Hualapai Arizona
Hualapai, pronounced as Hwal’bay, is situated along 180 miles of the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon. The term “hwal’bay” means “People of the Tall Pine.” The middle river corridor was called by the Hwal’bay as “hakataya” or “the backbone of the river.” The reservation was created in 1883 by an executive order. It is composed mostly of rolling hills, rugged mesas, breathtaking cliffs, forests and deep gorges. Members of the Hualapai Tribe live on the area. The Tribal Capital called Peach Springs owes its name from peach trees growing at springs nearby. It is located 50 miles east of Kingman on Historic Route 66. In the early 1880’s, the railroad established a water station in the area which was called Peach Springs.
The reservation’s topography varies from rolling grassland to forest and the rugged canyons of the Colorado River since it occupies three northern Arizona Counties namely: Coconino, Yavapai and Mojave.
The Hualapai Tribe has an estimated population of 1,765 based on the 1998 U.S. Census Bureau. The bulk of the current full-time employments are provided by tribal, public, state and federal governmental services. While cattle-ranching, tourism, timber sales and arts and crafts are the main economic activities in the community. The treasures of the Hualapai half of Grand Canyon is shown off by the tribal government to visitors and admirers and more than 7,500 guests each month visits the Grand Canyon West. Diamond Creek road is the only road into the Grand Canyon offered by Peach Springs Canyon. Conditional access by car or truck and sightseeing permits are only allowed and issued by the tribe.
