The name Navajo has been interpreted in several ways. Currently it is thought that the word derives from nava, "field", and ajo, a Spanish suffix indicating that the article in question is small. Thus Navajo may mean a somewhat worthless field. Early Spaniards along the Rio Grande were familiar with the term Apachu ("strangers") and de Nabahu ("of the cultivated fields"). In writing they changed the "h" to "j" for Navajo and the "u" into the current "e" of Apache. A pueblo ruin of pre-Spanish period known to the Tewa Indians as Navahu was found in the northwest corner of New Mexico. The man who found these ruins and investigated them (Hewett) conjectured that the term Apachu de Navahu referred to a band which invaded the Tewa area at this spot, hence the name. The principal industries of Navajo county include lumbering, farming, livestock raising, trading with the Indians, and the producing of Indian Crafts."
Barnes, Will C.; Granger, Byrd (ed.). Arizona
Place Names. University of Arizona Press. 1960
P. 232
"Created by Territorial Legislature at midnight, March 21, 1895, after two months fight against a hostile minority. Bill was held up until the last moment by a filibuster. Two members took turns in holding the floor, reading page after page of Arizona court decisions, histories of Arizona, decisions U.S. Supreme court, etc. Finally the writer, who was author of the bill, managed to get it before the house on a parliamentary question and it was passed only a few minutes before adjournment at midnight, the last day of the session. There was a strong sentiment for calling it Colorado County, but the writer insisted on adhering to names of Indian Tribes or individual Indians and spelling it with a "J"- Navajo."
Barnes, Will C. Arizona
Place Names. University of Arizona Press. 1997
p. 296
County Profile-Arizona Department of Commerce
http://www.commerce.state.az.us/pdf/county/navajo.pdf
Local Government Website
http://www.co.navajo.az.us/
Arizonan.com-Navajo County
http://arizonan.com/NavajoCounty/
Chilchinbito
Cibecue
Holbrook-County Seat
Herber-Overgaard
Joseph City
Pinetop-Lakeside
Show Low
Snowflake-Taylor
Taylor
Winslow
Navajo County Library District
http://www.navajoco.lib.az.us/
Hopi Cultural Museum
P.O. Box 67 Second Mesa, Arizona 86043
Phone: (928) 734-2401
http://www.psv.com/hopi.html
Navajo County Historical Society- Holbrook
http://www.ci.holbrook.az.us/Historicalsociety.htm
Show Low Historical Society Museum
541 E. Duece of Clubs, Show Low
520-532-7115
St. Michael's Historical Museum
Museum, P.O. Box 680, St. Michaels, AZ 86511.
(520) 871-4171
White Mountain Apache Cultural Center and Museum
(928) 338 - 4625
http://www.wmat.nsn.us/wmaculture.shtml
Books/Manuscripts found in the ASU Library Catalog
Will Croft Barnes Papers
MS
CM MSS 20
Taylor centennial : a historical review.
F819
.T38 T3x
