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Historical
In 1875 Martha Summerhayes, with her infant son, passed through this area on an arduous trip, about which she later wrote in her book. She mentions Jim Stinson as having a ranch at this site. In 1878 Stinson sold out to the Mormon land agent William Flake. Stinson moved to Pleasant Valley, where he later became a major figure in the feud between the Tewkesburys and the Grahams. During 1878 a flood in the Little Colorado River area had wiped out a tiny Mormon community, so they and their leader, apostle Erastus Snow, joined Flake’s group.
A town site was chosen at Flake’s ranch, and the town was named in honor of the two founders. By 1879 the town was large enough to be the county seat for Apache County, until 1881. In 1895 the western half of the county seceded and became Navajo County.
Geological
The Mogollon Rim and the White Mountains, to the south and west of Snowflake, form an almost continuous barrier, protecting the community from severe winters, and creating a semi-arid climate. It lies at an elevation of 5,600 feet, in a broad, flat valley drained by the Cottonwood and Silver Creeks. It lies in an area of great contrasts – barren desert to the north and mountain ranges to the south.
Landmarks
To the north of Snowflake lies one of the country’s most unique parks, the Petrified Forest National Park, which includes the Painted Desert and Navajo Indian Reservation.
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