to name something is to take possession of it: arizona's verde valley

The Verde Valley is one of the most historically significant places in Arizona. Here I’ll trace its layered history, calling special attention to how peoples, places, and things derived their names over time. The Yavapai and Apache peoples who commanded this valley long before us were dragged into violent conflicts with two imperial powers. American soldiers would eventually march them out of this valley and into a prison camp named by the Spanish. Pioneers and prospectors were pleased to settle the empty valley and named the first ruins they saw after an Aztec emperor. Jerome mining camp sprung up at the valley’s edge and was named after an investor who never visited. It became even more famous as a ghost town. Modern researchers concluded that the builders of our national monuments left no name behind in the archaeological record, so they made one up. To name something is to take possession of it — and this valley has been possessed over and over. This is the second entry in my “Death of History” series exploring the forgotten and suppressed histories of the American West. If this resonated with you, please share it with someone who might appreciate it :)