You’ll Never Believe the Surprising History of Hereford, Arizona!

In Cochise County, we hear a lot about Sierra Vista, Fort Huachuca, Bisbee, and Tombstone. They each have a storied past and were instrumental in creating the foundations for the area where I live.

Some of the smaller towns in this part of Arizona have a post office, and not much else. I began to wonder about the history of this little corner of the state as it was being settled.

What's the Story Behind Hereford, Arizona?

If you're driving Southeast from Sierra Vista to Bisbee, you might blink and miss Hereford. While the town has a post office, a couple of restaurants, and a gas station, there's not much else to draw you to the sleepy little village.

In the last few years, a lot of houses have been built, but you'll still find acres of rolling pastures where Hereford cattle are raised to this day.

Hereford might look quiet today, but the past whispers in these here parts, just as wild as its neighboring frontier towns, Bisbee and Tombstone.

Learn More: The Mystery of John Ringo’s Death Near Tombstone, Arizona

How is the History of Tombstone and Hereford Connected?

Hereford was founded in 1878 and named after local attorney Frank Hereford. The little hideaway was once a magnet for cowboys, cattlemen, and a few notorious outlaws, according to Wikipedia.

Back in the day, Hereford was a hangout for the likes of Frank and Tom McLaury. If those names sound familiar, it's not your imagination. These are the same outlaws who met their end at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone. Ike Clanton, Johnny Ringo, and Curly Bill also roamed through Hereford, adding to the cowboy-outlaw reputation.

A few miles south, legendary lawman John Slaughter ran his ranch and kept rustlers on at bay.

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READ: Gunfight Somewhere NEAR the OK Corral: Is It All a Hollywood LIE? 

The Rise and Quiet Fall of Hereford

Sometime in the 1890s, Hereford took off when the El Paso and Southwestern Railroad rolled into the area. Colonel William C. Greene bought up the land grant and launched the Greene Cattle Company, which became the biggest cattle operation in the valley.

Greene's stepson, Frank Moson (for whom Moson Road is named), helped build the Hereford Corrals and started the Y-Lightning Ranch, which turned Hereford into a cattle-shipping hub.

READ: Nola Walker's Role In Naming Sierra Vista Revealed

Most of the original town faded by the 1960s, as nearby Sierra Vista began to come into its own and was disbanded. You can still spot some of Hereford's past if you look carefully. Hereford is now a fairly quiet place to live, and the ghost of the wild west outlaws has faded into history.