestern Railroad at the Arizona Territory border town of Naco. Postal route north 47 miles to the Southern Pacific main line at Benson then 96 miles east across the New Mexico border.
Whiteriver, Arizona Territory – 1905
Apache County Arizona Territory Postal Route through New Mexico
January 19, 1905 Whiteriver, Arizona Territory, Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 2, Postmark census 1 of 4 known
Postal Route 68135
Whiteriver, Arizona Territory
Pinetop A.T, 27 miles
Showlow A.T. 12 miles
Adair A.T. 3 miles
Shumway A.T. 12 miles
Taylor A.T. 4 miles
Snowflake A.T. 3 miles
Holbrook, Arizona Territory 30 miles
Postal Route distance 91 miles
Postal Route
Holbrook, Arizona Territory
Adamana, A.T. 20 miles
Pinto, A.T. 13 miles
Navajo, A.T. 7 miles
Houck, A.T. 26 miles
Manuelito, N.M.T. 13 miles
Gallup, New Mexico Territory 29 miles
Postal Route distance 108 miles
Postal Route
Gallup, New Mexico Territory
Saint Michaels, A.T. 26 Miles
Fort Defiance, Arizona Territory 8 miles
Postal Route distance 34 miles
Postal Route 68135 connected most major towns in Navajo County with the railroad depot in Holbrook. The daily mail stage provided two day service the 91 miles between Whitewater and Holbrook. At Holbrook the cover was placed aboard an Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad mail coach for Gallup, New Mexico, 108 miles east. The cover arrived at Gallup the following morning. The cover was finally transferred to a stagecoach for the short stagecoach postal route into Apache County Arizona Territory and delivery at Fort Defiance.
Basin, Arizona Territory – 1905
Gold Mine Mail Delivered to the End of a Remote Postal Route
Postal Route
Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad east
Mellen A.T.
Yucca Station 25 miles
Kingman A.T. 25 miles
Hackberry, Arizona Territory 27 miles
Basin, Arizona Territory 44 miles
Postal Route distance 121 miles
March 13, 1905
Basin, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 1
Postmark Census 1 of 4 known
The Basin Arizona Territory Post office provided mail services to the El Dorado and Cyclopic gold mines of Mohave County. The 44 mile postal route from Hackberry was run twice-a-week to Basin by stagecoach.
Morenci, Arizona Territory – 1911
The Cork Screw Railroad of Arizona
Postal Route 168021
Morenci, Arizona Territory
Morenci Southern Railroad
Guthrie, Arizona Territory 18 miles
Arizona & New Mexico Railroad
Lordsburg, New Mexico Territory 60 miles
Southern Pacific Railroad west
Tucson, Arizona Territory 155 miles
December 9, 1911
Morenci, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 8
Postmark Census 1 of 20+ known
Latest known Territorial postmark from Morenci
The most distinguishing feature of the Morenci Southern was a series of five loops used to negotiate the Morenci Gulch. The first loop was at Morenci, which was followed by three loops in the canyon constructed in part with wood trestles, the final loop incorporated one of tunnels by the San Francisco River.
Payson, Arizona Territory – 1911
Mr. Tuffy Peach and the Last Pony Mail Route in Arizona Territory
Postal Route
Payson, Arizona Territory
Pine, A.T. 14 miles
Strawberry, A.T. 5 miles
Camp Verde, Arizona Territory 28 miles
Postal Route distance 47 miles
December 21, 1911
Payson, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 6
Postmark Census 1 of 16 known
Latest known Territorial postmark from Payson.
Westbound mail to and from Payson was carried on horseback to Camp Verde until 1914, the trail too steep and narrow for wheeled vehicles. The last Pony Rider to service this postal route was Mr. Tuffy Peach. The post-al route frequency was six days a week with Mondays off. Two fresh horses were exchanged along the route.
From Payson the postal route trail followed Sycamore Creek 14 miles, crossing several times, to Pine. From Pine the trail passed under Milk Ranch Point then up Strawberry Hollow 5 miles to Strawberry. From Strawberry the trail went around Nash Point then followed Fossil Creek to The Corral, a horse exchange point. The trail continued up the very steep Mud Tank Canyon to the top of the mesa, past Wingfield Mesa, through Clear Creek, across the Verde River into Camp Verde.
1Hot Springs, Arizona Territory – 1912
Resort Souvenirs from the End of the Territorial Period
Postal Route distance 305 miles
Hot Springs, Arizona Territory
Morristown, Arizona Territory 18 miles
Santa Fe Prescott & Phoenix Railroad south
Nada, A.T.
Beardsley, A.T.
Peoria, A.T.
Glendale, A.T.
Phoenix, Arizona Territory
Maricopa & Phoenix Railroad
Maricopa, Arizona Territory
Southern Pacific Railroad east
February 5, 1912
Hot Springs, Arizona Territory
Postmark Pitzer-Meyer Type 4
Postmark Census 1 of 20+ known
Latest known Territorial postmark from Hot Springs
Postmarked one week prior to Arizona statehood, Castle Hot Springs was an international tourist destination. Tourists and mail, road the Castle Hot Springs stage (shown on postcard) 18 miles to Hot Springs Junction. Postal route south through Phoenix to the Southern Pacific railroad at Maricopa for mail coach transit east.