Wikieup, Mohave County, Arizona
A small roadside community in the county of Mohave in Arizona, Wikieup lies in Highway 93 in the western part of the state. Wikieup is small town compared to the other towns in the county. At times, it is even mistaken as a part of the highway Interstate 40 which stretches for over 37 miles in the south. However, the town is superbly situated between the bigger and more prosperous towns of Kingman and Lake Havasu.
The smallness of the town belies its interesting features. Set in the rugged terrain of the western Arizona landscape, the town is home to hardy but welcoming locals. Wikieup is just one location that shares in the economic growth and diversity of Arizona. The location of the state benefits Wikieup. Situated in the west coast's prime area, Arizona takes advantage of market opportunities and affordable business costs. Wikieup takes a leaf out of its mother state's book and uses its location as a roadside community to act as a bridge between the different towns. Because of its in-between location, Wikieup is able to take advantage of passing tourists and business persons as an in-between place. Just a two-hour travel from the Arizona capital of Phoenix, Wikieup and its local economy continue to thrive and survive because of these benefits.
Deprived of gigantic malls and big trading hubs, Wikieup is all about being rustic and rugged. Main attractions are mostly interesting nature sculptures. These are rock formations which were beaten by the elements to emerged as icons of pop culture or interesting images. Wikieup is a welcome respite for weary travelers down Highway 93.
Wikieup History
Part of one of Arizona's original four counties, Wikieup shares an interesting history with the whole of Mohave County. Prior to the coming of the white men in the valley, the place where the county is situated today used to be the settlement of the Mojave Indians. The Indians used to cultivate corn and other food crops aided by the rich, river-nourished soil of the valley. However, the Mojaves are not alone in the region. They have fierce rivals in the tribe of the Tonto Apaches. Mostly, the two tribes do not seek disputes with each other but all that changed with the coming of the white men.
The settlement of the white men pushed both tribes farther from their source of livelihood. This resulted in several disputes between the white wen, the Tontos, and the Mojaves. In one of these disputes, two white girls were abducted. The white men laid the blame on the Mojave tribe but they found out after two years that the girls were taken by the more savage Tonto Indians. The girls were rescued by the Mojaves and were actually treated as part of the chief's family.
As token of their gratitude, the white settlers named the county after the Mojaves. The white settlers and the Mojaves coexisted in the area, that is why it is common for a person from Mohave County to have a mixed heritage. It was said that Wikieup's present location was the part of the land allotted by the white settlers for the Mojaves. Thus, that section was named Wikieup -- a native American or Mojave Indian word for "shelter" or "home."
Wikieup Attractions
Typical of small towns in America, religious and historical sites are the main features or attractions in Wikieup. The places and the very land on which the town of Wikieup currently stands are historical. These lands have seen disputes, blood and tribal wars, and the rebuilding of civilization to progress to what it is today. A common characteristic of Western towns, Wikieup still maintains its old Western facade. It is usual to see shops sporting goods like authentic leather boots and cowboy hats, a clear indication of the Western cowboy culture. There are buildings which are built in styles typical of the old days. Twilight is the perfect time for sightseeing around town. The fading light actually makes the town look like a scene from an old cowboy movie. There are two main churches in Wikieup, the Calvery Church and the place of worship for the latter Day Saints. These two churches are worth visiting for their architecture and their grounds.
Set in rough and rocky terrains, the nature around Wikieup is weather-beaten. But the ruggedness of the terrain gives way to one of the most fantastic, if not iconic, pop culture figures. Driving by Wikieup, visitors often take a double-look at group of large boulders. Looking like an ordinary boulder with moss and eroding contours, this is actually the famous Snoopy Rock. The top boulder is shaped unmistakably like the head of Charlie Brown's famous mutt.
Desert views surround the town with flashes of colors from the wildflowers. Come spring, visitors are often tempted to stop by for a round of picture-taking set against a backdrop of wild Arizona desert blooms. The wildflowers add a punch of refreshing beauty amidst the silent, Western appeal of Wikieup.
Wikieup Economy
Wikieup is overshadowed by bigger towns and cities like Phoenix in terms of economic development. Hardly a metropolis, the town of Wikieup has no big trading centers or business districts. Rather, the town's economy is largely dependent on small businesses. The town's focus on the development of small businesses encourages the influx of new opportunities for the townspeople and new immigrants. This encourages the flow of new capital and new businesses. Given its prime location, the local government of the town is optimistic about Wikieup's chances of developing into another business hub.
While the small business industry is waiting for the much needed boost from prospective businesses and new capital, Wikieup depends on a thriving real estate industry. Since the properties in Wikieup are relatively less expensive compared to the properties in the Phoenix area, the industry enjoys a stable advantage. This also serves as encouragement for investors to invest in the town of Wikieup.
Being a desert, agriculture is hardly an appropriate industry for Wikieup. However, ingenious local farmers raise livestock and plant crops enough to supply the local market and other communities in the outskirts of the town. It may not contribute much to the local economy but it is a move to preserve Wikieup's history.
Taking advantage of its history and Western appeal, Wikieup also plays the tourism card. Tourism is one of the industries the local government of the town seeks to promote. Indeed, in the last few years, Wikieup has been registering an increase in visitors and tourists.
Wikieup is a small community that lies on the U.S. Highway 93 in western Arizona. It is about 37 miles south of Interstate 40 and around two and half drive from the state capital Phoenix. The term “wikieup” was derived from and Indian term which means “conical houses formed from cedar boughs using a single slope form.”
The town has an approximate population of 305.
