Florence, Arizona

In 1853, the Gadsden Purchase extended American territory well south of the Gila.

He came to Arizona Territory in 1866 as a U.S.

=== Adamsville === In 1870, Fred Adams founded a farming community two miles west of the original Florence townsite.

Silver was discovered in 1875 in the nearby mountains which led to the creation of the famous Silver King Mine.

== Points of interest == McFarland State Historic Park – The first Pinal County Courthouse was built in 1876 and is located at W.

All of the federal land transactions for Southern Arizona were conducted in Florence until 1881, when the Federal Land Office was moved to Tucson.

Sheriff Pete Gabriel hired thirty-nine year old Joseph (Joe) Phy as his deputy in 1883.

Gabriel decided to not run for sheriff in 1886 and supported his deputy Phy for the job.

Florence High School – The high school was built in 1887 and is located in 1000 S.

=== Tunnel Saloon Gabriel-Phy shootout of 1888 === One of the most notable gunfights in the Old Southwest occurred in Florence.

=== Second Pinal County Courthouse === The second Pinal County Courthouse was built in 1891.

She was tried in 1899 and was acquitted, however the judge ordered a second trial and she was found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison.

== Prisons == In 1909, the Yuma Territorial Prison (memorialized in the movie '3:10 to Yuma') was closed and the inmates relocated to the new Florence Territorial Prison.

The jury found her guilty of first-degree murder on February 8, 1932.

Judd was sentenced to be hanged February 17, 1933, and sent to the Arizona State Prison in Florence.

=== Tom Mix Monument === In 1940, the cowboy movie star Tom Mix was killed when he lost control of his speeding Cord Phaeton convertible and rolled into a dry wash (now called t...

Listed in the National Register of Historic Places on June 22, 1987, reference #87001306.

Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery was established in 1995 by Elder Ephraim of Arizona, a Greek Orthodox priest and monk.

== References == == External links == Town of Florence official website Florence Named NerdWallet's #1 City on the Rise in Arizona Archived August 16, 2014, at the Wayback Ma...

== Demographics == As of 2015, there were 30,770 people, and 6,832 households in the town.

In 2017 Celaya was honored as the Florence Post Office was dedicated in his name.