Sierra Bonita Ranch

Infobox_nrhp | name =Sierra Bonita Ranch
nrhp_type =nhl


caption =
nearest_city= Bonita, Arizona
locmapin = Arizona
lat_degrees = 32 | lat_minutes = 35 | lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 109 | long_minutes = 58 | long_direction = W
area =
built =1872
architect= Unknown
architecture= Other
designated= July 19, 1964cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=94&ResourceType=Building
title=Sierra Bonita Ranch |accessdate=2007-09-27|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service]
added = October 15, 1966cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]
governing_body = Private
refnum=66000181

Sierra Bonita Ranch is a site in Arizona that is significant for its association with Colonial Henry C. Hooker's cattle ranch, the first permanent American cattle ranch in Arizona, located near to present day Willcox, Arizona. The ranch was first established by Hooker in 1872, beginning with 800 acres, with him being the largest military beef supplier in Arizona Territory. Initially, Hooker suffered heavy losses both in personnel and supplies, due to Apache raids. He built a small adobe fort to help defend against the attacks, and averaged an annual 15,500 head of cattle. Prior to the Lincoln County War, Billy the Kid, then an unknown, was employed by Hooker. In 1881 and into 1882 members of the Earp faction used the ranch to resupply during and after the Earp Vendetta Ride, with Hookers blessings. Following the drought of 1891, Hooker expanded the ranch to 250,000 acres, supporting 20,000 head of cattle. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1964.citation|title=PDFlink| [http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Text/66000181.pdf Sierra Bonita Ranch / The Hooker Ranch] |217 KBdate=June 20, 1977|author=Marilynn Larew and William Brown| publisher=National Park Service and PDFlink| [http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Photos/66000181.pdf Accompanying 21 photos, from 1975.] |2.92 MB]

References

External links

* [http://www.worldwideschool.org/library/books/geo/geography/ArizonaSketches/chap7.html Henry Hooker and his Sierra Bonita Ranch]