Lake Montezuma

History

The community was originally known as Beaver Creek as ranchers and farmers settled along the banks of the creek named for the prolific numbers of beavers found there. Wales Arnold, the first settler along Beaver Creek, came to Beaver Creek in 1870 and lived at what became known as The Montezuma Well Ranch. Arnold, who came to Arizona as a member of the California Column during the Civil War ultimately became the sutler or civilian merchant of the firm Arnold and Bowers at Camp Lincoln following his discharge from the Army at Fort Whipple August 29, 1864. His partner in this enterprise was George Bowers who was killed by Indians near the head of Copper Canyon while en route to Prescott alongside a young soldier named Robert Nix. Arnold held several hay contracts with the Army at Camp Lincoln (renamed Fort Verde in 1868) and grew the first alfalfa known to be grown in the Verde Valley. The Montezuma Well Ranch served as a way station where mail riders changed horses when the mail began to be carried from Fort Whipple to Fort Wingate. By 1879 there were several children along Beaver Creek and what became Beaver Creek School started when Ed Mulholland began teaching school there then. The part of the community known as McGuireville began in 1910 when Eugene McGuire settled near the confluence of Dry Beaver Creek and Wet Beaver Creek. This was also at the junction of the historic road from Stoneman Lake which split there with one route going on to Cornville, Cottonwood and Jerome and the other going south to Camp Verde and on to Prescott via Copper Canyon or Cherry. Eugene McGuire along with his son Gene homesteaded there beginning in 1910. Their small store and gas station was supplanted by another store operated by Midge Montgomery who started Beaver Creek Store…

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , of which is land and 0.08% is water. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is BSk (cool semi-arid climate).

Largest nearby schools

• Camp Verde Elementary School
  Elementary · CAMP VERDE · 679 students · 17:1 ratio
• Camp Verde High School
  High · CAMP VERDE · 488 students · 18.8:1 ratio
• Camp Verde Middle School
  Middle · CAMP VERDE · 365 students · 22.8:1 ratio
• Beaver Creek School
  Elementary · RIMROCK · 340 students · 26.2:1 ratio
• Oak Creek Elementary School
  Elementary · Cornville · 235 students · 13.8:1 ratio
• Desert Star Community School
  Elementary · CORNVILLE · 155 students
• American Heritage Academy - Camp Verde
  Elementary · CAMP VERDE · 112 students
• Camp Verde Accommodation School
  High · CAMP VERDE · 34 students