Greenlee

Greenlee County, Arizona's 14th county, was created in 1909 by an act of the 25th Territorial Assembly.  The county was formed from the eastern portion of Graham County and named for Mason Greenlee, an early settler in the Clifton area.  There was significant resistance to the formation of the new county because Graham County would lose considerable revenue as a result.  As a compromise, Greenlee County was considerably smaller than originally proposed.   Clifton is, and has always been, the county seat.

In addition to the major contribution copper makes to the county's economy, ranching, agriculture and tourism are factors as well.  Apache National Forest in the northern half of the county is home to deer, elk, antelope and bear.  Hannagan Meadow, at 9,092 feet, and the Blue Range Primitive Area are popular for hunters and campers.

Greenlee County covers 1,837 square miles.  The vast majority of land is government-owned.  The U.S. Forest Service controls 63.5 percent; the U.S. Bureau of Land Manage-ment, 13.6 percent; the state of Arizona, 14.8 percent; and individual or corporate ownership, only 8.1 percent.