White Mountain Area Links:
- Snowflake/Taylor
- Show Low
- Pinetop-Lakeside
- Springerville-Eagar
- St. Johns
- White Mountain Regional Development Corp
- Hon-Dah Resort & Casino
- White Mountains Online
The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests are truly an oasis from the heat and concrete of southwestern cities in the summer and a snow-season paradise during the winter. Spectacular vistas from the Mogollon Rim and fragrant pine forests with an abundance of wildlife lure more visitors each year.
Mormon pioneers settled in Heber in the late 1800s. Heber was named after Heber J. Grant, a prominent member of the Mormon Church.
Many settlements were located in the fertile ranching and farmland in Black Canyon.
The neighboring town of Overgaard was settled in the 1930s and was named after the owner of the first sawmill.
Horses were used to haul logs up until 1965. Logging and ranching were the predominant industries here until 1991.
"In section 13, T. 12, N., R. 16 E. Mormon settlement of about 1880, on Black Canyon, 50 miles southwest of Holbrook. After Heber C. Kimball, chief Justice, State of Deseret, 1883. John Bushman was first settler.
It was quite a settlement up to about 1883 when several years of drought drove most of the settlers away.
About 1883, John Hoyle, former cook for the Hashknife Outfit, opened a store here, which he ran for several years. PO Est. September 11, 1890. James Shelley PM."
"In 1876 and 1877 two companies of Mormon emigrants from Arkansas were assigned to Little Colorado River Settlements. John W. N. Scarlett, first sent to Allen's Camp, withdrew in 1883 to found Heber where John Bushman had found water in 1882.
The new community as named for Heber C. Kimball, Chief Justice of the State of Deseret or, according to a second source, for Heber J. Grant, President of the Mormon Church."
"Overgaard-- This location was named for the Overgaard family. Christ Overgaard served as postmaster in 1939. P.O. October 14, 1938."
Heber Arizona
Heber is in Eastern Arizona. It is in Navajo County. The town is in the Sitgreaves National Forest and is just north of the Mogollon Rim.
It is located at the intersection of State Highway 277 and State Highway 260, between Showlow and Payson.
Heber began as a lumber town, but soon outdoor enthusiasts found this an ideal spot. Today Heber's population is 3,600, which is a combination of both the towns of Heber and Overgaard.
The town sits at an elevation of 6,000 feet. The climate is cool all year with a winter low temperature of 14 degrees and a summer high temperature of 84 degrees. Heber is a great place to take a moment and enjoy the scenery.
