Overview

Navajo County is located in the northern region of the U.S. state of Arizona. It includes a mix of high desert, mesas and forested highlands and contains significant areas of Native American trust land. The county seat is Holbrook; the 2010 U.S. census recorded 107,449 residents. For official county information and services see the county website: Navajo County government.

Geography and climate

The county spans varied terrain from semi-arid basins and badlands to higher-elevation ponderosa pine forests. Notable landscapes include portions of the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest, and elevations that produce a wide range of local climates — generally dry and sunny across lower plateaus, with cooler, wetter conditions at higher elevations. State resources and maps are available through Arizona government portals: Arizona state resources.

History and peoples

The area is the ancestral and contemporary homeland of the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe, and has been inhabited for many centuries. Navajo County was created during the settlement period of the late 19th century as Arizona’s communities and transportation routes expanded. Historic corridors, including the alignments of Route 66 and early railroad lines, shaped the pattern of towns and trade; federal historical and census summaries can be consulted for more detail: federal census resources.

Communities, economy and services

Principal communities include Holbrook, Winslow, Show Low, Pinetop-Lakeside, Snowflake and Kayenta, together with numerous smaller towns and unincorporated areas. The local economy is a mix of tribal and local government employment, tourism, forestry, ranching and service industries. Health, education and public safety services are provided by a combination of county agencies, municipal governments and tribal authorities; county department information is listed at: county departments.

Attractions and transportation

Visitors are drawn to natural and cultural attractions such as the Petrified Forest National Park and Painted Desert, as well as historic Route 66 landmarks and opportunities for outdoor recreation. Transportation across the county is served by interstate and U.S. highways, regional roads, rail lines and local airports that connect communities and support tourism and commerce. Travel planning and visitor guidance are available from regional visitor pages: visitor information and from municipal resources for towns and cities: municipal resources.

Governance and land use

Navajo County contains a complex mosaic of federal, state, county and tribal jurisdictions. Land ownership and management vary by parcel, and planning, conservation and public services often involve cooperative arrangements among multiple governments. This arrangement shapes land use, economic development and cultural resource management throughout the county.

  • Notable facts: The county integrates federal, state and tribal jurisdictions, creating a complex mosaic of land ownership and governance.
  • Community services: Health, education and public safety frequently involve intergovernmental cooperation between county agencies and tribal authorities.