Black Canyon City, Arizona is located in the southern tip of Yavapai County. We're nestled in the foothills of the Bradshaw Mountains just 26 miles north of the Phoenix city limits on Interstate 17. Black Canyon City has smog-free, sunny weather throughout the year.

Elevation is approximately 2,000 feet (1000 feet higher than Phoenix). Winters are mild with just a bit more rain than Phoenix. Summer highs often reach over 100 degrees, but the humidity is usually low. Most evenings cool off nicely as breezes roll off the Bradshaws at sunset.

Black Canyon City is an unincorporated community of almost 4000 people. A large percentage of the residents are retired. Many others work in Phoenix, but choose to live outside of the city congestion and pollution. The growing community provides opportunities for either starting or expanding businesses. .

Approximately 260 students attend elementary and junior high schools in Black Canyon City. High school students either take the bus to Mayer about thirty miles northwest, or to Barry Goldwater High School in north Phoenix.

The town features churches representing several denominations, and many clubs and organizations which schedule activities throughout the year. These organizations include the Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce and Tourist Office, Filthy Five, V.F.W. and Auxiliary, Rock Club, Girl Scouts, Brownies, Little League, Culture Guild, A.A.R.P., A.A.A., and the Black Canyon Community Association, Saddle Club.

Black Canyon City has a post office, library, two community parks, cemetery, fire district, and rescue squad (ambulance and helicopter available). The medical center is open five days a week.

Local businesses include gas stations, auto repair shops, beauty salons, hardware store, variety store, barber shop, auto parts store, insurance agencies, general contractors, gift shops, travel agency, real estate offices, bank, motel, apartments, RV parks and campgrounds, restaurants, saloons, grocery stores, mini swap meet, laundromat, computer professionals placement and typing services, feed store, nursery and several gift shops. Black Canyon City has two water departments, one is privately owned and one is owned by its' users.

Black Canyon business directory

Our community has been known by several names: Agua Fria District, Goddard, Canon, Rock Springs, Black Canyon and present day Black Canyon City. Calvary troops stopped at Rock Springs (a popular watering spot to this day) as early as the 1860's, while traveling to Fort Whipple and Fort Verde during Territorial days.

Our canyons are natural passes through and to the upper plateaus and mountains. The Woolsey Trail in Black Canyon was named after King Woolsey, an early settler who is credited with bringing in the first wagon in the mid 1860's. However, the best known trail became the Black Canyon wagon road and stage line. As early as 1872, a stage stop on the Agua Fria River and Jack Swillings Ranch served the area. Stagecoach service between Phoenix and Prescott continued until 1917.The Agua Fria Canon School was established in 1898 and the name was shortened to Canon School.

Early documents and interviews with old timers verify that farming began in approximately 1872, by Jack Swilling who grew vegetables and Jeff Martin who grew alfalfa and vegetables. From 1931 to the late 1950's D. J. Albins raised a variety of crops including cotton, celery, maize, and commercial flowers.

Electricity was brought to Black Canyon City in the 1920's for the Kay Copper Mine, ( a tailing dump which can still be seen on a slope west of town.) Ben Warner supplied groceries and other goods to the mine and it's 300 workers from a business he started in 1920, now known as the Rock Springs Store and Cafe. The Kay Mine ceased operation in 1929. By the 1960's, land development and highway construction replaced most of the agricultural areas. Interstate 17 was completed during the 1960's, bisecting the town and linking it with some of the great wonders of this state. We find most of the spectacular parks are just a short drive away.

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